BABA FARID
His Holiness Hadzrat Pir-e-Tariqat Farid ud Din Masud Gang Shakar, RA is one of the most renown and popular Awlia Allah of the Asiatic Subcontinent, known as Baba Farid, RA, or as Baba Ganj-i-Shakar for the reasons we will explain below. We will call him as Baba farid throughout this section.
Baba Farid, RA, born around 1175 DC in Kothawal (Punjab). His mother, RA, had special care of him and kept him extremely pure. He completed his primary educations in his native village, after he was sent to Multan where he received further education. He completed his formal education in Qandhar, then he went to Delhi where he, RA, went in Baiat (in other words he received initiation) entering tasawwuf by the hands of Kahawaja Qutb ud Din Bakhtiar Kaki, RA, who later on bestowed on him khilafat.
Baba Farid, RA, performed his Chilla in Uch Sharif. After his Chilla he started traveling widely across the Asiatic Subcontinent, Central Asia and Iraq. Finally he settled in a very quiet locality. Ajudhan known in present days know as Pakpattan. Chishti are known as “ahle baisht” and this nick name is due to the high degree of sanctity (wilayat) earned by HHH Baba Sahab, RA. Infact Pak Pattan is know all over the subcontinent and beyond by the “bahishti darwaza” or door to paradise”. HHH Pir Mehar Ali Shah Jilani, RA, of Golra Sharif, Rawalpindi, used to say that when is the proper time HHH the Holy Prophet, SAWS, visits the shrine of HHH Baba Farid, RA, in the occasion of the annual celebrations of his passing away or Urs. Literally Urs means wedding or union. In general in the Asiatic Subcontinent a Urs is a festival to commemorate the passing away from this world of a particular saint who passed away in that day. Thus Urs is intended as union of the Awlya Allah in question with his Greater, in this respect it is a spiritual reunion. Since the passing away of Baba Farid, RA, is on fifth of Muharram the Urs starts on the same day and lasts for four days. In the nights between those four days a huge number of pilgrims, mainly Chishti, gather along the roads of Pakpattan waiting to enter and pay respect (“salaam”) to HHH Baba Farid, RA. In doing so the faithful have to pass the door of access to the shrine, which is called “Baishti Darwaza” or “door to Paradise”. The specialty of this door is that in occasion of one of the early urs of Baba Farid, RA, HHH the Holy Prophet, SAWS was witnessed to pass the door of the shrine. Since then the door was nick named “door to paradise” and the importance of the door in the Chishti order is much that Chishti are nick named “ahle baishit” meaning that every true. Chishti is essentially a door to Paradise, a living door to the unseen. It was the 5th of Muharram, 664AH (15 October, 1265 AC) when HHH Baba Farid, RA, passed away, after Isha Prayer. HHH Baba Farid, RA, become unconscious soon after the salaat of Isha, then he regained consciousness and his first and unique concern was to after the prayer of Isha. He, RA, then enquired about having offered his prayer, his disciples assisting him confirmed it to him but he insisted to offer again the prayer showing an enconous sense of dedication to his duty to discharge but also showing that he, RA, was conscious of his close time departure to the unseen world. Then again after performing his Isha prayer fell unconscious and after a while regained his consciousness and again he repeated his prayer of the night (isha). Then he fell unconscious again for the third time, and again he, RA, repeated the prayer of Isha for the third time. It is during this third cycle of prayer that he, RA, passed away. Allah SWT out of His Infinite Mercy granted him to pass away while performing his prayer and in full consciousness.
ﺮﻭﭨﻰ ﻤﻴﺮﻯ ﻜﺎﭨﻬ ﺩﻯ٬ ﻻﻭﻦ ﻤﻴﺮﻯ ﺒﻬﻜﻬ
ﺠﮩﻨﺎﮟ ﻜﻬﺎﮨﺩﻯ ﭽﻭﭙﮍﻯ٬ ﮔﻬﻨﮯ ﺴﮩﻦ ﮔﮯ ﺩﻜﻬ
Rote meree kaaTh dee, laawaN* meree bhukh,
jehnaaN khaahdee chopRee, ghaney sehN* ge dukh.
Condiment ﺴﺎﻠﻦ ﻻﻭﻦ wood ﻠﻜﮌﻯ ﻜﺎﭨﻬ
Profound ﮜﮩﺮﮮ ﮜﻬﻨﮯ buttered ﭽﻭﭙﮍﻯ
My bread is like wood & hunger is my condiment. Those who eat buttered bread shall suffer profound pains.
Buttered bread means dining tables laden with sumptuous dishes. Modern science has also proved that ‘buttered bread’ is not good for our health. ‘Buttered bread’ causes many diseases. One should eat just simple food. All the great men of the world led a very simple life. They encouraged others to follow in their simple and humble path.
ﺮﻜﻬﻰ ﺴﻜﻬﻰ ﻜﻬﺎﺀ ﻜﮯ ﭩﻬﻨﮉﺍ ﭙﺎﻨﻰ ﭙﻰ
ﻔﺮﻴﺩﺍ ﻮﻴﻜﻬ ﭙﺮﺍﺋﻰ ﭼﻮ ﭙﺮﻯ ﻨﮧ ﺘﺮﺴﺎﻮﻴﮞ
Rukhee sukhee khae ke ThaNDaa paaN*ee pee, Farida wekh paraee chopRee naa tarsaaveeN jee.
Other’s ﭙﺮﺍﺋﻰ : ﺪﻮﺴﺮﻯ dry unbuttered ﺮﻛﮭﻰ ﺴﻛﮭﻰ
Eat dry unbuttered bread and drink cold water, Farid, do not feel jealous by looking at other’s buttered bread.
ﻔﺮﻴﺪﺍ ﮜﻠﻴﺋﻴﮞ ﭽﻛﮌ٬ ﺪﻭﺮ ﮜﮭﺮ٬ ﻨﺎﻞ ﭙﻴﺎﺮﮮ ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ
ﭼﻻﮟ ﺘﺎﮟ ﺒﮭﺠﮯ ﻜﻤﻠﻰ ﺮﮨﺎﮟ ﺘﺎﮟ ﭩﭩﮯ ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ
Farida, galiyeyN chikaR, door ghat, naal plyaarey neyNh, chalaaN taaN bhijey kamlee, rahaaN taaN TuTey neyNh.
Mud ﭼﻜﮍ blanket ﻜﻤﻠﻰ relationship ﭘﻴﺎﺮ ﻋﺷﻖ : ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ
Streets are muddy (slippery), home is far away and deep is the relationship with the Beloved. If I walk, my blanket becomes drenched (wet all though) and if I stay back, the relationship breaks.
ﺒﻬﺠﻮ ﺴﺠﻮ ﻜﻤﻟﻰ٬ ﺍﷲ ﻮﺮﺴﻮ ﻤﻴﻨﮩﮧ
Bhijho sijho kamlee, Allah warso meyNhm, jaa milaaN thinhaaN sajnaaN, TuTo naaheeN nehNh.
ﺒﻬﺠﻮ: ﺑﮭﺎﻮﯾﮟ ﮜﻠﻰ ﮨﻮ ﺠﺎﻮﮮ ﺴﺠﻮ: ﺑﮭﺎﻮﯾﮟ ﺴﺠﮭ ﺠﺎﻮﮮ
ﻮﺮﺴﻮ : ﺑﮭﺎﻮﯾﮟ ﻮﺮﮬ ﭘﻮﮮ ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ : ﭘﯾﺎﺮ٬ ﻤﺤﺒﺖ
Let the blanket become soaked (wet). Let it rain. I must go to see my Beloved to save the relationship from being broken.
Baba Farid says that never give in, be a man of commitment.
Ed Cole rightly said,. “Heroes are not the ones who never fail, but the ones who never give up”.
kaNDey sakht gulaabaaN waaley dooroN weykh naa Daryey, chobhaaN jhaliyey, rat chawaaiyey, jhol phuleeN tad bhariey.
Don’t watch the thorns of roses fearfully from afar. Unless you endure being pricked and bleeding, you cannot fill your pouch with flowers.
ﺒﺮﮨﺎ ﺒﺮﮨﺎ ﺁﮐﮭﯾﺌﮯ٬ ﺒﺮﮨﺎ ﺘﻭﮟ ﺴﻠﻄﺎﻥ
ﺠﺖ ﺘﻥ ﺒﺮﮨﻭﮟ ﻨﮧ ﺍﭘﺠﮯ ﺴﻮ ﺘﻥ ﺠﺎﻥ ﻤﺴﺎﻥ
Birraah birrah aakhyey, birraah tooN sultan, jit tan birrhoN naa upajey, so tan jaan masaan.
ﺒﺮﮨﺎ : ﻮﭽﮭﻭﮍﺍ٬ ﻋﺸﻖ ﺘﻥ : ﺪﻴﮧ٬ ﭙﻨﮉﺍ٬ ﺠﺴﻡ ﺍﭘﺠﮯ: ﭙﻴﺪﺍﮨﻮ
Keep committed, with the pangs of separation, because separation is a king. Without this, man is like a crematorium (a place where the dead are burnt). If the meaning of Birha is taken as Ishq then its translation would be as follows: “O Love, you are the king. Without Love the body is like a crematorium.
Khawaja Ghulam Farid Multan Koti (1841-1901) says:
ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ ﻔﺮﻴﺪ ﻔﻗﺮﺪﻯ ﻤﻮﮍﻯ
ﺑﺎﺠﻬ ﺒﺮﮨﻭﮟ ﺪﮮ ﻜﻞ ﮜﻞ ﻜﻮﮍﻯ
nehNh Farid faqar dee mooRee,
baajh birhoN de kul gal kooRee.
ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ : ﻋﺸﻖ ﻤﻮﮍﻯ: ﭙﻮﻨﺠﻰ٬ ﺴﺮﻤﺎﻴﺎ ﺒﺮﮨﻭﮟ: ﮨﺠﺮ٬ﻔﺮﺍﻖ ﻜﻮﮍﻯ: ﺠﮭﻮﭨﮭ
Ishq (Love) is the wealth of saintiness. Without Ishq (pangs of separation) every thing is false.
ﻔﺮﻴﺪﺍ ﺠﮯ ﺟﺎﻨﺎﮞ ﺘﻞ ﺘﮭﻮﮍﮮ٬ ﺴﻨﺑﮭﻞ ﺑﮏ ﺑﮭﺮﻴﮟ
ﺠﮯ ﺟﺎﻨﺎﮞ ﺸﻮﮦ ﻨﻨﮉﮭﮍﺍ٬ ﺘﮭﻮﮍﺍ ﻤﺎﻦ ﻜﺮﻴﮟ
Farida je jaaN*aaN till thorRey, sanbhal buk bhareeN, je jaaN*aaN shoh naNDRaa, thoRaa maan kareeN.
ﺘﻞ: ﺠﻨﺲ ﺸﻮﮦ: ﻤﺤﺑﻮﺐ٬ﺴﺎﺌﻴﮟ ﻨﻨﮉﮭﮍﺍ: ﻨﻜﻰ ﻋﻤﺮ٬ﻨﮉﮬﺎ ﻤﺎﻦ: ﻔﺨﺮ٬ ﺘﻜﺒﺮ
Farid, if you know sesame seeds are small in quantity then pick them up with care. You should be less proud of your beloved if the relationship is not ripe.
Baba Jee says that you are given a very short space of time in this world so use it wisely.
ﻤﺖ ﮨﻮﻨﺪﻯ ﮨﻮﮰ ﺍﻴﺎﻨﺎ ﺘﺎﻦ ﮨﻮﻨﺪﮮ ﮨﻮﮰ ﻨﺘﺎﻨﺎ
ﺍﻦ ﮨﻮﻨﺪﮮﺁﭖ ﻮﻨﮉﺍﮰ٬ ﻜﻮﺀ ﺍﻴﺴﺎ ﺒﮭﮝﺖ ﺴﺪﺍﮰ
Mat hoNdee hoey ayaaN*aa, taan hoNdey hoey nataaN*aa, unhoNdey aap waNDaey, ko eysaa bhagat sadaaey.
ﺍﻴﺎﻨﺎ: ﺒﭽﮧ٬ ﻜﻢ ﻋﻗﻞ ﺗﺎﻦ: ﻄﺎﻗﺖ ﻨﺘﺎﻨﺎ: ﻜﻤﺰﻮﺭ ﺍﻦ ﮨﻨﺪﮮ: ﻨﮧ ﮨﻨﺪﮮ ﮨﻮﮰ ﻮﻨﮉﺍﮰ: ﺗﻗﺴﻴﻢ ﻜﺭﮮ
Although he possesses wisdom, he does not claim it. Similarly, although he is powerful, he behaves like a man without power. His possessions are nil, but whenever he gets something, he distributes it. He is called a real saint.
At present we have a society based on having and owning, we need a society based around being and giving Mike Scott.
ﺴﺭﻮﺭ ﭙﻨﻜﮭﻰ ﮨﻴﻜﮍﻮ٬ ﭘﮭﺎﮨﻰ ﻮﺍﻞ ﭘﭽﺎﺲ
ﺍﻴﮩﮧ ﺗﻦ ﻠﮩﺮﻴﮟ ﮜﮉ ﺗﮭﻴﺎ٬ ﺴﭽﮯ ﺗﻴﺮﻯ ﺁﺱ
sarwar paNkhee hekRo, phahiwal pachaas, eh tan lehreeN gaD theyaa, sachey teyree aas.
ﮜﮉ ﺗﮭﻴﺎ: (ﺮﻝ ﻤﻞ ﮜﻴﺎ) ﺗﻦ: body ﮨﻴﻜﮍﻮ: (ﮨﮎ) One ﭙﮭﺎﮨﻰ ﻮﺁﻝ: hunters ﭙﻨﻜﮭﻰ: bird ﺴﺭﻮﺭ: tank ﺴﭼﮯ: God
This tank (world has one bird (man) and there are fifty hunters (numerous temptations). The body is mingled with the waves of sea (world). Only trust in God can save him from being trapped.
Nana Farid says that you should control your wishes otherwise they will ruin you.
ﻔﺮﻴﺪﺍ ﺪﻜﮭ ﺴﻜﮭ ﺍﮎ ﻜﺮ٬ ﺪﻝ ﺘﮭﻴﮟ ﻻﻩ ﻮﻜﺎﺮ
ﺍﷲ ﺒﮭﺎﻮﮮ ﺴﻮ ﺒﮭﻻ٬ ﺘﺎﮟ ﻠﺒﮭﻰ ﺪﺮﺒﺎﺮ
Farida dukh such ik kar, dil theeN lah wikaar, Allah bhaway so bhala, taaN labhee darbaar
Farid, treat pain and pleasure evenly and purify you heart. (Be indifferent to pain and pleasure in order to purify your heart). Virtuous is the one who is liked by God and only he gains a place in the court of God.
(God likes only the virtuous. Only the virtuous will gain a place in the court of God).
ﺁﭗ ﺴﻨﻮﺍﺮﻴﮟ ﻤﻴﮟ ﻤﻻﮟ٬ ﻤﻴﮟ ﻤﻠﻴﺎﮟ ﺴﻜﮭ ﮨﻮﺀ
ﻓﺮﻴﺩﺍ ﺠﮯ ﺘﻮﮟ ﻤﻴﺮﺍ ﮨﻮﺮﮨﻴﮟ ﺴﺑﮭ ﺠﮚ ﺘﻴﺮﺍ ﮨﻮﺀ
Aap saNwaareyN meyN milaaN meyN, meyN milyaaN such hoey, Farida je tooN meyraa ho raheyN sabh jag teyraa hoey.
Whole world: ﺴﺑﮭ ﺠﮚ peace: ﺴﻜﮭ reform: ﺴﻨﻮﺍﺮﻴﮟ
God says, if you reform yourself, you will find Me. He who finds Me, finds peace. If you submit to Me, the whole world will submit to you.
ﻓﺮﻴﺩﺍ ﺨﺎﻠﻖ ﺨﻠﻖ ﻤﻴﮟ٬ ﺨﻠﻖ ﻭﺴﮯ ﺮﺏ ﻤﺎﻧﮩﮧ
ﻤﻧﺪﺍ ﻜﺱ ﻧﻭﮟ ﺁﻜﮭﻴﮯ٬ ﺠﺎﮟ ﺘﺱ ﺒﺒﻦ ﻜﻭﺋﻰ ﻨﺎﻧﮩﮧ
Faridaa khaaliq khalq meyN, khalq wasey Rab maNh, maNdaa kis nooN aakhyey, jaaN tis bin koee naaNh.
Bad: ﻤﻨﺪﺍ dwells: ﻤﺨﻠﻭ ﻖ ﺨﺩ ﺎ ﻭﺴﻤ creation: ﺨﻠﻖ
Farid, the Creator lives in the creation and the creation dwells in the Creator. Since You are the essence of all the creations, therefore, none should be condemned.
ﻓﺮﻴﺩﺍﺠﻭ ﺗﻴﮟ ﻤﺎﺮﻦ ﻤﻜﻴﺎﮟ٬ ﺗﻨﮩﺎﮟ ﻨﮧ ﻤﺎﺮﻴﮟ ﮜﻬﻡ
ﺍﭘﻨﮯ ﮜﻬﺭ ﺠﺎﺌﻴﮯ٬ ﭘﻴر ﺗﻨﮩﺎﮟ ﺪﮮ ﭽﻡ
Farida to teyN maaran ukhjaaN. tinhaaN naa maareeN ghum, apnew ghar jayey peyr thinhaaN de chum.
ﺗﻴﮟ: ﺗﻴﻨﻮﮟ ﻤﻜﻴﺎﮟ: ﻤﻜﮯ ﺗﻨﮩﺎﮟ: ﺍﻭﮩﻨﺎﮟ ﮜﻬﻡ : ﭘﺮﺖﻜﮯ
Farid, if they beat you with their fists, do not throw blows in retaliation, but kiss their feet and return to your home.
ﻓﺮﻴﺩﺍ ﻤﻴﮟ ﻨﻭﮟ ﻤﻨﺞ ﻜﺮ٬ ﻨﻜﻰ ﻜﺮﻜﮯ ﻜﭧ
ﺒﻬﺮﮮ ﺧﺯﺍﻨﮯ ﺮﺐ ﺩﮮ ﺟﻭﺒﻬﺎﻭﮮﺴﻭ ﻠﭧ
Farida meyN noon muNj kar, nikki kar ke kuT, bharey khazane Rabb de jo bhaway so luT.
ﻤﻨﺞ ﻜﺮ: ﭼﻨﮝﻰ ﻂﺮﺡ ﻛﭧ ﻨﻜﻰ: ﭼﻬﻭﭩﻰ ﺒﻬﺎﻭﮮ: ﭼﺎﮨﮯ
Farid, crush your ego, cut it into pieces and only then you can have access to the treasures of God (Rabb). (Here Rabb means that who nourishes all the creatures).
The true value of a human being can be found in the degree to which he has attained liberation from the self.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
ﻤﻴﺎﮟ ﻤﺤﻤﺪ ﺒﺨﺶ ﻛﮩﻨﺪﮮ ﻨﻴﮟ
ﺍﭼﺎ ﻨﺎﮟ ﺮﻛﮭﺎﻴﺎ ﺠﺲ ﻨﮯ ﭼﻠﮭﮯ ﺪﮮ ﻭﭺ ﺴﮌﻴﺎ
ﻨﻴﻭﺍﮟ ﮨﻭﮐﮯ ﻠﻨﮕﮭ ﻤﺤﻤﺩ ﻠﻨﮕﮭ ﺠﺎﺌﻴﮟ ﮜﺎ ﺍﮍﻴﺎ
Uchaa naaN rakhaayaa jis ney chullhey de wich saRyaa, neevaaN ho ke langh Mohammad, langh jaaeyN gaa aRyaa.
He who is named Uchchaa (pincer) burns in the fire. O my dear Muhammad! Be humble and bow, you will pass through easily.
ﺨﻭﺍﺠﮧ ﻏﻻﻢ ﻔﺮﻴﺪ ﻤﮢﮭﻦ ﻔﺮﻤﺎﻧﺪﮮ ﻨﻴﮟ
ﺯﻴﺒ ﺒﻦ ﺯﺒﺮ ﻧ٬ ﺒﻦ
ﮐﺗﮯ ﭙﻴﺶ ﻧﮧ ﭙﮯ ﻮﻧﺠﮯ ﺍﻯ
Zer baN*, zabar naa baN*, kitey peysh naa pey wanjey ee.
Be humble and don’t be arrogant, lest you should be punished.
ﻓﺮﻴﺩﺍﺠﺎﮟ ﻠﺏ ﺗﺎﮟ ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ ﮐﻴﺎ٬ ﻠﺏ ﺗﺎﮟ ﮐﻮﮌﺍ ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ
ﮐﭽﺮ ﺠﮭﭧ ﻠﻨﮝﮭﺎ ﯿﮱ٬ ﭽﮭﭘﺮ ﺘﭩﮯ ﻤﻴﻨﮩﮧ
Farida jaaN lub taaN neyNth keyaa, lub taaN kookRaa nehNh, kichar jhaT laNghaayey, chapper tuTey meyNh
Love or attachment ﻨﻴﻨﮩﮧ: ﻋﺷﻖ how long ﻜﭽﺮ : ﻜﺪ ﺘﮏ ﺘﭩﮯ: ﺷﮑﺴﺘﮧ greed ﺠﮭﭧ : ﻭﻗﺕ ﻠﺐ: ﻂﻤﻊ
Farid, if love is born of greed then call it lust (false love). How long can one stand under a broken hut (leaking roof) during a rain storm?
(Love born out of greed is not enduring).
“Cruelty, false love, greed and anger are four streams of fire. They who fall into them are burnt. O Nanak. Only those are saved who cling to His feed (God’s path).” Grue Nanak
ﺠﺎﮟ ﮐﻨﻭﺍﺭﻯ ﺗﺎﮟ ﭽﺎﯘ ٬ ﻮﻭ ﺍﮨﻰ ﺗﺎﮟ ﻤﺎﻤﻠﮯ
ﻓﺮﻴﺩﺍﺍﻴﮩﻭ ﭙﭽﮭﻮﺗﺎﯘ٬ ﻭﺖ ﻜﻨﻮﺍﺮﻯ ﻨﮧ ﺗﮭﮱ
jaaN kaNwaaree taaN chao, wiwaahee taaN maamley, Farida eyho pacho taao, wat kaNwaaree na theey.
While she was virgin (unmarried she longed for marriage. But, when she got married and faced the problems of married life, she regretted that she could no more revert6 to her blissful days of before marriage life.
Baba Farid says that what is done cannot be undone so think ahead. (Actually, it was the sould who was single (unmarried) or free and it was not put in the body or it was not married (mixed with the matter), it had no troubles but after marrying with the body or marrying with the matter, its problems started and it began spent that she could not revert to being single as before and she could not restore her previous life style).
ﺒﺎ ﺒﺎ ﺟﻰ ﻜﮩﻧﺪﮮ ﻧﻴﮞ ﻜﮧ ﺟﺩﻮﮞ ﻜﻨﻮﺍﺮﻯ ﺴﻰ ﺘﺎﮞ ﻮﻴﺎﮦ ﺩﺍ ﺸﻮﻖ
ﺴﻰ ۔ ﭙﺮ ﺠﺱ ﻭﻴﻟﮯﻮﻴﺎﮩﻰ ﮜﺊ ﺘﺎﮟ ﻮﻴﺎﮦ ﺪﮮ ﻋﺰﺍﺏ ﮔﻟﻬ