Khwaja Ghulam Farid
The 108th Urs celebrations of renowned sufi mystic of Sub-continent,poet Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid commences at Kot Mathan.
Khwaja Ghulam Fareed or Khawaja Farid (1845-1901) was a Seraiki poet, Chishti-Nizami mystic and Sajjada nashin (Patron saint) of the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. He was born and died at Chacharan Shrif but buried at Kot Mithan.
He was a great scholar of his time and wrote several books. He knew Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi, Panjabi, Braj Bhasha, and Seraiki. He was a poet of Seraiki and Urdu. He also wrote some poems in Sindhi, Persian, and Braj Bhasha. He was an imperialist poet. He opposed British rule in Bahawalpur. He said to ruler of Bahawalpur in his poem, “You rule yourself on your state and finish police station of British from your state.”
Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid, the top most spiritual poet in Siraiki Language, was born in 1261 A.H. (26, November, 1845 A.D.) at Kot Mithan, chacharan, Sindh(Pakistan) in a family of Arab settlers who had come to this country along with the Arab forces.
His real name was Khursheed Alam. His family chain is linked with Hazrat Omar Farooq (R.A.), the second caliph of Islam. He was, from his early childhood, a very intelligent and shining boy. His mother died when he was five years old and he was orphaned at age twelve when his father died. He was educated by his elder brother, Fakhr Jahan Uhdi.
He learned by heart the Holy Quran at the age of eight. After the death of his father, his elder brother took the responsibility of his education and look after. His brother, Khwaja Fakhar Jahan, was his teacher as well as his spiritual guide. At the age of 16, he completed his former education. At the age of 27, when his elder brother died, he took the charge of spiritual guidance of the people of Ruhi.
He is considered to be one of the greatest saints (called Pir: the spiritual guide). He taught Hadith and Quran. He was master of History, Geography and Astrology as well. He was also a great advocate of the divine love. He spent his entire life in religious and spiritual teachings. He performed Hajj in 1876. He himself was lost in the love of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He died on 24th July, 1901 at the age of 56. The lyrics of Khawaja Farid speak of the sadness of his separation from God and Muhammad(PBUH).
Source: Qazi Muhammad Ahkam; Wikipedia.
Poetry of Khwaja Farid
Khwaja Farid’s Kafi (Seraiki poetry)
Musag malyndi da guzar gaya dinh sara,
Singhar karyndi da guzar gaya dinh sara.
Kejjla payom, surkhi layom, keetom yar visara,
Kang udynday umer vihanri, Aaya na yar piyara.
Roh dongar tay jungle bala, Rolyom Ishaq awara.
Hik dam aish di sayj na manrum, bakht na ditrum vara.
Parh Bismalla gholum sir knu, chatum Ishiq ajara.
Ranjhan manda, man ranjhan di, rooz azal da kara.
Hijer Fareeda lambi laie, jal giyom muft vchara.
English Translation
I wasted my day (the entire lifetime) in shining my teeth with Musag (a tree root).
I spoiled all my day in makeup and in beautifying myself.
I made linings about my eyes with eyeliner; I colored my lips red with a lipstick.
I decorated myself for my love.
I spent all my life in scaring crows (traditionally, crows cackling is an indication of someone guest coming to see you) but my beloved did not come.
I wandered in the dry land, in desert (rohi)and in woods and jungle, I wandered for my love.
Never did I sleep well, not for a moment. My fate did not give me the turn (of good fortune).
With the name of Allah I uncovered my head and picked the burden of love.
Ranjha(the beloved of Heer; traditional) is mine, I am for him(here the name of Ranjha is used metaphorically for beloved),such is written in the sacred book of fate, right from the day of creation of the universe.
O Fareed! separation has taken too long a period, I have almost burnt to ashes. Pity!!!
Note: Kafi is a classical form of Sufi poetry originating from the Sindh, Pakistan. One of the more well-known poets of this style was Bulleh Shah, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast and Khwaja Ghulam Farid. In musical terms, kafi refers to the genre of Urdu light classical music which utilizes the verses of kafi poets. Due to the religious nature of the poetic genre, kafi music is normally associated with the Sufi orders of Islam in South Asia. It is characterized by a devotional intensity in its delivery and as such overlaps considerably with both the Qawwali and Ghazal genres. However, unlike Qawwali, the musical arrangement may only include one harmonium, one tabla, one dholak and a single vocalist.
Kalam Khwaja Farid by Nawaz Doga
Great sufi .and such pious person rearly found nowaday.
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