Birth:
Sultan ul Faqr 5th Sultan ul Arifeen, Sultan Bahoo, was born on Thursday, 1st Jumada ath-Thani 1039 H (17th January 1630 AD) in Shorkot, District Jhung, Pakistan (then part of India) during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He belonged to the Awan tribe, which traces its lineage to Ali ibn Abi Talib through wives other than Fatimah bint Mohammad.
Sultan Bahoo’s father, Bazyed Mohammad, was a distinguished soldier in Shah Jahan’s army. His mother, Bibi Rasti, was a saint, and Allah revealed the spiritual greatness of Sultan Bahoo before his birth. She named him “Bahoo,” signifying his status of annihilation in the Divine Essence (Hoo or Fana-fi-Hoo).
Sultan Bahoo was born a saint and deeply immersed in heavenly experiences and divine revelations from a young age. His karamat (miracle) was such that non-Muslims would instantly embrace Islam upon seeing his luminous face, radiating divine theophanies.
Education:
Sultan Bahoo, received his early mystic education from his mother but did not pursue formal academic studies. He remained deeply absorbed in the Divine Unity, gaining esoteric knowledge through direct divine experiences. He stated that the inspiration and knowledge he received could fill many books, as expressed in his work Ain-ul-Faqr.
Bayat:
Sultan Bahoo, searched for a spiritual guide for thirty years without success due to his elevated spiritual status. He recounts a revelation in which he pledged allegiance to the Holy Prophet Muhammad in a vision, where he was guided by Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Prophet then entrusted him to Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani for further guidance. Sultan Bahoo always regarded Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani as his spiritual guide. Later, he pledged allegiance to Shaikh Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi, who entrusted him with the Divine Trust of Faqr in a single meeting.
Spiritual Order:
Sultan Bahoo made the Qadri order, started by Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, into a new way called the Sarwari Qadri order. He taught many people in the sub-continent about it through his books. He said that the Sarwari Qadri way is the best and the strongest, and it helps people connect directly with God and the Prophet without much effort. He explained that this way is much better than the Zahidi Qadri way, because it is easier and lasts longer.
Books:
Even though Sultan Bahoo couldn’t read or write, he wrote 140 books. His spiritual helpers wrote down everything he said from his divine experiences. His books are mostly in Persian, except for his poetry, which is in Punjabi. These books are full of special knowledge and can help people grow spiritually. If someone reads his books with respect, it can bring them a lot of spiritual goodness.
Many of his books have been translated into Urdu and English, like Ain-ul-Faqr, Shams-ul-Arifeen, and Risala Roohi Sharif. These books teach people how to be close to God and find the truth. Some books also tell about Sultan Bahoo’s life and teachings.
Death:
Sultan Bahoo passed away at the age of 63 on 1st March 1691. His shrine is in Garh Maharaja, Pakistan, and it’s a special place where many people go to pray and connect with God. Mystics spend time there in silence to feel closer to Allah, and people who visit the shrine leave with a feeling of peace and blessings. Every year, people celebrate his death anniversary on the first Thursday of Jumada ath-thani, and many travel from far away to be part of the celebration.
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