World Peace: Teachings of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (RA)

Reciting the Islamic creed of oneness is the first provision to enter Islam. This Islamic creed of oneness is not just a bunch of words but it is the whole philosophy of religious and worldly life and in a way, it is the commitment and declaration that one makes to one’s Lord. If we just understand the interpretation of Islamic creed, one gets oneself free from all kinds of obscenities. Negating all other concepts and accepting and admitting the true reality of Allah Almighty and prophecy of Hadrat Muhammad (S.A.W) is the only and everlasting reality. And then Allah Almighty has asked to acknowledge this, not just by tongue but also authenticate from the heart. It is a kind of declaration which a person makes with his Lord and Prophet (SAW) to act upon all the commandments and stay loyal to them.

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Now come to the verses of Surah AlFatiah; one accepts Allah’s eminence and that He is the Creator of the universe. Having faith on the Day of Judgment and accepting Him as one’s Lord, one seeks true path from Him, the path that will lead one to success in this world and hereafter, and seeks protection from the misguided people, who will face the curse of Allah. These are all basic principles of faith. Then one is honored to speak with Allah when Allah Almighty tells one that this Holy book of Quran is a guidance for righteous people. This is the real difference. Just reciting the Islamic creed makes you Muslim, but not the virtuous one. Virtue (taqwa) is the first step for guidance. It means that virtue is the basic principle to accept the oneness of Allah Almighty and having unfaltering faith in Him. This is how one gets guidance from Allah. When one sacrifices all one’s desires for Allah Almighty and Prophet Hadrat Muhammad (S.A.W), the journey to become upright starts and the process of edification begins. This way of guidance makes a person faithful believer (Momin)and by acting upon the commandment of Allah and Prophet Hadrat Muhammad (S.A.W), the path of divine love starts which is asked by Almighty (as narrated in Quran several times) that love Allah and His Prophet (S.A.W) so that His mercy is showered. This is the true demand of Creator i.e. to be loved. When one considers Allah and his prophet as one’s beloved, he tries to avoid those things which they dislike. Who wants to hurt his beloved? Every lover seeks and tries to get closeness and proximity of his beloved.

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Sufis taught us the way and path of ardent love with Allah and His beloved prophet. They showed us the path, by following which; one will surrender one’s own will to the will of Allah Almighty and attain the lover’s happiness.

Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (RA) has explained this ardent love of Divine many times in his books i.e. one can neither become virtuous by just calling oneself a Muslim and offering the prayers neither can attain contentment of Allah.

ایہہ تن رب سچےداحجراوچ پافقیراجھاتی ھو

ناں کرمنت خواج خضردی تیرےاندرآب حیاتی ھو

شوق دادیوابال ہنیرےمتاں لبھی وست کھڑاتی ھو

مرن تھیں اگےمررہےباھو(رح) جنہاں حق دی رمزپچھاتی ھو

The body of yours is the dwelling of true Sustainer O mystic glance in your inner self Hoo

Don’t beg Khidr the water of immortality is within your inner self Hoo

Kindle the lamp of passion in the darkness perhaps swiftly you might find shine Hoo

Dying, before death ‘Bahoo’ then recognized the true sign of Divine Hoo

In the above quartet, Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (RA) is asking to dwell one within one’s self. Merely everyone says that Allah is nearer than the juggler's vein and, He stays in the heart but, has anyone imagined the state of his heart; is it worthy to be a habitat of Allah? Allah is sacerdotal and Noor. It is absolutely important that our heart should be free from all indecencies, evils, jealousy, and temptations to make it apt to be the habitat of Allah. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (RA) has asked to kindle the lamp of passion and hold the ardent love of Divine so that one’s lost chattel (matta) becomes the inhabitant of one’s heart. Only a spiritual mentor (Murshid-e-Kamil) shows this path to find the lost chattel. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo says:

پڑھ پڑھ عالم کرن تکبرحافظ کرن وڈیائی ھو

گلیاں دےوچ پھرن نمانیط وتن کتاباں چائی ھو

جتھےویکھن چنگاچوکھااوتھےپڑھن کلام سوائی ھو

دوہیں جہانیں سوئی مٹھےباھو(رح) جنہاں کھادھی ویچ کمائی ھو

With education, scholars become arrogant and Hafiz fills with pride kit Hoo

Helpless roam around streets with books under their armpit Hoo

Where they see delicious food prolonged sermon, they submit Hoo

Deprived in both worlds ‘Bahoo’ are those who sold earnings remit Hoo

Vainglory is attributed to Allah only. Service and humbleness are suitable for a human being. When someone becomes arrogant due to one’s education, power or beauty, this is where one gets misguided from the path of Allah and Prophet Hadrat Muhammad (S.A.W) which is the beginning of hostility. The desire erupts to subordinate others based on knowledge, power and wealth. The people of Makkah had this same arrogance of belonging to supreme families, race and centuries-old faith which not only made them deny prophecy of Prophet Hadrat Muhammad (S.A.W) but it also provoked cruelty against him (SAW). But the people who were destined for guidance became friends of Allah Almighty and cruel became the fuel of hell.

Basically, this arrogance and cruelty is the reason of immorality and violence. Suppressing others in the presumption of power and supremacy is causing and promoting terrorism and brutality in society. Those who are snatching others’ resources and bringing their favorites and subordinates into power by enforcement are destabilizing the global society. And perhaps, on the other hand, those considering themselves as vulnerable are choosing the path of violence and are victims of the same arrogance. Intolerance has overtaken tolerance. This is because of arrogance and ego. They are misguided from the path of Allah and Prophet Hadrat Muhammad (S.A.W) and will face nothing but a curse. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (RA) says:

رات اندھیری کالی دےوچ عشق چراغ جلانْداھو

In the darkness of night, ardent love kindles light Hoo

زبانی کلمہ ہرکوئی پڑھدادِل داپڑھداکوئی ھو

Everyone is reciting Islamic creed verbally but none acknowledges by heart Hoo

زاہدزہدکریندےتھکےروزےنفل نمازاں ھو

عاشق غرق ہوئےوچ وحدت اللہ نال محبت رازاں ھو

Renouncer got tired of renunciation and fasting, supererogatory prayer as such Hoo

Ardent lovers immersed with a secret in Oneness of Allah’s love Hoo