Bayat of Sultan Bahoo

Do you want to know about difference of opinion on bayat of Sultan Bahoo

There is a difference of opinion among the researchers and biographers about bayat of Sultan Bahoo. It is about the outward bayat of Sultan Bahoo on the hand of Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani. Now the argument mostly given in this context is that he did not require physical oath (bayat). As he had taken bayat on the sacred hand of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) spiritually. Then the Holy Prophet entrusted him to Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani for further spiritual training. Moreover, in all his books, he has used the term Shaikh-e-Maa for Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. It means ‘our spiritual guide’.

Another argument given by them is that he himself has never mentioned anything about his oath of allegiance in any of his books and it is absolutely improbable that he had benefitted from someone but never mentioned him in any of his books. However, this argument is not valid because we have many previous examples where the disciples have not mentioned the name of their spiritual guide in their books. Such as, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani has not mentioned name of his spiritual guide Shaikh Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi in any of his books. Similarly, Sayyid Habibullah Qadri has not mentioned anything about his spiritual guide in his only book Sirrul Habib.

Which historical book has mentioned about bayat of Sultan Bahoo

Only in Manaqib-e-Sultani, the writer has mentioned bayat of Sultan Bahoo was upon the hand of Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani under the spiritual order. Since Manaqib-e-Sultani is his first biography, so it must be true as there is no valid reason to reject it.

Now we shall discuss different opinions of various biographers and researchers in this regard:

What is view of Noor Mohammad Kulachvi about bayat of Sultan Bahoo

The most surprising point of view is that of Noor Mohammad Kulachvi. He was not only a research scholar, but according to him, Haq Bahoo blessed him directly. Surprisingly he claimed to be his spiritual successor and he has also mentioned many of his spiritual meetings with him in his books. Yet never mentioned anything about his own oath of allegiance.

Contradiction of Noor Mohammad Kulachvi

Noor Mohammad Kulachvi’s son Abdul Hameed states about the physical oath of his father in Hayat-e-Sarwari in following words:

 At first, he (Noor Mohammad Kulachvi) took oath of allegiance at the hand of Saleh Mohammad. He was the third caretaker of the Sultan Bahoo Darbar. Further his father took him to the shrine when he was very young and requested from shrine caretaker, Saleh Mohammad to take oath of allegiance from Noor Mohammad Kulachvi. Saleh Mohammad took oath of allegiance with great kindness. Many years later, he (Noor Mohammad Kulachvi) left college and stayed at the shrine as a Dervish. At that time, Saleh Mohammad had died and Noor Mohammad was the shrine caretaker. Noor Mohammad usually visited Damaan (Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan). Once he came to the village Mudi Sharif (Dera Ismail Khan). There, Noor Mohammad Kulachvi also went from Kulachi with his father and renewed his oath of allegiance at Noor Mohammad’s hand. (page 56)

Noor Mohammad Kulachvi contradicts his own statement

If Noor Mohammad Kulachvi was getting spiritual beneficence directly from Sultan Bahoo through the Awaisi way, then why did he need to take oath of allegiance, not even once but twice?
Noor Mohammad Kulachvi writes in Makhzan al-Asrar:

There is not any clue about the physical bayat of Sultan Bahoo. (Pg 259-260)

On the contrary, when Noor Mohammad Kulachvi writes the Sarwari Qadri chain on page 8 of his book Anwar-e-Sultani (Punjabi interpretation of Sultan Bahoo poetry), he writes the name of Pir Rehman i.e. Sayyid Abdul Rehman Dehlvi before the name of Sultan Bahoo, thus contradicting his own statement in his other book. Further, Noor Mohammad Kulachvi’s son Abdul Hameed also writes the name of Sayyid Abdul Rehman Dehlvi as ‘Pir Rehman’ while mentioning Sarwari Qadri chain in his book Hayat-e-Sarwari on pages 132-133 and 219. Therefore this shows that he admits that Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani was the murshid of Sultan Bahoo. Thus, he also contradicts his father’s opinion.

The travellers of spiritual path know that the spiritual guide recites the spiritual chain while taking oath of allegiance from disciples. This chain includes the names of all the previous spiritual guides in order of their respective era. Every spiritual guide is the disciple of previous one.

View of Sultan Altaf Ali about Bayat of Sultan Bahoo

Doctor Sultan Altaf Ali writes in Divan-e-Bahoothat Haq Bahoo had no need of spiritual guide. Moreover, in the foreword of his book Sharah Abyat-e-Bahoo, he writes that his spiritual guide was Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani whom he had frequently referred to as ‘our spiritual guide’ in his books. However, in his book Mirat-e-Sultani (Bahoo Nama Kamil) Doctor Altaf Ali changes his opinion about his oath of allegiance and writes:
Shaikh Habibullah Qadri said to Sultan ul Arifeen:
“O Fakir! I do not have what you want. Hence, you should go to my spiritual guide Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani in Delhi.”

When he reached Delhi, he found that Pir Abdul Rehman Dehlvi was already waiting for him. Immediately he took bayat and bestowed the eternal treasure to him. (page 114)

In the same book, Doctor Sultan Altaf Ali writes the Sarwari Qadri chain on pages 120 and 121. There he writes the name of Sayyid Abdul Rehman Dehlvi before his name. Therefore it proves that the writer admits his oath of allegiance his hands.

MEHAK-UL-FAQR KALAN

Further he himself states;

1. Sarwari Qadriis actually the one who takes oath of allegiance on the hand of Prophet Mohammad. Resultantly he attains purification from all the immoral behaviours. Further he gains the Divine favour to adopt the way of sharia. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
2. Some of the Sarwari Qadripossess such an elite status that the Holy Prophet directly blesses them with his benevolence. Then, he assigns them to Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. Who blesses them and never separates from himself even for a single moment. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

THREE KINDS OF AWAISI WAY

Those who have rejected the physical bayat of Sultan Bahoo have given the argument that he received beneficence in the Awaisi way. Awaisi way is the spiritual way in which a devotee gets spiritual beneficence directly from the Holy Prophet or from a distinguished Saint who is not physically alive. However this spiritual way surely exists. Hence we do not deny it. There are three kinds of the Awaisi way:

THE FIRST TYPE OF AWAISI WAY

First is the Awaisi way in which the benefiter does not have to hold the throne of guidance and persuasion. Yet is destined to perform some important responsibility related to the religion or umma. For example, Allama Iqbal received spiritual beneficence from the soul of Jalaluddin Mohammad Rumi through the Awaisi way. Although, Allama Iqbal had taken oath of allegiance in the Qadri order when he was young. Still he never mentioned the name of his outward spiritual guide in his poetry. Rather, he considers Rumi his actual spiritual guide.

THE SECOND TYPE OF AWAISI WAY

Second Awaisi way is that, whereby a seeker is given the preliminary spiritual guidance at the beginning of his journey towards Allah. Then he is sent to a living spiritual guide for further guidance. A seeker may or may not know it.

THE THIRD TYPE OF AWAISI WAY

The great people who are destined to adorn the throne of Divine guidance and persuasion must take physical oath of allegiance. This is despite the fact that they have benefitted from the Holy Prophet through the Awaisi way. As they should have esoteric as well as exoteric link with the chain of spiritual guides of a specific spiritual order.

Outward oath of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani

Now the fact that Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, despite being a Saint by birth, took oath of allegiance at the hand of Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi supports our argument. Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani’s grand status among all Saints is so high that his foot is at the neck of all of them. As he took oath of allegiance upon the hands of the Holy Prophet on the night of Miraj (as mentioned in Ain-ul-Faqr). Without his benevolence no one can find even smell the fragrance of Faqr. Also he found the complete spiritual treasure through the Awaisi way. Shah Waliullah Muhadas Dehlvi explains in his book Hamma’at;

After Ali ibn Abi Talib, a series of sacred Sufis and Saints began. The most powerful and superior among all the Saints and the one who travelled the mystic path with utmost excellence through the actual Awaisiway is Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani.

Bayat of Sultan Bahoo and Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani

This proves that Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani found everything through the Awaisi way. Now Sultan Bahoo considers him his spiritual guide and calls him ‘our spiritual guide’. Although, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani received entire spiritual beneficence and powers through the Awaisi way, even then he had to take oath of allegiance upon the hands of Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi. His oath of allegiance has never been controversial and many books of mysticism with confirmed and authentic traditions state that fact.

According to a tradition Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani met his spiritual guide Shaikh Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi only once, he gave him morsels with his hand to eat and the cloak (once a symbol of oath of allegiance). That was all. Then Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani immediately started persuading and guiding the seekers on the path to Allah. Moreover bayat of Sultan Bahoo followed the same pattern. He met his spiritual guide only once and found the complete spiritual treasure in just one meeting. As he had already completed his spiritual journey through the Awaisi way. The statement of Maulvi Mohammad Din Gujrati referred before, supports our argument.

Why a spiritual chain is necessary?

Now the question is why it is necessary to pledge physical oath of allegiance in order to hold the throne of Divine guidance and persuasion? It is because in Faqr a system of spiritual chain establishes which reaches step by step to the Holy Prophet. Every perfect spiritual guide should be a link of this chain. Further this chain and linkage should not break anywhere, until it reaches the Holy Prophet through Ali ibn Abi Talib.

If this linkage is broken anywhere in between, a great disorder and trouble can arise. As it would become very easy for any wicked person to creep in this spiritual chain and claim the throne of Divine guidance and persuasion saying that the Holy Prophet directly blessed him through the Awaisi way and that he does not need to pledge oath of allegiance to any spiritual guide. If someone claims this, he is an absolute liar. Such evil persons falsely claim sainthood, just as people falsely claim Prophethood or claim to be the Imam Mehdi. The law should punish them. Nowadays, such spiritual guides who are frauds and fake are everywhere. They refuse physical oath of allegiance and claim that they are directly blessed or are a Saint by birth or a hereditary Saint.

Why physical bayat of Sultan Bahoo was required

The physical oath of allegiance of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani and bayat of Sultan Bahoo was to fulfil the aforementioned requirement. As they were to hold the throne of Divine guidance and persuasion. They benefitted lacs of people of their age. Furthermore their spiritual order has to continue till the doomsday. Their physical oath of allegiance was necessary also. As it had to serve as an example so that in future no one could claim that he is permitted to hold the throne of guidance and persuasion by the Holy Prophet through the Awaisi way.

As a matter of fact Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani said:

The chain of Faqrof the great spiritual guides reaches Ali ibn Abi Talib in a continuous manner. Then from Ali, who is the doorway to knowledge, reaches Prophet Mohammad who is the core of knowledge. These spiritual leaders invite people towards Allah with wisdom. (Sirr al-Asrar Chp:5)
Also this statement supports our argument that to hold the throne of Divine guidance and persuasion, it is necessary that the Saint has a link with the spiritual chain.