Hadhrat Sultan Bahoo Biography

1. Sultan ul Arifeen Hadrat Sultan Bahoo Sultan Bahoo is one of the greatest Sufis of the world and his thought equals that of Jalal-ud- Din Rumi, the great and famous Persian Sufi poet of twelve century. According to all records available, he was a man of God. With his heart fully and deeply immersed in love of God and his feet firmly planted in the celestial spheres, he ardently longed to become one with the Primal Unity. He authored more than 140 books in Persian on mystical truths. In the Indo- Pak Sub- Continent, he is more renowned for his poetry; in Punjabi poetry that sings of love for God and pours forth his spontaneous and passionate longing for God. His path is the Sufi path of Love, and his surrender to the Divine Beloved is unconditional and complete. There is no ulterior motive in his pure love for God; he desired nothing but God only. Human societies are united by certain common shared feeling, desires and values, e.g. the desire for safety of human life and respect for human dignity, the ideal of peace, harmony, equity, justice, fair play and desire for personal relationship of love with God. When these drives are deprived of positive cultivation, a society is formed wherein greed, materialism, animosity, cut-throat competition and hatred run rampant. Such a society promises nothing in the way of goodness and decency. When faith in God & Judgment day, the values of love and respect for fellow human beings, sincerity, honesty, purity, truthfulness, mercy, giving and caring that underlie the ideal of human perfection are spurned and violated then the society becomes completely disordered. As a result chaos & confusion reign. However, it is imperative to set up balance & order in human societies, so that humanity can conform to nature’s universal harmony & live in accordance with their own innate disposition. Society can be rescued if we listen to the sincere voice of Sufis like Sultan Bahoo and practice their teachings. Sufis are truly people of knowledge, for divine truths are revealed to their hearts. Sufis are spiritual athletes who embody the best qualities of the perfect ideal man. They are beacons of light. As Sufis have their hearts filled with the most sublime ideals and love of God, they become the source of spreading goodness and happiness around them. They do not think of their own happiness or comforts for they have transcended all selfish interests; they,

2. absorbed as they are in oneness and love of God, serve His creation and try to alleviate their distress. Sultan Bahoo offers a vision of universe based on the principle of Love. Questioning and rejecting the monolithicand exclusive structures of thought and feelings, Sultan Bahoo’s concept of inclusivity, all embracing love is a strong deterrent to the discourse of clash of civilizations, and Othering that stems from ignorance of the intrinsic beauty of Islam that means peace. This myopic world-view based on a fragmentary concept of truth and reality generates bias, suspicion, division, hatred, hostility, injustice, violence and aggression. Observers make the mistake of attacking “Islam” & demanding its reform, instead of understanding the abuse of religion for vested interests. It is often said that Islam has failed to

3. solve the problems of life, that it cannot eradicate social evils & ensure peaceful existence. Islam has come to be equated with fanaticism and terrorism. However, Sultan Bahoo points out that this misperception arises from misinterpretation of religion by selfish & corrupt jurists, religious scholars. One of the root causes of this misinterpretation of Islam as a religion of violence is ignorance of the true teachings of Islam. This misinterpretation can be corrected by understanding Sultan Bahoo’s lore as the intrinsic values of Islam are embedded in Sufi literature, for Sufis are the friends of ALLAH. They enjoy proximity to ALLAH; they are the custodians and guardians of truths revealed in the HOLY QURAN and practised by the Prophet Muhammad (PSBUH). They are lovers of ALLAH, whose hearts have been purified of all desires. A Sufi is a wali, friend of God; he is a muqarab, i.e. close to God. As Sultan Bahoo says, ➢I am a bird of paradise that flies high ➢In the heavens of God’s blessing ➢In my word is hidden the command of God; ➢In my will lies the power to reverse destiny ➢Trivial before me is the wisdom of Plato and Aristotle; Millions like Hatem (Hatem Taa’’), unmatched in their generosity are but beggars at Bahoo’s door (b,175). However, despite the fact that a Sufi has his feet planted in the 7th heavens, though he can give sight to a person born blind, can turn back the shot arrow, yet he looks upon himself as nothing, as Sultan Bahoo says; that he finds himself even less significant than a ratti, the smallest measure of weight. This is because he knows that Allah is the Absolute Reality, the one and the only Sovereign Power, Allah has all the power and treasures. This knowledge inculcates humility, the cardinal virtue in all the religions. Such a person, who looks upon himself as less than a straw, ratti or gnat, whose objective of life is annihilation, self-naughting, effacing his separate identity in the Ocean of Divine Love, can never think of exercising power over fellow human beings or cheating or hurting them. One, who is drowned in love of God, reflects the divine attributes of generosity, forgiveness, compassion and mercy. Drawing upon the Quranic verse, “God does not like proud, boastful men.”(Q465), Sultan Bahoo writes, if someone splatters you with dirt be like a dunghill, take it without reproach, let them hurl abuse at you –accept it in humility bear complaints, censure, blame, calumny, with patience –for the sake of the Beloved .(B,62) Here is a lesson in humility, tolerance, patience and forgiveness. There is no anger; neither reaction, nor retaliation. These verses are reminiscent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PSBUH)’s forgiveness of the people of Taif, who abused him, pelted stones on him, but he patiently bore their reproaches and slander. Not only he forgave them, he also prayed for them, for he is, as he told the Archangel Gabriel, Rahmat-al Aalmeen, Mercy without any discrimination, for all the inhabitants of multiple universes. In the unifying vision of Oneness of

4. God, i.e. wahdat, all the polarities and differences are resolved and all are seen as creatures of the same Creator. Sultan Bahoo, like all Sufis, believed in God who is Rab-al-Alameen, the nourisher, the sustainer of all the universes. Long before the scientists forwarded the idea of multiple universes, Sultan Bahoo talked about more than 18 universes that teem with life. Sultan Bahoo’s teachings rest on the Quranic precepts and Prophetic Traditions and practices that serve as a beacon light to dispel ignorance that breeds hatred, vengeance. Like all Sufis, Sultan Bahoo’s mentor is Prophet Mohammad PSBUH), who 1400 years ago well before Magna Carta and the UN Charter of Human Rights, put forth the ideas of social justice, respect for human dignity, equity, equality, rights and duties and accountability. Similarly, like all Sufis he believed that Prophet

5. Mohammad (Peace be Upon Him) is not only the Prophet of Islam, but the benefactor of entire humanity, who conquered Mecca without shedding a single drop of blood, granted amnesty to all the conquered, forgave even his worst enemies who had mercilessly killed his dear ones; rather he prayed for his enemies. Thus Sultan Bahoo’s world view was cosmopolitan. He believed that one, who loves God, necessarily loves and respects His entire creation. Love, respect and service of humanity are mark of reverence for God, the Creator. Fully cognizant of Primal Unity at the core of diversity at all levels, Sultan Bahoo’s message to humankind is to go beyond mere tolerance of difference of beliefs, and engender compassion, respect and love for the totality of humanity in its diversity. Sultan Bahoo practiced what he said. There was no discrepancy, contradiction between his words and practice. He lived a life that demonstrated and testified his lofty message of love and respect for the entire humanity irrespective of their faith, color or race. His shrine was open for all. Like Muvlana Rumi, he invited all to join his caravan of Love, whether they pray in Church or temple, mosque or synagogue, can join his caravan of Love. Referring to the message of peace, harmony and love embedded in Sufi literature, A.J. Arberry (1956) the famous orientalist/scholar on Islamic mysticism wrote, “Mankind is hungry, but the feast is there, though it is locked up and hidden away”. The aim of this website, like translations of Sufi literature, is to put it within reach so that, like “Heroes of Homer we may stretch out our hands to the good cheer laid before us”.