Sultan ul arifeen

Sultan-ul-Arifeen is the title used exclusively for Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo. He is the most pre-eminent famous saint ' of the subcontinent to date. Sultan refers to the king or leader whereas Arifeen is derived from its singular Arif which means the perfect knower of Allah. Hence, Sultan-ul-Arifeen means the King of the Knowers of Allah. ”Ba-hoo” means “with Allah”. A lot about his life can be learnt by a hagiography written by a descendant of his seven generations later, entitled Manaqib-i Sultani. as well as '.
Birth
Sultan-ul-Arifeen is the direct descendent of Hazrat Ali who was the cousin of Muhammad through the . His ancestry is linked directly to Ameer Shah who was the son of Qutb Shah. Sultan-ul-Arifeen was born on the 1st Jamadi-us-Sani/Jumada al-Thani in 1039 Hijri / 17 January 1630 AD in Shorekot, Jhang district in the Punjab Province of modern Pakistan. This was the time of the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
Sultan-ul-Arifeen was named “Bahoo” by his virtuous and pious mother Bibi Raasti. The name Bahoo means “with God”. According to Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan
“Bahoo’s mother named him Bahoo because he always remains with Hoo.
Education
Belonging to the Qadri Sufi Order, Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sultan Bahoo initiated his own offshoot-Sarwari Qadiri. Although Ghaus-ul-Azam Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani died long before the birth of Sultan-ul-Arifeen, it has been testified in a number of books and poetry that Sultan Bahoo took Mohi-ud-Din Abdul Qadir Jilani as his spiritual master. Most Sufis believe Abdul-Qadir Gilani that Abdul Qadir Jilani has significant role in the mystic world and that all the sufi orders and saints are indebted to him in some way or other.
Sultan Bahoo’s education began from his early stages from his mother, Mai Rasti, who was a pious and God-fearing lady. She advised her son to seek spiritual guidance from Hazrat Shah Habib Gilani. His shrine is in Baghdad Sharif near Abdul Hakim tehsil Mian Channu district Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan. Sultan-ul-Arifeen moved to Delhi for further guidance under Sheikh Abdul Rehman al Qadri. Soon, Sheikh Abdul Rehman al Qadri realized he could not add anything more to Sultan-ul-Arifeen's knowledge as he already knew more than him so Sultan-ul-Arifeen moved back to his familiar surroundings.
Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says, "Although, I have not got worldly education but spiritual knowledge has sanctified me so much that all the knowledge is absorbed in my body and mind.” In his book Ain-ul-Faqr, he says: “I did not get worldly education like Prophet Muhammad but I have got such spiritual and Divine Knowledge due to the heavenly experiences, that a lot of books are required to express it...I could not find time to get education due to excess of revelations and effects The Divine Self Disclosures and neither had I ever done excessive prayers or mystic exercises.”
Struggle
Sultan-ul-Arifeen's greatest Sultan Bahoo:The Life and Teachings struggle was his search that can be divided into two parts: his search for a perfect Murshid and his search for a secret-keeper.
He writes in his books:
“I searched for a Murshid for thirty years but in vain.”
He had already sworn spiritual allegiance upon the hands of Muhammad but his mother told him that outward oath is also necessary. He travelled long distances in search of the Perfect Murshid and met many saints and dervishes but none could fulfill his desire.
Then he heard about Shah Habib Allah Qadri who belonged to the progeny of Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, and lived in Garh Baghdad (Mian Channu, district Khanewal, Punjab Pakistan) a village near Ravi River. Sultan-ul-Arifeen went to Garh Baghdad to meet him.
Shaikh Habib said, "What could I tell you? I do not have what you desire. You can get your destiny from Hazrat Abdul Rehman Jilani Qadri who is in Dehli.”
Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani ordered Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo, after completing his inward training, to swear allegiance upon the hands of Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi. Sultan-ul-Arifeen immediately set for Dehli to obey this order.
Sultan-ul-Arifeen met Shaikh Abdul Rehman Jilani on Friday, 29 Ziqa'ad 1078 Hijri (11 May 1668). The Shaikh took him in privacy. Sultan-ul-Arifeen received his eternal destiny in the form of Ism-e-Allah Zaat in only one meeting with his Murshid/spiritual guide. He found everything he wanted and returned replete and brimful with the emotions to benefit people with this favour and benevolence.
Further, Sultan-ul-Arifeen spent all his life wandering in streets and cities searching for the Seekers of Allah and taking them to the Divine Oneness, as he was ordered from the court of Muhammad to do the duty of guiding people towards God.
Wives
Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Alayh had four wives:
#One of his wives belonged to the family of Hazrat Makhdoom Burhan-ud-Din Ahmad resident of Langar Makhdoom Wala, District Jhang.
#His second wife belonged to the outer circles of his family of Awans.
#The third wife was also his close relative.
# His fourth wife belonged to a Hindu money lender family, who accepted Islam at the hands of Sultan-ul-Arifeen, before he married her.
Children
According to Manaqib-e-Sultani said, while he was talking about the birth and death date of Sultan-ul-Arifeen "His age was exactly 63 years in accordance with the age of Hazrat Mohammad. Neither a day more nor less. His date of birth and death are the same".
Sultan Hamid has not mentioned the date of birth of Sultan-ul-Arifeen in Manaqib-i Sultani., Punjab, was originally built on his grave but it 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 with great fervour. The urs festival is celebrated every year on the first Thursday of Jamadi-us-Sani/Jumada al-Thani. People come from far off places to join the celebrations.
Sultan-ul-Arifeen used to hold the urs of the martyrs of Karbala every year in Muharram from 1st till 10th. This tradition is still carried on. The urs festival is also held during the month of Muharram. Every year, thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine during the first 10 days of Muharram, while in the last three days their number reaches to lacs. In this way, two big congregations are held every year, at his shrine.

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