Guru Nanank Dev Ji Aur Baba Farid Ka Roohani Tasawwuf! (PART-03)

“Know how Baba Nanak reached Pakpattan to meet Baba Farid.
And what conversation happened between them”

Who’s Baba Farid?

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar was a 12th-century Punjabi Muslim preacher and mystic. He is known reverentially as Baba Farid or Sheikh Farid by Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus of the Punjab Region, or simply as Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar. Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar (the famous Qutb Minar in Delhi was built in his name) was one of the most brilliant personalities of the Chishti Order of Sufis in India. After the untimely death of Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, the mantlepiece of India's spiritual leadership within the illustrious Chishti Order fell upon the shoulders of Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar of Pakpattan.

Disciples of Baba Farid:

Once his education was over, he moved to Delhi, where he learned the Islamic doctrine from his master, Hazrat Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. He later moved to Hansi, Haryana. When Hazrat Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki died in 1235, Farid left Hansi and became his spiritual successor, and he settled in Ajodhan (the present Pakpattan, Pakistan) instead of Delhi. Baba Farid met the 20-year-old Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who went on to become his disciple, and later his successor Sufi khalifah. His nephew and disciple and successor Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari were amongst the greatest Sufi saints and from him, Sabiriya branch under Chisty order started. Farid was to Punjabi what Chaucer was to English. He made Punjabi poetry and poetry Punjabi. Later when Adi Granth (Sikh scripture) was compiled by the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Farid’s ‘slokas’ (sacred couplets) were given the place of honour along with those of Kabir, Ramdev and Guru Ravidas.

”Farid returns thou good for evil; In thy heart bear no revenge. Thus thy body will be free of maladies, And thy life has all blessings."

Shaikh Farid (1173-1265), the great Sufi mystic and teacher, the first recorded poet in the Punjabi language was born in the month of Ramadan in the year 1173AD/569 AH at a place near Multan called Kotheval. His father Shaikh Jamaluddin Sulaiman left his home in Central Asia during the period of Mongol incursions in the course of the twelfth century. Seeking safety and someplace to settle in, he came into Punjab were already under Ghaznavid rule. Several Muslim religious centres had developed and sizeable Muslim populations had grown, particularly in the areas now included in West Punjab (Pakistan).

What is the meaning of Farid?

Farid in the Arabic language means 'Unique'. He came to be known as Shakarganj or Ganj-i-Shakar (Treasury of Sugar). There is a beautiful story behind this appellation. Young Farid was brought by his mother Qarsum Bibi, an extremely pious lady as his father passed away when Farid Ji was still a child. It is said that in order to induce the child Farid to say his prayers regularly, his mother used to place under his prayermat a small packet of Shakar (country sugar) which Farid Ji would get as a reward.

Once Qarsum Bibi forgot to put the shaker under the mat. It is said that such was the devotion of child Farid that Shakar nevertheless appeared in the usual place. Following this miracle, he came to be known as Shakarganj. Another explanation is given is that while undergoing extreme hard penance during his youth Farid Ji in a fainting state once looked around for something to break three days continuous fast. He was unable to find any food and put a few stone pebbles into his mouth to curb his hunger. It is said by divine intervention, the stones turned into lumps of sugar.

Who gave the title of Ganj-e-Shakar?

The title 'Shakarganj' to the blessing which Farid Ji received from his spiritual teacher, Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (the famous Qutb Minar in Delhi was built in his name) who praised the sweetness of Farid Ji's disposition and remarked; "You shall be sweet like sugar."

Guru Granth Sahib and Baba Farid!

There are 134 Shabads (hymns) of Sheikh Farid incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. Many Sikh scholars ascribe them to Farid Shakarganj (1173 – 1265) of Pak Pattan.

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