Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar

Question 1

Where and when was Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar born?

Answer 1

Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar was born in 1179 in Khotwal, a village in Punjab.

Question 2

Describe the ancestors of Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar.

Answer 2

He was the great-grandson of Farrukh Shah, the King of Kabul, who was the direct descendant of Hazrat Umar Farooq the second Caliph of Islam.

Question 3

Who was Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar the Spiritual disciple of?

Answer 3

He was the spiritual disciple of Sufi Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki who was the disciple of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Question 4

Who was Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki the Spiritual disciple of?

Answer 4

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Question 5

Which characteristics of Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar attracted people to his teachings and Islam?

Answer 5

His piety and nobility of character attracted people to his teachings and Islam.

Question 6

Among whom did Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar live?

Answer 6

He lived among the people of Punjab.

Question 7

Which languages did he know?

Answer 7

Arabic and Persian

Question 8

Even though he knew Arabic and Persian why would he poetry in the language of the place he lived in?

Answer 8

Even though he knew Arabic and Persian, he wrote Sufi poetry for the common people of the land in their language.

Question 9

What is he recognized as today?

Answer 9

Today he is recognized as the first well-known Sufi poet of the Punjabi language.

Question 10

Describe the character of Baba Farid.

Answer 10

Baba Farid was a man of impeccable character. He was pious and humble and led a very simple life.

Question 11

Where is Pakpattan located?

Answer 11

Pakpattan is a city on the banks of the river Sutlej.

Question 12

How did Pakpattan came to be known as such?

Answer 12

It came to be known as such because disciples wanting to visit the saint used to purify (pak) themselves at a pattan (ferry) near the city before they could visit Baba Farid.

Question 13

Where did he have his early religious education and his higher education?

Answer 13

After he had completed his early religious education at the age of seven in Khotwal, his mother sent him to Multan for higher education.

Question 14

Where did Baba Farid stay in Multan and what did he study under whose tutorship?

Answer 14

There he stayed in a mosque where he learnt the Holy Qur’an by heart and studied Hadith, Fiqh, philosophy, and logic under the tutorship of Maulana Minhajuddin.

Question 15

Where did Baba Farid become Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki disciple?

Answer 15

During his studies, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki of Delhi visited Multan where Baba Farid became his disciple.

Question 16

What instructions did Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki give Baba Farid?

Answer 16

On his instructions, Baba Farid became toured several Islamic countries, for about 18 years.

Question 17

Name the places where Baba Farid travelled and whom did he meet.

Answer 17

He travelled to Baghdad, Jerusalem, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Makkah, and Madina, meeting many great saints and Sufis.

Question 18

What happened because of the political upheaval in Delhi?

Answer 18

Because of the political upheaval in Delhi, the centre of the Chishtiya Silsila had to be shifted to the Punjab at Ajodhan which is now called Pakpattan.

Question 19

What was the original name of Pakpattan?

Answer 19

Ajodhan

Question 20

Who would visit Pakpattan and why?

Answer 20

Here, thousands of scholars and Sufi dervishes came to seek spiritual guidance and training from Baba Farid.

Question 21

What did Khanqah become?

Answer 21

His Khanqah became a spiritual university for those seeking religious guidance.

Question 22

Name some of his famous disciples.

Answer 22

Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and his nephew Alauddin Sabir were some of his famous disciples.

Question 23

What would Baba Farid himself practice and why?

Answer 23

Baba Farid himself practiced self-discipline to achieve self-control over nafs (self).

Question 24

Describe one very interesting episode about his life.

Answer 24

Once he was walking with the help of a walking stick with his disciple Khwaja Nizamuddin when suddenly his face became flushed, and he looked extremely troubled. And then suddenly he threw away his stick. When Khwaja Nizamuddin asked him the reason for this, he answered, “I was seeking the help of this stick instead of depending on Allah. I am ashamed of the weakness of my faith in my Rab.’

Question 25

Why did Baba Farid throw away his walking stick?

Answer 25

When Khwaja Nizamuddin asked him the reason for this, he answered, “I was seeking the help of this stick instead of depending on Allah. I am ashamed of the weakness of my faith in my Rab.’

Question 26

Describe another story on why Baba Farid is called Ganj-e-Shakar.

Answer 26

According to another story, it was Baba Farid’s mother who influenced him to say his prayers by placing small cubes of brown sugar under the little Farid’s prayer rug. He was then seven years old. One day, it is said that she forgot to place the Shakar; nevertheless, there was a piece of Shakar under Farid’s rug.

Question 27

Describe the main story on why Baba Farid is called Ganj-e-Shakar.

Answer 27

It is said that once some traders were taking caravans of sugar-laden camels from Multan to Delhi. Baba Farid asked them what they were carrying. Thinking that he might ask for some of it, they replied with scorn, ‘It is salt.’ ‘Yes, salt it may be,’ replied Baba Farid.
When the caravan arrived in Delhi, the owners were surprised to find salt in place of sugar in their bags. Extremely worried and ashamed of themselves, the traders returned to Multan and apologized to Baba Faride who said, ‘If it is sugar, so it shall be sugar.’ When the men returned to Delhi they were surprised to find sugar by the grace of Almighty Allah. This is how he got the title of Ganj-e-Shakar.

Question 28

What will Baba Farid be remembered as?

Answer 28

Baba Farid will be remembered as a saint and a pious Sufi who had a great influence on the Muslim culture and religion of the subcontinent in particular and the Muslim world in general.

Question 29

In which state did Baba Farid die and where is he buried?

Answer 29

He died in the state of sajda, devoted as he was to Allah, and is buried in Pakpattan, Pakistan.

Question 30

Who constructed his mazar?

Answer 30

His mazar was constructed by his disciple Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya.

Question 31

Other than Muslims whom is he highly respected and revered by?

Answer 31

He is very highly respected and revered not only by Muslims but also by Hindus and Sikhs. Sikhs consider him a very holy and pious saint. In fact, his wise sayings and verses are collected in a chapter in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Question 32

What were some of Baba Farid’s wise sayings when he was asked:
1. Who is the wisest man?
2. Who is the most intelligent?
3. Who is the most independent?
4. Who is the most needy?

Answer 32

Here are some of Baba Farid’s wise sayings when asked:

Q. Who is the wisest man?

One who refrains from sin.

Q. Who is the most intelligent?

One who is not disturbed by anything.

Q. Who is the most independent?

One who is most content.

Q. Who is the most needy?

One who is not content.