Hazrat Baba Fariduddin
Ganj-e-Shakar r.a. was born on the 29th Sha'ban in 569 A.H. [April 4, 1179 C.E.]
in Khotwal, a village near Lahore [Pakistan]. He was a direct descendant of
Hazrat Umar Farooq r.a., the second Caliph of Islam.
It is narrated that a miracle occurred before his birth proving his Saintship.
One day, during the pregnancy of his mother, she wanted to pluck some plums from
her neighbour's tree without his permission, but the child in her womb (Hazrat
Baba Farid) created a severe pain in her stomach that forced her to abandon the
idea of plucking. After a few years after Hazrat Baba Farid’s r.a. birth, his
mother lovingly expressed: “My dear son, during your confinement I never ate
anything which was unlawful.” Hazrat Baba Farid r.a., however, smiled and said,
“But, my dear mother, you wanted to pluck some plums from our neighbour's tree
without his permission when I had created a severe pain in your stomach which
saved you from this unlawful act.”
After he had completed his early religious education at the age of 7 in Khotwal,
his mother sent him for higher education to Multan. Here he stayed in a masjid
[mosque] where he learnt the Holy Qur'an by heart and studied Hadith, Fiqh,
Philosophy and Logic under the tutorship of Maulana Minhajuddin.
During his studies, Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Baktiar Kaki r.a. of Delhi visited
Multan where Hazrat Baba Farid r.a. became his Murid (disciple) in the
Chishtiyya Silsila. Upon the instructions of his Pir-o-Murshid, he undertook a
tour of Islamic countries, for about 18 years from 593 A.H. to 611 A.H. [1196
C.E. to 1214 C.E.] he travelled to Ghazni, Baghdad Sharif, Jerusalem,
Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Mecca and Medina meeting many great saints and Sufis.
After the demise of Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin r.a. the mantle of spiritual
leadership in the Chishtiyya Silsila fell on the shoulders of Hazrat Baba Farid
r.a. when Khwaja Qutbuddin r.a.nominated him to be his Khalifa or spiritual
successor.
It is narrated that when Hazrat Baba Farid r.a.visited Medina Sharif he was
spiritually commanded by the Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. to visit Baghdad Sharif and
meet Hazrat Abdul Wahab, son of Hazrat Ghaus-al-Azam Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani
r.a. He was to receive some sacred relics from him. Accordingly, when he reached
Baghdad Sharif, he received a box from Hazrat Abdul Wahab r.a. which contained
the following holy relics: Two flag-poles which were used by the Holy Prophet
s.a.w.s. in some of the battles fought by him; one wooden bowl in which the
Prophet s.a.w.s. used to eat from; one pair of scissors and one turban which was
used by the holy Prophet s.a.w.s. Read After he had completed his early
religious education at the age of 7 in Khotwal, his mother sent him for higher
education to Multan. Here he stayed in a masjid [mosque] where he learnt the
Holy Qur'an by heart and studied Hadith, Fiqh, Philosophy and Logic under the
tutorship of Maulana Minhajuddin.