History

Hazrat Sultan Bahu was born into the Awan tribe known for its organisation and discipline, obedience to the patriarch, valour, education and fear of God. He traced his descent from Hazrat Ali the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet Mohammad.

Hazrat Bahu was born in Shorkot in 1628 AD / 1039 AH and was named Bahu.
Legends relating to his childhood are numerous and of a varied nature. One of them relates that When Bahu was a boy, he was such a devout Muslim that a sort of radiance spread round his face and whenever a Hindu witnessed it, he was so impressed by it, that forgetting all, he renounced his own religion and became a Muslim.
This miracle frightened the Hindus who sent a delegation to wait upon his father and request him to keep his son indoors, except at certain hours.

One night he had a dream in which he saw himself being presented in the Court of the Holy Prophet Mohammad by no other than Hazrat Ali. The Holy Prophet took his hand in his and thereby honoured him by initiating him. He himself acknowledged all those blessings that ensued. He said: "I attained so many and such stations and exalted positions, which cannot be described." Subsequently, the Holy Prophet entrusted him to Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, better known as Ghous-ul-Azam. The dream brought about a noticeable transformation in him. He became indifferent to mundane affairs and lost interest in his surroundings. He was absorbed in the manifestation of the glory of God Almighty and was lost in the beauty of the absolute.

His mother observing this advised that he get himself initiated in to a Sufi Order. He asked his mother: "Where is a spiritual guide to be found? And where should I go in search of him?" His mother pointed towards the East.
Hazrat Sultan Bahu left home and went out in search of a spiritual guide. He had heard of the great spiritual attainment and powers of Hazrat Shah Habibullah so he went to him and revealed the object of his visit. After a short period of discipleship Sultan Bahu rose above his master in his power of karamat or miracles. Thereupon Hazrat Shah Habibullah informed him of his inability to teach him any further and directed him to go to his master Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdur Rahman Qadiri of Delhi. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdur Rahman, as Hazrat Shah Habibullah described him, possessed great spiritual knowledge.
He thereupon went to Delhi and became a spiritual disciple of Hazrat Shaikh Syed AbdurRahman Qadiri, and later, his spiritual guide conferred upon him the robe of caliph, thus enabling him to accept spiritual disciples. After living in Delhi for sometime, he returned to Shorkot and began to preach. He called his Order "Qadiriya Masrooriya." Among his caliphs were Hazrat Nou Rang, Hazrat Mulla Ma'ani, and Hazrat Momin Shah.

Sultan Bahu was an eminent saint who founded the Sarwari Qadiri order. His asceticism, renunciation, faith, hope and belief place him in extremely high regard among the sufi saints in the Indian subcontinent. His unflagging zeal, dogged determination, purity of faith and above all his humanism continue to inspire.

The shrine of Sultan Bahu, located in Garh Maharaja, Punjab, was originally built on his grave but has had to be moved twice when the Chenab River changed its course. It is a popular Sufi shrine, and the annual Urs festival commemorating his death is celebrated there with great fervour on the first Thursday of Jumada al-Thani month. People come from far off places to join the celebrations.
Sultan Bahu also used to hold an annual Urs to commemorate the martyrs of Karbala from the 1st to the 10th day of the month of Muharram. This tradition continues to this day and every year, thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine during the first 10 days of Muharram.

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