Hadrat Sultan Bahu

Hadrat Shaykh Muhammad Sultan Bahu [d.1104 H - 1693 CE] 'alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan


'Sultan al Arfieen' Sultan Muhammad Bahu Radi Allahu anhu is acknowledged as one of the most prominent Sufi poets of the Indo-Pak subcontinent. He is known to be the author of over 140 books in Persian and Arabic dealing with a variety of religious and mystic subjects. He was a strict upholder of the Shari'a and did not in his entire life forego even one Mustahab.

 

According to some sources Hadrat Sultan Bahu Radi Allahu anhu was born in the village of Shorkhote in Punjab Province in the year 1039 CE, during the reign of the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.  Hadrat Sultan Bahu Radi Allahu anhu  belonged to the Sarwari Qadiri tariqat and was a descendent of Amir al Momineen Imam Ali Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu.



Hadrat Sultan Bahu Radi Allahu anhu did not acquire the worldly sciences. Due to immense spiritual attractions and ecstasy it became difficult to attain to formal education. Yet his own person was luminous with Divine Light. In one of his writings the great wali (saint) refers to this when he says that: 'I did not have time to spare for formal education but spiritual experiences, divine favour and guidance and esoteric conquests has enabled me to acquire such vast knowledge that it would require many files of paper to record. Spiritual realities have so enlightened my inward that both the esoteric and exoteric sciences have been revealed to me....neither did I have the time to perform daily litanies (wird) because since the beginning I have been immersed in the ocean of Unity (Tawheed)'.

 

The blessed soul of Hadrat Sultan Bahu Radi Allahu anhu departed in a blissful state to its Lord on a Thursday evening, on the 1st of Jamadi al Thani, in the year 1102/1693 at the age of 63.