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Sultan Bahoo’s Ideology In The Light of His Teachings

Sultan Bahoo’s Ideology
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Sultan Bahoo’s Ideology

In The Light of His Teachings

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo is a famous Sufi poet and Saint of South East Asia. He, by his single spiritual attention, bestowed Marifa (gnosis of Allah) upon millions of Divine seekers. Not only this, he elevated them to the spiritual station of Divine union. Moreover, Sultan Bahoo openly discussed all those Divine secrets of Faqr (Sufism) which were kept hidden from masses before his advent and were only known to some specific people. He not only acquainted people of his era with these secrets but his teachings will continue to enlighten future generations.

Sultan Bahoo Teachings

Saints are on the footsteps of Prophets, as every Prophet faces hostile behaviour of his umma, in the same way each Saint has to face oppositions in his era. There have been some mean people who continued to oppose a Saint even after he passed away. The same happened to Sultan Bahoo (ra). Some vicious men, on seeing the love and devotion of Divine seekers to Sultan Bahoo (ra), try to depict wrong image of his teachings. Their only motive is to misguide the Divine seekers so that they could rebut the beneficence of the company of Saints. They even succeeded in trapping the disciples who had low level of certainty. Given below is a small collection of teachings of Sultan Bahoo (ra) which depicts his real ideology. The sole motive behind this is to remove ambiguities from the mind of masses about these teachings.

Books of Sultan Bahoo (RA)

Most of the people think that Sultan Bahoo books are against the teachings of Quran and Hadith. In fact, Sultan Bahoo did not receive any formal education; hence his books are Divine revelation.

He himself said:

  • Like the Holy Prophet (pbuh), I also did not get formal academic education. We had the esoteric knowledge. The Divine experiences revealed such inspirational knowledge inwardly and outwardly that requires a number of books to be expressed.

He further says:

گرچہ نیست ما را علم ِ ظاہر

ز علمِ باطنی جاں گشتہ طاہر

Explanation: Although I did not get any worldly education but the esoteric knowledge has completely sanctified me. (Ain-ul-Faqr)

Ain-ul-Faqr

At another place he said about his books:

ہیچ تالیفی نہ در تصنیف ما

ہر سخن تصنیف ما را از خدا

علم از قرآن گرفتم و از حدیث

ہر کہ منکر میشود اہل از خبیث

Explanation: I have not copied anything in my books. All words of my books are from Allah Himself. Moreover, my entire knowledge is based on Quran and Hadith. Whoever denies the knowledge imparted in my work is a wretched. (Nur-ul-Huda Kalan)

Faqr (Sufism)

Sultan Bahoo has neither called his teachings mysticism nor spirituality rather he titled them Faqr. Masses take it a separate phenomenon from Islam. In fact, Faqr is the root and soul of Islam. It is the spiritual path which leads to Divine proximity.

Hadith

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said about Faqr:

اَلْفَقْرُ فَخْرِیْ وَ الْفَقْرُ مِنِّیْ

Meaning: Faqr is my pride and Faqr is from me.

What Sultan Bahoo says about Faqr?

Sultan Bahoo says:

فقر چیست؟ یعنی خود فنا

از علم خود می شود کبر و ریا

Explanation: O Bahoo what is Faqr? Faqr is to annihilate oneself. On the contrary knowledge boosts arrogance and hypocrisy. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

Sultan Bahoo says at another place:

فقر شاہے ہر دو عالم بے نیاز و باخدا

احتیاجش کس نہ باشد مدِنظرش مصطفیؐ

Explanation: The person accomplished in Faqr is a king who because of proximity with Allah is indifferent to both the worlds. He has no inclinations because he remains in the sight of the Prophet. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

Sultan Bahoo further says:

باھوؒ! فقر دانی چیست؟ دائم در لاھوُت

فقر را بہتر بود ہر دم سکوت

Explanation: Bahoo what do you know about Faqr? It is the name of ever residing at the station of no station and for this a devotee needs eternal silence. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

Some other Quotes of Sultan Bahoo
  • Faqr is the knowledge of Divine vision.
  • Faqr is exactly the Divine Essence. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
  • What is Faqr? And where does it come from? Faqr manifests from the Divine light because the universe manifested from the light of Faqr. Moreover, Faqr is guidance. Faqr is a countenance of light of truth which is beautiful to such an extent that both the worlds love it and are fascinated. However, Faqr does not pay heed to anything unless Allah orders and permission from the Prophet is granted. (Taufeeq-ul-Hidayat)
Seeker of Allah according to Sultan Bahoo

Qudsi Hadith:

The seeker of world is an intersex, the seeker of hereafter is a female and the seeker of Allah is a male.

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said:

He who has any desire (other than Allah) does not find goodness in it but he who seeks Allah, achieves everything.

Search For Perfect Spiritual Guide Is Must

According to Sultan Bahoo, desire to seek Allah is the best desire and every other desire is lust. He says:

  • Know that it is incumbent upon the Divine seeker to search for the perfect spiritual guide and find him even if he has to travel all through the world from the east to the west. Moreover, the defectiveness of an imperfect spiritual guide and his flawed way is visible from the effects of his company. Furthermore, the initial and final point of the perfect spiritual guide is the same. He is on the straight path and possesses the mystic way of contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat which leads to the gnosis and closeness of Allah, Divine Oneness and the observation of theophanies of the Divine Essence. The more the imperfect guide gathers disciples the more he is disgraced in the world and hereafter as he keeps them deprived of the gnosis and closeness of Allah hence ruins them. (Qurb-e-Deedar)

Sultan Bahoo further says:

طلب کُن اللہ بامطلب شوی

بے طلب اللہ بے مطلب روی

Explanation: Develop the desire for Allah in your inward so that you achieve the aim of life because without the desire for Allah you will remain deprived of your objective. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

Characteristics of True Disciple According To Sultan Bahoo

Sultan Bahoo says in Ameer-ul-Kaunain:

طالب صادق بود برحق نگار

طالب کاذب بود خدمت شمار

Explanation: The true disciple always keeps his eyes upon the Reality. On the other hand, the mean and false disciple counts his services for his spiritual guide. (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)

Sultan Bahoo says at another place:

دم بہ دم دیوانہ بہ ہوشیار باش

طلبِ مولیٰ طلبِ دیدار باش

Explanation: O seeker of Allah! Become the ardent lover (of Allah) esoterically but be vigilant exoterically and seek only the Divine vision. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

Self-Realization

Like all Fakirs and Saints, Sultan Bahoo also exhorts man to peep through his soul and persuades him to ponder over his self. Recognition of innerself leads to the recognition of Allah Almighty but due to our negligence we could not see our Lord who is nearer than our jugular vein.

Sultan Bahoo says:

قربِ حق نزدیک من حبل الورید

تو جمالش را نہ بینی بے نظیر

Explanation: The Divine Essence is closer than the jugular vein but you are spiritually blind. Hence, the union with Allah is not destined for you. (Divan-e-Bahoo)

Sultan Bahoo further says:

دل کعبۂ اعظم است بہ کن خالی از بُتاں

بیت المقدس است مکن جائے بت گراں

Explanation: Inward is the greatest Kaaba. Therefore, vacate it from the idols (of worldly love and wishes). It is the sacred home of Allah, do not make it an idol shop. (Ain-ul-Faqr)

Purification of Innerself Is Important For Self-Realization

Sultan Bahoo greatly emphasized on purification and revitalization of innerself. He says:

  • The inward which is once vivified, perpetually remains attentive towards Allah and occupied in beholding Him. Hence, it is madly engrossed in the Divine vision. (Qurb-e-Deedar)

Sultan Bahoo utters in his mystic poetry:

ایہہ تن ربّ سچے دا حجرا، وچ پا فقیرا جھاتی ھوُ

نہ کر منت خواج خضر دی، تیرے اندر آب حیاتی ھوُ

Explanation: Your body is the place of Divine manifestations. Just peep through your body and do not depend upon Khidr who has drunk the elixir of life and has been granted immortality as within yourself is the vital water of Divine love. (Sufism – The Soul of Islam)

Ism-e-Allah Zaat (the personal name of Allah)

In the light of teachings of Sultan Bahoo (ra), invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat is the key to open the door of spiritual presence in Mohammadan assembly and Divine vision. Throughout his life he invited people towards gnosis (Marifa) through the invocation and contemplation of the greatest name of Allah (Ism-e-Azam). Other invocations or wearing saintly dresses i.e. wearing a cloak and turban etc. could not lead to such highest spiritual stations. Moreover, invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat purge innerself from spiritual diseases.

Ism_e_Allah_Zaat
None of The Hard Work Bears Fruit Without the Contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat

Sultan Bahoo (ra) says:

The inward is never purified and sanctified by physical prayers unless it is burnt in the fire of contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. By the special efficacy of its invocation, inward is cleansed and becomes more sincere. Moreover, without the invocation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat neither the evil innerself dies nor the inward becomes alive even if a person perpetually recites Quran or gets complete knowledge of Islamic laws and jurisprudence or is exhausted and consumed in doing hard mystic struggles and devotional exercises. None of his hard work bears fruit without the contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. His heart remains filthy and black as it was. (Shams-ul-Arifeen)

Sultan Bahoo further says:

The seeker who contemplates Ism-e-Allah Zaat becomes the beloved of Allah without any struggle. This is the desirable level where one is blessed with enlightened insight and becomes the beloved of all hearts. Due to the contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat, the seeker gains spiritual authorities by the kindness and graciousness of Allah which he must utilize for the beneficence of people. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)

Other Benefits of Ism-e-Azam According to Sultan Bahoo

Sultan Bahoo says:

  • By contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat, the soul is revived and revitalized just like a dry and barren land is replenished by the rain. (Shams-ul-Arifeen)
  • Contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat proves to be the safest refuge for its possessor against Satan and his disciples. (Shams-ul-Arifeen)
Mohammadan Assembly
Mohammadan Assembly

Orthodox Muslims and true believers believe in the eternal life of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and they have strong belief that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is well aware of their esoteric and exoteric states. Therefore, in their prayers they recite salutations upon him and ask for his mediation.

Sultan Bahoo, the King of Mystics, strictly believes in the ‘eternal existence’ of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). In almost all his books he discussed the Mohammadan assembly. He says:

  • Whoever does not believe in the life of the Holy Prophet, is disgraced in both the worlds. Only that person denies the eternal life of the Prophet and considers him dead whose faith has been confiscated by Satan and whose inward has darkened. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed)
  • Listen! One who does not believe in the eternal life of the Holy Prophet, his faith is confiscated. (Ain-ul-Faqr)

According to Sultan Bahoo ra, invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat grants the eternal presence in Mohammadan assembly only if it is done under the guidance of perfect spiritual guide. He exhorts:

ہر کرا  از  دل کشاید چشم نور

شد حضوری مصطفیؐ رست از غرور

Explanation: Whosoever’s inward eye is enlightened by the Divine light, he gets free of arrogance and is blessed with the presence in the Mohammadan Assembly. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)

Divine Vision

Very few Sufis believe in Divine vision. Majority focus on esoteric cleanliness through excessive physical prayers. Hence gain spiritual access to the realm of angels. They do not yearn for further spiritual progress. Resultantly remain deprived of Divine gnosis, the ultimate purpose of man’s creation and prerequisite of Divine vision.

The Holy Quran:

وَ فِیۡۤ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ؕ اَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۲۱﴾‏

Meaning: And (I am) in your selves (as well). So do you not notice?‏ [51: 21]

Majority never think of seeking Allah rather they keep on performing physical and devotional prayers which elevate them to the realm of angels only.

Allah says:

قَدۡ خَسِرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَذَّبُوۡا بِلِقَآءِ اللّٰہِ ؕ﴿۳۱﴾‏

Meaning: So those who belie their meeting with Allah incur loss. [6: 31]

Everything Other Than Divine Vision Is Carrion World

Sultan Bahoo explicitly elaborates the knowledge of Divine vision in his books. He says everything other than Divine vision is carrion world. Hence, Divine lover always seeks His vision.

طالبی دیدار با دیدار بر

جز خدا دیگر نہ بیند با نظر

Explanation: The true seeker of Divine vision eventually elevates and beholds. Then he sees none but Allah. (Nur-ul-Huda Kalan)

ہر طرف بینم بیابم حق ز حق

با مطالعہ دائمی دل دم غرق

Explanation: Wherever I see, I behold the Truth by the blessing of Truth. Indeed I gained this state of engrossment by perpetually reading my inward. (Nur-ul-Huda Kalan)

All the Pleasures Are Transitory

بہ ز ہر لذت بود لذتِ لقا

لذتی دنیا چہ باشد بی بقا

Explanation: Among all savours the most savouring is Divine vision. The pleasures of the world are trivial as compared to it because they are transitory. (Nur-ul-Huda Kalan)

بجز دیدارِ حق مردار باشد

کہ عاشق طالبِ دیدار باشد

Explanation: Everything is carrion except the Divine vision that is why true lovers seek only this Holy vision. (Ain-ul-Faqr)

Sharia

The opposers of Fakirs and Sufis plot propaganda that they do not follow sharia. However if their entire life and mystic struggle is observed, it becomes crystal clear that they are the embodiment of sharia, love and piety. Faqr is the spiritual heritage and Sunna of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), he trained his Companions according to this path. Whosoever renunciates Faqr in fact renunciates sharia and all those ways repudiated by sharia are surely infidelity.

Sultan Bahoo (ra) says:

ہر مراتب از شریعت یافتم

پیشوائے خود شریعت ساختم

Explanation: Bahoo found all the distinguished levels by following sharia, he made sharia his guide. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)

برد بالا عرش و کرسی با شریعت شاہراہ

ہر مقامش خوش بدیدم سرّ وحدت از الٰہ

Explanation: I reached above the Throne and the Chair through the way of sharia and thoroughly observed all the spiritual levels and waystations. Then Allah blessed me with the Divine secret of His Oneness. (Ain-ul-Faqr)

Some other Quotes of Sultan Bahoo

  • All the ways repudiated by sharia are surely infidelity. Hence, they are the ways of Satan or inciting innerself which create desires of the contemptible world, all of them are like a brigand (for the travellers of the right path). (Ain-ul-Faqr)
  • Every way that is rejected by sharia is infidelity while every way that is allowed by sharia and the Quran is the way of Islam. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
  • Whoever acquired Faqr, he got it solely from Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and by the beneficence of his sharia. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
  • The levels and knowledge of Divine vision are achieved by following the sharia which is the life and soul of every knowledge. Without following the sharia, life of a person is sheer shame and disgrace. (Ameer-ul-Kaunain)
  • The Mystic immortal with Allah is the one who perfectly follows sharia outwardly as well as perpetually keeps it in view inwardly. Nothing is outside the Quran and sharia. (Miftah-ul-Arifeen)
  • I attained every rank through the Quran and made it my leader and guide. (Deedar Bakhsh)

It is crystal clear from the above mentioned quotes that the way of Sultan Bahoo (ra) is perfectly according to sharia.

Divine Union

In general, Muslims focus on other type of invocations, rites and rituals and think that waham, inspiration and unveiling etc. are the highest spiritual stations but Sultan Bahoo (ra) urges the seekers to strive for the union with Allah. There are number of spiritual stations in Faqr (Sufism) but the station of annihilation and immortality with Allah is the most elevated station as there is no chance of spiritual demotion at this level.

Sultan Bahoo (ra) says about this station:

باجھ وصال اللہ دے باھوؒ، سبھ کہانیاں قصے ھو

Meaning: Without the union with Allah (annihilation in Hoo) all stations and destinations are merely illusions rather a waste of time.

  • One, who drowns completely in the Oneness of Allah becoming one with the One, finds eternal bliss. Then he ever remains Divinely ecstatic without any pretence. This is the level of distinguished men of Allah. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)
Some other Sayings of Sultan Bahoo

میانِ ہجر و وصلش فقر اعلیٰ

فنا فی اللہ شود با حق تعالیٰ

Explanation: The greatest level of Faqr (Sufism) between union and distance from the Beloved is whereby one annihilates oneself and then drowns in the Divine Essence. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

Sultan Bahoo further says:

سرّ وحدت چیست دانی فنا فی اللہ فنا

از خود توحیدش دور ماند سر ہوا

Explanation: What is the secret of Oneness? It is the station of annihilation in Allah. Moreover, the person, who does not reach this level, becomes a slave to the desires of his innerself. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

  • The Fakir, Bahoo says that all the stations are satanic except the station of annihilation in Allah and immortality with Him. (Ain-ul-Faqr)
  • Unless a seeker is completely immersed in Oneness and finds eternal Divine presence by crossing the level of death before dying he remains aggrieved at every level and struggles to have the observation of the heaven (of Divine closeness). (Ain-ul-Faqr)

In short, the seeker of Allah should focus on Divine Essence instead of levels and waystations.

Only the Divine Essence Hoo (ھُو) is manifested in the outer as well as the inner world and in each and everything

There are two doctrines regarding Oneness of Allah. The first school of thought is ‘Oneness of Being’, Wahdah al-Wujud or Hamah Aust (only He exists). The second doctrine is known as Wahdah ash-Shuhud or Hamah Az Aust (Oneness of witnessing).

According to Wahdah al-Wujud, Allah has created all the creations from His Own Essence. Eternal Reality is present in each particle of the universe; all the things are from Him and within Him. Meaning thereby, all those we see other than Allah is duality.

According to Wahdah ash-Shuhud, everything is not eternal rather it took light from Divine light.

Sultan Bahoo (ra) also follows the doctrine of Wahdah al-Wujud or Hamah Aust. He says:

  • Only the Divine Essence Hoo (ھُو) is manifested in the outer as well as the inner world and in each and everything.

He further says:

  • If you remove the veil from yourself you will find that only One Entity exists. The duality (the variety of material things) you see is due the lack of your (spiritual) insight. (Risala Roohi Sharif)

Answers of Important Questions

Sultan Bahoo (RA) is the famous Sufi Saint of subcontinent. He is the leader of Mystics and Sultan of Faqr. Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani’s order is called Qadri order and Sultan Bahoo’s order is called Sarwari Qadri order. You must have seen similarity in names. Well Sarwari Qadri order is Qadri order. He composed and put together the actual Qadri order and renamed it as Sarwari Qadri order. As any order which becomes famous is later on after many years cashed on by fake guru’s. Therefore to avoid innumerable fake followers and guides, the famous Sultan Bahoo renamed his order as Sarwari Qadri. It was to divert true followers onto the straight path and left fake guru’s to use name only. The essence remains in Sarwari Qadri order to date.

It is a fact that the satanic powers prevailed in the world that was taking Muslim umma into darkness. However, the Light of Allah always wins and this time it was through the spiritual order of Sarwari Qadri of Sultan Bahoo that serves as a savior to date through his spiritual descendant Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen.

Sultan Bahoo is the king of Mystics and stationed at the highest spiritual stations of Sultan of Faqr. Throughout his life he invited masses towards marifa and Divine vision by the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat. His method of spiritual training was same as the Holy Prophet (pbuh) i.e., instilling true faith by the efficacy of spiritual sight. None of his teachings are against sharia. He urges the seekers to strive for the union with Allah. He says:

باجھ وصال اللہ دے باھوؒ، سبھ کہانیاں قصے ھو

Meaning: Without the union with Allah (annihilation in Hoo) all stations and destinations are merely illusions rather a waste of time.

Sultan Bahoo (ra) also follows the doctrine of Wahdah al-Wujud or Hamah Aust. He says:

  • Only the Divine Essence Hoo (ھُو) is manifested in the outer as well as the inner world and in each and everything.

Marifa is a vast term of Sufism that gives a new meaning at every spiritual level. Basically it is the knowledge and recognition of Allah which keeps on increasing as the lover progresses towards His closeness. It reveals new dimensions at every stage and includes Divine vision, knowledge of His Essence and attributes, acquiring the attributes on annihilating in Him and finally becoming one with the Essence having ultimate marifa. Since Allah is Infinite, His marifa is also endless. The invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat is the foundation of marifa. It can be gained from the inward sources like the intuitive and inspired knowledge as well as the outward sources like the spiritually effective Sufi teachings and the words of the perfect spiritual guide.


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