Faqr is an Arabic word commonly understood among the masses as poverty, destitution, and hardship. It literally means indigence, but mystics describe it as the purpose of a person’s life, about which the Prophet said:
“Faqr is my pride, and Faqr is from me.”
Faqr represents a spiritual state in which a person becomes indifferent to all material needs, focusing solely on Allah’s will. This is why, in every situation, they maintain conformity with divine predestination. They neither ask Allah for anything other than His proximity, nor do they desire or need anything except Him.
Sufi Saints unlock the divine path by giving the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat to their disciples and assigning them some duties. They also share the secrets of this path through literary works, such as poetry and books, which attract seekers inwardly and draw them toward the path of Faqr.
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen, the present Imam of the Sarwari Qadri order, follows a similar approach to spreading the teachings of Faqr. He has authored 24 books on Sufism and, upon initiation, provides the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat on the very first day.
One of Sultan Bahoo’s quotes about Faqr is as follows:
“The inward that contains Faqr is desirable in the court of Allah and is blessed with His kind attention. Such an inward remains in pain.”
(Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)