Book & Author
Professor Saeed Ahmed:Great Sufi Wisdom — Baba Farid
By Dr Ahmed S. Khan
Chicago, IL
"Never give in, be a man of commitment." - Baba Farid
Baba Farid (1173/75 – 1265) aka Hazrat Farid ud-Din Ganj is the most radiant star in the galaxy of great Sufi poets of Pakistan and India. Recent translations of Baba Farid’s mystic poetry into global languages, has rekindled a new interest in studying his message of love, humanity, wisdom and truth. Baba Farid belonged to the Chishti Silsila (order) of Sufis.
Baba Farid is a part of “Great Sufi Wisdom” series of books, authored by Professor Saeed Ahmed. The other books in the series authored by Professor Saeed Ahmed, include the titles of Bulleh Shah, Sultan Bahu, Warish Shah, Mian Muhammad , Shah Hussain, and Khawaja Ghulam Farid . In Baba Farid, the author presents the English translation of Baba Farid’s Sufi poetry with commentary. One unique feature of the book is that Baba Farid’s poetry is reproduced in Shahmukhi script (used in Pakistan) as well as in Gurmukhi script (used in India) along with its transliteration in English.
Baba Farid visited Jerusalem around 1200 AD — thirteen years after Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi forced Crusaders out of the city — performed prayers at al-Aqsa mosque and fasted while living in a cave inside the city walls. In the introduction of the book, the author presents a short profile of Bab Farid Jee: “Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Masud Ganj-i-Shakar popularly known in Pakistan as Baba Farid was born in or around 1175[73] AD at Kothowal. Baba Farid developed his purified soul under his mother's care. (Just try to understand the case of Baba Farid, in order to understand the importance of a mother's role in the upbringing of her children). The child who was brought up in such a manner became one of the most famous saints in the world. After finishing his early education at his birthplace, he was sent to Multan for further education. After that, he continued his education at Qandhar. Baba Farid later went to Delhi where he learnt about mystic knowledge from Khawaja Bakhtiar Kaki. In Delhi he also met Khawaja Moin ud Din Chishti who bestowed upon him spiritual gifts and blessings. After that, Baba Jee went to Uch Sharif to perform his chillah. He also travelled widely across India, Central Asia and Iraq. He used to fast almost every day as a result of which he became very weak. Amir Khurd writes in his Siyar ul Auliya that when Baba Farid Jee was in such a weak condition he used to pick up a few pebbles and put them in his mouth. These pebbles turned into sugar. For that very reason he was named as Ganj-i-Shakar.”
Continuing with Baba Jee’s profile, the author notes: “Sufis did not like public gatherings. They stayed away from them so that they could carry on their meditations without any disturbance. Baba Farid was in search of such a place, so he came to Ajudhan (Pak patan) where almost all the people were infidels and did not believe in dervishes. He lived there as an ordinary person for thirty years without any worldly means till the day of his death. He died there on Saturday, the 5th Moharram, 654 (October 15, 1265).”
Reflecting on the verses [shalok] selected, and the reference materials used for the book, the author notes: “According to the research of Mohammad Asif Khan there are 112 shaloks of Baba Farid Jee in The Guru Granth Sahib [the holy scripture of Sikh religion]. Though total numbers of shaloks under the head of Baba Farid are 130 but 18 shaloks belong to other Gurus of the Sikh religion. I have just translated 55 shaloks. The main source of these shaloks, which I selected for my book, was the book "Akhiyaa Baba Farid Ney” by M. Asif Khan. I also consulted books compiled by Dr Faqir Mohammad Faqir, Prof. Hamidullah Hashmi, Jeshi Ram Mushtaq and Max Arthur McAuliffe. I tried to justify the translation in a very simple way according to my understanding. I assume responsibility for the contents of the book, particularly its shortcomings and omissions.”
The following selections reveal the profound wisdom of Baba Farid’s verses, and high fidelity of Professor Saeed Ahmed’s translation:
My Bread is like wood and hunger is my condiment.
Those who eat buttered bread (rich meals) shall suffer profound pains.
Eat dry unbuttered bread and drink cold water,
Farid, do not feel jealous by looking at others' buttered bread.
Streets are muddy (slippery), home is far away and deep is the relationship with the Beloved,
If I walk, my blanket becomes drenched (wet) and if I don't go, the relationship breaks.
Let the blanket become soaked (wet). Let it rain,
I must go to see my Beloved to save the relationship from being broken.
Anxiety is my cot. Pain is a rope (used to make a cot),
And separation is the quilt. This is our life we live, see O’ Lord.
Keep committed, with the pangs of separation,
because separation is a king. Without this, man is like a crematorium.
Farid, if you know sesame seeds are little in quantity then pick them up with care.
You should be less proud of your young Beloved if the relationship is not ripe.
Had I known my grip would lose, I would have tightened the knot,
I have searched everywhere but have found none greater than You.
Although he possesses wisdom, he does not claim it.
Similarly, although he is powerful, he behaves like a man without power.
His own possessions are nil, but whenever he gets something,
He distributes it, he is called a real saint.
This tank (world) has one bird (man) and there are fifty hunters (numerous temptations).
The body is mingled with the waves of the sea (world or worldly wishes)
Only trust in God can save man from being trapped.
Farid, treat pain and pleasure equally and purify your heart.
(Be indifferent to pain and pleasure in order to purify your heart)
Only the virtuous are liked by God and only they gain a place in the court of God.
God says, “If you reform yourself, you will find Me.
He who finds Me, finds peace.
If you submit to Me,
The Whole world will submit to you.”
Farid, the Creator lives in the creation and the creation dwells in the Creator.
Since You are the essence of all Creation, therefore, none should be condemned.
Farid, crush your ego, cut it into pieces and only then can you have access to the treasures of God (Rab).
(Here Rab means He Who nourishes all creatures).
Farid, if love is born of greed then call it lust (false love).
How long can one stand under a broken but (leaking roof) during [a] rainstorm?
When she was a virgin (unmarried) she longed for marriage.
But, when she got married and faced the problems of married life,
She regretted that she could not revert to her blissful days of being single.
(Baba Farid says that what is done cannot be undone, so think ahead. Actually, it was the soul who was single (unmarried) and free and it was not put in the body, or it was not married (mixed) with the matter. It had no troubles but after marrying with the body or meeting with the matter, its problems started, and it began to regret as she could not revert to being single as before and she could not restore her previous lifestyle).
Four pehr (parts) are wasted in worldly deeds and four in sleeping.
You will be answerable to God for your divine mission in the world.
(In Punjab, a day is divided into eight parts, four during the day and four at night and each part is called "Pehr.” One half of life is wasted in worldly affairs and the other half is wasted (spent) while sleeping. You will be answerable to God for the divine mission in this world.)
Farid, I thought that I alone was grief stricken;
whereas when I was awakened I found that none was without grief.
Those, who were proud of their pomp and show, with people praising them,
now lie in their graves like orphans.
(Baba Farid criticized proud and influential people who regard themselves as superior to others).
Farid, be servile to your Lord. Get rid of your illusions.
The saints need the patience of trees.
(Trees are cut, put on the fire but they do not agitate. Trees endure all sorts of hardships caused by weather calmly and silently, without complaining. Trees also provide shelter in torrential rainstorms and scorching heat).
Farid says that his dress is black, and he admits that he is a sinful man (this indicates his humility)
whereas people regard him as a saint.
(Black clothes worn by saints are a symbol of humility and unpretentious piety).
If you have a sense of wisdom, refrain from committing misdeeds (or do not comment on the faults of others).
Look inwards and be watchful of your own mistakes.
Farid, you pass your daytime in sorrows and your night on a bed of thorns.
The boatman stands and shouts that the boat is in the whirlpool.
(These lines of Baba Farid show the helplessness of man and the intensity of his grief. He (man) should be watchful [of] his each and every moment's action).
Watching the swans swimming, the cranes became envious and attempted to swim.
As a result they drowned in the pond. Their heads down under the water and their feet were up.
If a man carries prayer rug on his shoulder, wears a rough dress (robe of saints)
Carries a dagger in his heart but speaks sweetly, he is a hypocrite (fraud)
Who appears to be luminous (bright) but has darkness within.
Farid, look [at] what has happened, sugar has turned into poison.
To whom shall I tell my sorrows except my friend (the Lord).
Farid, my eyesight has become dim, and my ears have become deaf.
The crop is ready and has changed its color.
(Baba Farid is explaining the final stage of man's life when death is fast approaching. Here the metaphor with regard to a crop is used to express the old age of man).
Farid, if they beat you with their fists, do not throw blows in retaliation,
But kiss their feet and return to your home.
Look Farid, what has happened! My beard has become gray.
The future (death) is near and the past (life) has remained behind.
Farid, I feel concerned that my turban should not fall and become dirty with dust.
My ignorant (careless) soul does not know that the dust will swallow even my head.
Professor Saeed Ahmed has done an excellent job of translating Baba Farid’s Sufi poetry into English. Great Sufi Wisdom — Baba Farid is a wonderful gift for all those who yearn for love, peace, wisdom and truth.
(Dr Ahmed S. Khan – dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org – is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar.)
