Homage to a Sufi Saint-Baba Farid

The outreach of Islam was greatly enhanced by the Sufis aka mystics, hence Islamic History is incomplete without taking into account their works in reconstructing the religious thought. This synthesis was brought about by the Sufis and the epitome of this syncretism is Baba Farid. He belonged to one of the most influential Sufi orders in South Asia I.e. Chishtia silsala, which is equally revered across the globe. Baba Farid’s was a disciple of Qutub u din Bakhtiar Kaki. His mentor considering the unorthodox way of meditation of his prodigious student advised him to travel to Ajodhan I.e modern day Pakpattan located in Punjab Pakistan. Sources of the time note that Baba Farid used to hang himself upside down in a well for forty days and pray. People congregated around the well to witness him. At that time he lived in the cosmopolitan city of Delhi. Hence, following his mentor’s command he moved to the afore mentioned area, but even there he wasn’t left alone and people across South Asia tracked him down and some settled permanently where he lived, one such person was Nizam ud din Aulia, who ultimately was awarded the baton to carry on his message. Without This patron saint of Indian capital, Delhi might not have existed in its present form. As one of the kings of Tughlaq dynasty disowned Delhi and commanded the denizens of Delhi to move to the new city that he developed. The only incandescent lamp that was lit in all of Delhi was at Nizam ud din aulia’s shrine and his disciple who lit that at his shrine gained the pseudonym of ‘Chiragh Delhi’ the one who brightened Delhi. Anyhow, Baba Farid is one the only arch Sufis whose influence surpasses religious differences. Therefore his Kalam is also a part of the divine book of Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib. We live in a time when religion has become the most potent tool to divide and manipulate the masses. It’s time that we look at our past and try to comprehend how much this wedge between religions has increased, which seems beyond repair. The panacea to that is provided by the life and universality of teachings this great mystic. Therefore paying homage to this great Sufi wasn’t only cathartic but also gave hope that there are precedents which need to be highlighted and followed today more than ever.

Submitted by B.H.