Conquering, with love

Farid-Ud Din, a protagonist of the Chisti order, born in 1173, belonged to the Sunni tradition of Islam. It is believed that Farid met Khwaj...

Farid-Ud Din, a protagonist of the Chisti order, born in 1173, belonged to the Sunni tradition of Islam. It is believed that Farid met Khwaja Qutab-ud-Din Bakhtyarkaki, who is credited with establishing Sufism in India in Multan, a place known for Quranic learning and Muslim mysticism. It was after the death of his mentor that Farid came to Pakpattan. Farid is addressed as Baba Sheikh Farid 8212; a reverential title for a Sufi mystic.

The eleventh century saw a caste ridden society engrossed in barren ritual and superstition. Sheikh Farid held the firm belief that a human being has come into this world to do good deeds, remember the Creator and stay away from worldly attractions. To be a mystic, Sheikh Farid advocated tolerance, patience, belief in the service of humanity, honest living, no lust for money. One needs to remember Him, through bandgi or divine recollection.

Sheikh Farid left a line of successors who preserved his hymns and were passed on by Sheikh Abrahim, the twelfth in spiritual succession to Guru Nanak, deeply influenced by the Chisti mysticism.

Sheikh Farid was among the saints of medieval India whose hymns 116 stanzas, in a rare recognition of his teachings, were included while compiling the Guru Granth by Guru Arjan Dev.

In one of the hymns, Sheikh Farid emphasises the love for the Creator. 8220;Dileh Muhhabat jin sai sachaya, jin mann hor mukh hor so kandhe kachiya/ Rate ishq Khudia rang didar ke, visrian jin naam, te bhue bhar thea8221;. They who love their Lord with their whole heart, alone are true. But, those who say one thing and do another, they are reckoned as False. They who are imbued with the love of Allah are inebriated with His vision. But, they who have forsaken the Lord8217;s name are a burden to the earth.

On tolerance, Sheikh Farid says: 8220;Farida jo tenn maran mukian, tinan na mari ghum aapnare ghar jayeke, pear tina de chum8221;. O Farid, they who gave thee blows, greet them with a kiss. Yea, go not back to thy home, if thou art amiss. Again, 8220;Farida, bure da bhala kar, gussa mann na handaye Dhei rog na lagai, palle sab kuch payee8221;. Return good for evil and fire not the mind with wrath. The body then remains whole and you gather all you seek.

In today8217;s world where we have rampant social inequity and human intolerance generating fanaticism, it is appropriate to remember Sheikh Farid. We forget these great saints at our peril.