The history of Indo-Pak subcontinent is incomplete without the mention of Muslims saints in different parts and if you visit any city or town of India or Pakistan, you would surely encounter some shrine of saint. There are some saints who are very famous among the people, and Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar is one of the leading ones.
Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, a Muslim Sufi, is generally recognized as the first major poet of the Punjabi language [3] and is considered one of the pivotal saints of the Punjab region. Revered by Muslims and Hindus, he is also considered one of the fifteen Sikh Bhagats within Sikhism and his selected works form part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh sacred scripture. Bābā Farīd’s descendants, also known as Fareedi, Fareedies and Faridy, mostly carry the name Fārūqī, can be found in Pakistan, India and the diaspora.
Baba Fareed was born in 1188 or 1173 CE (584 Hijri) at Kothewal village, 10 km from Multan in the Punjab region of Pakistan, to Jamal-ud-din Suleiman and Maryam Bibi (Qarsum Bibi), daughter of Sheikh Wajih-ud-din Khojendi . He was a descendant of Farrukh Shah Kabuli, the King of Afghanistan .
According to a legend, it was his mother, who inspired young Farid towards prayer, by placing Shakar (sugar) under his prayer mat, and when she didn't, Farid found the sugar nevertheless, this episode gave him an unmistakable spiritual fervour and later the name, Ganj-i-Shakar, meaning 'Treasure of Sweetness' (Shakar) . Shaikh Shoaib was nephew of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi.
Baba Farid received his early education at Multan, which had become a centre for education; it was here that he met his master murshid, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a noted Sufi saint, who was passing through Multan, from Bagdad on way to Delhi. Farid wanted to leave with him for Delhi immediately, but Kaki advised him to first finish his education. Thereafter, he left for Sistan, and Kandahar for his further studies. At 16, he also went to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage. Once his education was over, he shifted to Delhi, where he practiced austerities, and learned the doctrine of his Master, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. But the bustling city of Delhi didn’t suit him well, and he decided to move to a quieter place, he chose, Hansi, Haryana, where he stayed for a while .
Meanwhile, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki died in 1235, so he left Hansi, and assumed the role of spiritual successor of his Master, though he left Delhi again, this time for Ajodhan (the present Pakpattan, Pakistan). On his way, his stopped at a place now called, Faridkot, and did penance for 40 days, near the fort of King ‘Mokhal’, then under construction. The king was so impressed by his presence that he named the city, after Baba Farid, instead of ‘Mokhalpur’, and the place is still called, ‘Tilla Baba Farid’, and ‘Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman Purb Mela’ is celebrated in September, each year, commemorating his arrival in the city.
It was here that he met the 20-year old, Nizamuddin Auliya, who went on to become his disciple, and later his successor (khalifa). Soon the city, received the name, Baba Farid’s ‘Pak Pattan’, meaning Pure City, which in time became its present name , though some sources suggest, it comes from its another meaning, 'Holy Ferry' .
Baba Farid married Hazabara, daughter of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud. He died on 5th of Muharram , Tuesday, 7th May 1266 CE (679 Hijri) during Namaz. His darbar is in Dera Pindi, and his name is Khawaja Shaikh Muhammad Paak Ghareeb Nawaz. "There is only one Fareed, though many spring forth from the bud of the flower".
Baba Farid was a very pious and religious man, of impeccable character, humble and people's poet. He was poor and led a simple life. His piety and his character attracted people to Sufism.
His mazar (shrine) is the pride of Pakpattan. Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia constructed his tomb. Mazar has two doors, namely Noori darwaza and Bahishti darwaza. Bahishti darwaza opens once a year and during the Urs thousands of people pass through it. It (door) is made of silver and floral designs are laid in gold sheet . Thousands of devotees come to visit the shrine daily from within the country and from abroad. His urs (death anniversary) is celebrated every year on the 5th, 6th and 7th of Muharram.
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