SUFI SAINT POET BABA SHEIKH FARID OF PUNJAB

                                                                    

BABA SHEIKH FARID (1173-1266 )

Kaaga karang dhadoliya saglaa khaaiyo mass

Aey do nainaan mat  chhuchho pir dekhan ki aas 

( Sheikh Farid )

( O, crow! Come and peck all this flesh

over this skeletal frame of mine,

Leave these two eyes untouched 

for they are in wait of that Grand beloved of mine )

This Sloka of Sheikh Farid has been translated into various languages and extensively used to portray wait in films, drama and theatre. 

“Kaga sab tan khaaiyo chun chun khaiyo maas

Do naina mat khaaiyo mohe piya milan ki aas”

Khwaja Farid ud Din Ganjshakkar, fondly known as Baba Sheikh Farid, born in the village Kothewal near Multan, was a direct disciple of Hazrat Bakhtiar Kaki. He belonged to the Chisti order of Sufis and was a direct descendant of Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab of Mecca ( 577-644 AD). He was born when North India, especially Punjab, was under great turmoil. Taimur Lang, Halaku (grandson of Changz Khan) and other invaders had ravaged the country for about 200 years before his death. The Slave dynasty of Qutub Ud din Aibak had tried to subdue people by force, which resulted in social tensions and friction in various communities. Then came these Sufi saints who applied healing balm to the wounds of the people by their words and deeds.

Farida khaak na nindiye khaaku jedh na koyiyey

Jeevdiya pairaa talley muyiya oppar hoyiyey

( Sheikh Farid )

(Speak not ill of this dust, O Farid!

Nothing equals this dust over here.

For it lies underneath our feet whilst we exist 

And comes over to the head after death.)

Baba Farid wrote Sufi poetry that came to be known as slokas in Punjabi. He preached to Hindus and Muslims alike, and humanity was his religion. He is considered to be the first major poet of the Punjabi language.

So profound is the humanitarian message in his poetry that Guru Arjun Dev Ji included 134 slokas of Sheikh Farid in the Guru Granth Sahib. Even Guru Nanak Dev Ji had included his hymns in Adi Granth, the predecessor of Guru Granth Sahib.

Farida galliye chikkad , door ghar naal pyaare neho 

Challan taan bhijey kambli rahan taan tootay neho

( Sheikh Farid )

(Far away lies my destination 

And muddy are the pathways to my beloved’s abode 

If I step in, this cloak shall get muddy,

And if I  step not, the bond of attachment 

shall break.)

His Mazaar is located at Pak Pattan in Pakistan. Like Sikh tradition, a Langar is active at this shrine, serving food to visitors. Annual Urs at the shrine is held for six days in the month of Muhharam, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Mehfi e Sama ( Qawaali ) is a daily feature at this shrine. Dhamaal, or a dance in trance, is also a special feature at this shrine.

Kaale mainde kapde te kaala meinda bhaisu 

Gun hi bhariya mein phiraan log kehn darveshu 

( Sheikh Farid )

( Black are my clothes and blacker are my deeds,

Hiding them underneath this black garb, 

I move around 

Like a dervish that people call me .)

( Avtar Mota )

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