The prime attraction of the
Fort area is the Mausoleum of Sheikh Baha-udDin Zakariya (the ornament of the
Faith) generally known as Bahawal Haq and Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fath, commonly
known by the title of Rukn-i-Alam (pillar of the World). The lofty domes of
these Mausoleums are visible, from miles and dominate the skyline of multan.
Bahawal Haq as a saint is respected throughout the country particularly in
Southern Punjab and Sind. He is the saint whose name is repeated for the sake of
benediction and safety by a landlord in hisspaciousbungaiow, afarmerin
hisfield,ashepherd in the jungle, and a boatman while navigating his boat in the
midst of a swollen river. The boatmen, as they ply their poles in the waters of
Chenab and Indus may be heard repeating loudly' "Dam Bahawal Haq- Dam-Bahawal
Haq Dam".
The phrase is fervently repeated until the boat, with its contents, is carried
safely to its destination. There are many legends spun around the personality of
this saint but it will not be possible to reproduce such legends in the limited
space available in this book. Sheikh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya known as Bahawal Haq,
was born at Kot Kehror a town of District Laiah near Multan, around 1170 AD His
father died when he was a child, but he grew in wisdom and studied in Turan and
Iran. He received religious instructions from Sheikh Shahab-ud-Din Suhrawardy in
Baghdad and became his Khalifa. He was on terms of great friendship with Sheikh
Farid Shakar Ganj and lived with him for a long time.
Bahawal Haq was a pious man and for many years he was the great saint of multan.
For fifteen years he preached for the glory of Islam and his fame as a teacher
and a pious man spread far and wide. He also traveled far and wide. After
performing Haj he visited Jerusalem, Syria, Baghdad and many other Muslim
Countries. After his wanderings Bahawal Haq settled in multan in 1222 AD and
very soon his sanctity, piety and learning spread throughout the country and the
number of his followers swell to thousands. This great man, however, passed away
from this world during 1267 AD The Mausoleum, where he lies in eternal peace, is
said to have been built by the saint himself and according to Cunningham there
is only one other specimen of the architecture of this exact period and, that
is, at Sonepat in (India). The Mausoleum is a square of 51 feet 9 inches,
measured internally. Above this is an octagon, about half the height of the
square, which is surmounted by a hemispherical dome. The Mausoleum was almost
completely ruined during the siege of 1848, but was soon afterwards restored by
the Muslims. The Mausoleum contains besides the tomb of the saint and many of
his descendants, including his son Sadr-ud-Din. According to tradition, Bahawal
Haq left enormous wealth, but Sadr-ud-Din distributed the whole of it to the
poor. Opposite the door of the Mausoleum there is a small grave of Nawab
Muzaffar Khan who died defending himself against the Sikhs. In the precincts are
also buried Shahnawaz Khan son of Muzaffar Khan, Makhdum Shah Mahmud, the late
Makhdum Bahawal Bakhsh.