Miracles

The Sufis themselves set little value upon the exercise of such miraculous powers. There are several references to the concept of miracles of Saints in the works of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA). He holds the view that the phenomena of Karamat (Miracles) of Saints can be divided into two; spiritual or celestial and terrestrial or worldly and he makes a clear distinction between the two. He is in favour of miracles which pertain to the spiritual phenomena rather than those which pertain to the terrestrial. He is of the view that the performance of miracles on the terrestrial and temporal level is a phenomena open to anyone who overcomes his lower self through ascetic practices and seclusion, thereby reviving and awakening his terrestrial self. In short, while acknowledging the wonders of this terrestrial self, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) never the less holds the view that even an irreligious, non praying and unorthodox person can perform such earthly feats as flying in the air like a bird, enter fire without being burnt, walk over water, dive here and appear there, and reach in a single breath and a single step from the east to the west after overcoming his lower self. It is for this reason that Hazrat Sheikh Junayd Baghdadi (RA) says :

` When you see a man flying in the air and walking over water and he has relinquished even a single tradition out of the traditions of the Prophet of Allah (Peace be on him), strike him with your shoes, for he is a Satan and what he displays is fraud and deception.'

We are told that Hazrat bu Yazid al Bustami (RA) said:

`The Saints do not rejoice at the answers to prayers which are the essence of miracles, such as walking on water, moving in the air, traversing the earth and riding on the heavens, since the prayers of unbelievers receive an answer and the earth contains both Satan and men, and the air is the abode of the birds and water of the fish. Let not anyone who is perplexed by such things put any faith in this trickery.'

As Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) himself says;

` With one glance I can turn dust into gold but I am not happy with this state .He holds the view that miracles performed on the spiritual and celestial level have a permanent and lasting effect on the individuals personality and benefits the receiver of the miraculous blessing in this world and the hereafter. He says in one of his works ; ` Prophet Jesus (Peace be on him), use to make the `dead' `alive'. The ` dead ' use to live for a few days and expire again. But when we, the Fuqara and Aulia (saints) of the followers of the Prophet Muhammed (Peace be on him), give one `tawajju' (spiritual attention) to anyone, we make his `dead' heart into a `living' heart and this heart never dies again in this world or the hereafter and always remains in a state of celestial splendor. We thus make him alive forever.'

This is one of the miracles of Sultan Bahu (RA) that is still experienced in his writings today and the same effects are felt when visiting his tomb. In the words of a great Sufi, Hazrat Faqir Nur-Muhammed Sarwari Qadiri (RA), Hazrat says:

` It seems that the soul and spirituality of the author is running through the pages of his works. Just by mere perusal, one is elevated to a state of ecstasy. Sometimes the effects are so profound that the reader without any effort or spiritual exercise reaches the stage of revelation and witnessing.'

However, as far as miracles are concerned, Hazrat Sultan Bahu's (RA) life is said to have been be a wholesome mixture of both the phenomena ; celestial as well as terrestrial. Miracles or legends of the saints, although sometimes not resting on historical grounds have their merit in throwing light upon the personality of the saint to whom these remarkable powers have been ascribed and still more perhaps, in showing the high regard in which such a saint is held.

There is no lack of miracles ascribed to Sheikh Sultan Bahu (RA). Most of them tend to show Gods care for His servant and his needs and to justify the servants complete dependence on Him. As indicated above some of them allude to the Saints exceptional quality of awakening the `inward'.

THE SAINT SHER SHAH (RA).

This fact is well known that Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) passed most of his life in travelling from one place to another. This helped him in concealing his real identity. Many of the miracles wrought by the hands of this great saint have been manifested during his travels.

It was during one of these travels that Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) came to a village where a Sufi saint Hazrat Sher Shah (RA) was well known. At the border area of the village Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) retired to a little hillock where he sat in a state of deep meditation. Immersed in Divine light the saint became oblivious of his surroundings. At that moment some disciples of Hazrat Sher Shah (RA) were on their daily errands of collecting firewood for the kitchen. One of them came close to Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) and offered salaams. Once again Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) demonstrates to us the power of the gaze of a true Faqir of ALLAH. Returning the greeting the saint's `eyes of elixir' irradiated the inward of the disciple, whose heart became alive with the zikr (remembrance) of ALLAH. Crying in ecstasy he fell at the feet of the saint. Noticing this spectacle the second disciple hurried to inquire the condition of his friend. Seeing the saint he too fell into ecstasy. The third disciple raced off to his master, Hazrat Sher Shah (RA) to report on the incident. Sher Shah (RA), together with some of his disciples and dervishes hastened to confront the enchanter 'who had cast a spell over his disciple. He confronted Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) :"Many a Spiritual court have I attended, including the Holy Court of his Holiness Prophet Muhammed (peace be on him). In none of these Courts have I seen you present. You must be an illusionist or trickster and have cast a spell over my disciple. Cease and desist from such action and bring my disciples to their original state or else I will complain about you in the court of his Holiness (peace be on him)." Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) responded " Shah Sahib, you be present in the court of his Holiness and I too will try to be present in the august court of his Holiness (peace be on him). Tomorrow we will meet at this same place and decide on the outcome." Shah Sahib departed promising to meet the next morning.

That same evening, Shah Sahib was blessed to be present in the spiritual court of his Holiness, Prophet Muhammed (peace be on him). Respectfully he looked around the assembly to see if he could see the `enchanter' dervish who had cast a spell over his disciple. Not seeing him in the assembly he thought to himself that tomorrow in the morning we will deal with him. For the moment let me be respectful in this august court.

Suddenly from behind a spiritual curtain ( a place which is reserved for the Prophets (peace be on him) household) a beautiful child appeared. The child went straight to the Prophet (peace be on him) and sat on his Holiness lap. The Prophet (peace be on him) of Allah very lovingly and affectionately embraced this beautiful child, stroking him with his blessed hands. The child was similarly blessed by Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Omar, Hazrat Othman Gann, Hazrat Ali, Imam Hassen and Hussein, various Prophets present in the court, Hazrat Sayyid Abdul Qadir Jilani and other believers (peace be on them all). Finally the child came to rest in the lap of Sher Shah (RA) who also embraced the child lovingly. Playfully the child pulled at the beard of Sher Shah (RA) with his little hands pulling out two pieces of hair. Thereafter the child of light again returned to the blessed lap of the Prophet (peace be on him) from whence he disappeared behind the curtain from which he had entered.

The next morning Hazrat Sher Shah (RA) accompanied by his companion dervishes went to the agreed meeting place. On meeting Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) he said angrily " Oh dervish, I did not see you present in the blessed court of the Prophet (peace be on him). I looked all around but you could not be seen. So you must be an enchanter and juggler. I once again warn you to give up this trickery otherwise the end will be not good for you."

Sultanul Arifeen Sultan Bahu (RA) replied: " Oh Sher Shah. How many witnesses do you need according to the Sharia that I was present in the court of his Holiness." Sher Shah retorted " two witnesses." Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) took out the two pieces of hair which belonged to Shar Shah (RA) saying: " here is my proof of me being present in the august court of the Prophet (peace be on him)." Recognising the hair of his beard, Sher Shah (RA) immediately apologised to the great saint. Thereafter they both retired into seclusion to discuss the deeper secretes and meanings of the spiritual path. On the request of Sher Shah (RA), Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) blessed him with higher realms of spiritual knowledge and some say that he was blessed with khilafat also. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) further counselled him to carry on his work by bringing people to the reality of the truth.

In his early years Hazrat Mohsin Sha (RA) lost his father. His upbringing was left to his mother. They passed their life in dire need and poverty. In those days their lived in Gotki a potter who had received `spiritual baraka' from Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA). His spiritual reputation soon followed him wherever he went. After a while he settled in his hometown Gotki again. People began to flock to him.

One day the mother of little Mohsin also approached him. She appealed to his good nature that the next time he went to see his Murshid (teacher) Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA), he should take her Mohsin with him and present him to Hazrat Sultanul ARIFIN (RA) with a message that the Saint should bless him with spiritual insight and wisdom and that she has given Mohsin to him in the path of Allah. So the next time the potter Faqir went to visit his Murshid, he took Mohsin with him and presented him to Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) with a message from the mother. With love the Saint passed his blessed hands over the head of the orphan boy, telling the potter dervish to entreat his mother to enroll him in an institution of religious learning and that once he had completed his studies he should be brought back to him ( Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)) to crown his inward with spiritual illumination and to irradiate both his outward and inward. The Saint sent a message to the mother that she should not worry as her child was destined for greater heights.

The potter Faqir went back to Gotki and delivered the message of his teacher. Acting on the guidance of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA), the mother entered her son in an institution of learning. Completing his studies he was again sent with the potter dervish to the Saint for further polish as promised by the Saint himself. No sooner had he reached the presence of the Sheikh, Mohsin went into ecstatic rapture at the sight of the Saint. With one look the Saint made him traverse one spiritual path after the other, illuminating and transforming his personality. Mohsin's inward and outward became replete with the light of Allah. Very soon, through the blessings of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA), Mohsin Sha's fame spread far and wide as a Sufi of great repute and his person became an asylum to all and sundry.

Returning to Gotki, Hazrat Mohsin Shah (RA) chain of activities gained fame far and wide. Thousands of people repented at his hands and trotted the path of righteousness under his guidance. He sat up a free public kitchen or alms house (`langarkhana') where countless of people satisfied their hunger. The public kitchen was spacious and extensive and free of wants. He had a magnanimous breath of vision coupled with deep spiritual insight. It is narrated that nobody in the vicinity of Gotki challenged his decisions or acted contrary to the Islamic law. Even today the mosque build near his tomb stands as a reminder of his services to Islam and his tomb a reminder that here once ruled a Faqir of extraordinary qualities.

Hazrat Kaloo Shah (RA), the son of Hazrat Juneid Qureishi (RA) was a mureed of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA). One day, due to the pangs of separation, love and desire he decided to visit his Sheikh Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA). When he arrived at the Saints house, he heard the sound of a resounding `Hoo' coming from within the small chamber. He went inside to meet his Sheikh but there was no sign of Hazrat sultan Bahu (RA). Standing inside the chamber in wonderment, he heard the sound of a resounding `Hoo' coming from outside the chamber. Sheikh Kaloo went outside again hoping to meet his Teacher but there was no sign of him. Every time he heard the `Hoo' he went inside or outside but still there was no sign of his Sheikh. Hazrat Kaloo Shah stood outside perplexed and bewildered by the happening. at that moment he recited the following;

`Inside is Hoo -- outside is Hoo
Where is Sheikh Bahoo
The love of Hoo, the desire for Hoo
Has kindled my yearning for Hoo.'

Seeing the condition of his mureeds (disciples) bewilderment and shock, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) once again demonstrates the benevolent and compassionate trait of his character. Reciting the following couplet ,the Saint unveils his invisibility in a tractable manner and makes himself visible to Kaloo Shah.

`Wherever the Light of Hoo reflect
Runs darkness in despair
Oh Bahu! whosoever realizes Hoo
Both the worlds is his forever.'

After removing the curtain of invisibility, the Saint blesses Kaloo Shah aplenty with his bounty and favour. Hazrat Kaloo Shah and his father Hazrat Juneid Qureishi (RA) are both buried at a place called Sarwarpur. (Munaqabi-Sultani) Therefore, we have with us today, as witnesses, two of Hazrat Sultan Bahu's (RA) greatest miracles. His tomb which is a beacon of light giving solace to the broken hearted and seekers after truth. And secondly his writings-his works which even today bear testimony to his greatness. Whosoever listens or studies his works is affected and transported into higher realms of spiritual truths. This miracle of his will remain forever -Insha Allah-ameen.