Sufism refers to a philosophy of Islam that preaches to search God inwardly and shun the materialistic attitude. The preachers of this school of the practice believe this philosophy played a key role in spreading Islam all over the world. Sufi, a Muslim who believed to be a saint, spiritually favoured and empowered by divine power with gifts like miracles. There is yet another thought by the philosophers attached with the anti-Sufi Movement who believed Sufism preached for devotion, passion, poetry and dance instead of preaching for Hajj, Namaz and celibacy. Yet, the dominant thought is with a positive approach who believed Sufism played a crucial role in establishing the order of peace across the world.
Some refer to Sufism as a sect of Islam, but in reality, it’s not a sect but a broader style of worship that directs followers’ attention inward. Sufism focuses on the repudiation of worldly belongings, purification of the soul and the mystical contemplation of God’s nature.
American Sufi cleric of Egyptian descent Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who preached in New York City for several years and established the Cordoba House and continued promoting a moderate image of Islam, termed the Sufism as the spiritual dimension of Islam.
Speaking about Sufism in a phone interview, he further added that it is Islam, but we focus on meditation, on chanting sessions, which enable the Muslim to have his or her heart open. The myths people have about Sufis are analogous to the myths people have about Muslims.
Some of the Sufi scholars and saints who contributed for the spread of Islam included: Abdullah Shah Ghazi (720, Karachi), Abdul Qadir Gilani (1077–1166, Baghdad), Abul Hasan Hankari (1018-1093, Baghdad), Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi (1856-1921, Bareilly Sharif Dargah, reformer in British India), Ahmad Ghazali (1061 to 1123 or 1126, Qazvin), Ahmad al-Tijani (1737–1815, Morocco and founder of the Tijaniyyah Order), Al-Busiri (1211–1294, buried in Alexandria, poet and author of the Qasida Burda), Habib al-Ajami (d. 738, Basra), Ahmad al-Badawi (1200-1276, Egypt), Al-Qushayri (986-1072, Nishapur), Amir Khusrau (1253–1325, Nizamuddin Dargah, the most influential musician, also considered the father of Urdu literature), Sheikh Bedreddin (1359–1420, Istanbul), Baha’ al-Din Naqshband (1318–1389, Bukhara, and founder of the Naqshbandi Order), Bahauddin Zakariya (1170–1267, Multan, he spread the Suhrawardiyya order through South Asia), Bande Nawaz (1321–1422, Gulbarga, spread the Chishti Order to southern India), Khwaja Baqi Billah (1564–1605, Delhi, spread the Naqshbandi order into India), Bayazid Bastami (874/5-848/9), Bibi Jamal Khatun (d. 1639 or 1647, sister of Mian Mir), Bu Ali Shah Qalandar (1209–1324, Panipat), Bulleh Shah (1680–1757, Kasur, and regarded as the father of Punjabi enlightenment), Fakhr ad-Din ar-Razi, Fariduddin Ganjshakar (1188–1280, developed Punjabi literature through poetry), Hasan al-Basri (642-728), Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari (1192–1291), Khwaja Ghulam Farid (1845–1901, Mithankot), Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan (1699–1781), Lal Shahbaz Qalander (1177–1274), Noor Muhammad Maharvi (1730–1791), Omar Khayyám, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (1173–1235), Rabia Basri, Jalal ad-Din Rumi, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689-1752), Shah Gardez (1026–1152), Shah Hussain (1538–1599), Waris Shah and Yunus Emre (1238-1328).
Earlier this week, an International Conference was held to commemorate Sufism and the Islamic philosophy with the lens of Seraiki poetry of Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Fareed (RA) who promoted his philosophy of Islamic teachings through his unique poetry in native language. The great Sufi poet taught us the right path of Islam; gave lesson us to take stand for the right cause, protect and feed the poor only then Almighty Allah shower His countless blessings on us. The poetry of Khawaja Ghulam Fareed (RA) promotes the global message of peace and love. The concept of Sufism in Egypt and Iran is the same as in the Indo-Pak region. The concept of peace, regional and global development, and spiritualism of Sa’adi Sherazi is similar to Khawaja Ghulam Fareed’s philosophy of love and peace. Eminent international Scholars and Professors from different countries expressed these views while addressing the first International Conference on Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Fareed here at Khawaja Freed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan.
A number of scholars and professors attended the conference. Moin Uddin Mehboob Koreja, Mujahid Jato, Kalyan Singh Kaliyan, Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Ruksana Bibi (Oxfored), Murtaza Noor, Dr. Qasim Bogiu, Prof. Najeeb Uddin Jamal, Prof. Wafa (Iran), Prof. Saleem Mazhar, Pro VC Punjab Univeristy, Prof. Najeeb Jabbar, Prof. Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad from Egyp, Prof. Wafa Iran,Prof. Dr. Saleem Malik from USA, Registrar KFUEIT Dr. Asghar Hashmi, Dr. Ebad Nabeel Shah, Dr. Mazhar Mohsin Baloch, Dr. Zahid Shaheen, KFUEIT, Dr. Samina Sarwat along with other members attended the International Conference. Sajada Nasheen Darbar-e-Fareed Moin Uddin Mehboob Koreja said that he was glad to see a Sufi saint in form of Vice Chancellor KFUEIT Prof. Dr. Suleman Tahir. While admiring his services for the promotion of teaching and Islamic philosophy of Khawaja Fareed, Mehboob Koreja said that Prof. Suleman has achieved what could not be achieved by other Vice Chancellors in a quite short span of time. According to him, the known sufi saints including Hazrat Data Ganj Bukhsh, Moin Uddin Chishti Ajmeeri, Sachal Sarmast, Rehman Baba, Bhulay Shah, Mast Tawakali, Sultan Bahu and other famous sufi poets have propagated true Islam in the sub-continent. Mehboob said that true Islam never teaches us hatred, rather its message is love and peace.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Suleman Tahir said that he was announcing Khawaja Fareed Scholarship for the needy students so that once they acquire knowledge on such noble scholarship they would remember the teachings of Sufi saint in the life to come. He further announced of including a special chapter of ‘Fareediyat’ after approval from the academic council. Earlier, Prof. Suleman Tahir flanked by his team warmly welcomed the dignitaries arriving from various countries of the world. Ruksana Bibi from UK said that Prof. Suleman has remarkably made a tough task possible in such critical situation of Covid-19. She said that Sufi saints have contributed to great extent in flourishing philosophy of Islam. According to her, Urdu language has also a marvellous contribution in this regard as several saints have used Urdu as an effective mode of transforming their messages of love and peace to general public. On this occasion, Prof. Najeeb Uddin Jabbar said that Khawaja Ghulam Fareed advocated for true love of God, adding the form of love propagated by Khawaja Saheb is the love with people, based on brotherhood, pure feelings of happiness and total submission to God.
Prof. Saleem Mazhar said that we can observe commonalities between the poetry of Khawaja Ghulam Fareed and the poetry of Allama Iqbal. Mazhar further highlighted that both personalities spent much of their time in studying the poetry of Maulana Rumi and Hafiz Sherazi, therefore, we can find a ray of hope of life free from woes and worries in the poetry of Dr. Iqbal and Khawaja Ghulam Fareed. Mujahid Jatoi said that Khawaj Fareed advocated to people to adopt the virtous path; the path of affection, good deeds and love. He never favoured any wrongdoer, but owing to his love and affection, wrongdoers turned to adopt the path of Allah. Kalyian Singh said that Sufi never advocates for religion, rather his message of peace and love is for all without any discrimination of caste, colour, or creed, that is why we find Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims as his followers. According to Kaliyan Singh, most of the Kafis of Khawaja Ghulam Fareed are in Tilang Ra’ag which is integral part of the Sikh religion. According to him, in Sikhism one can find Muslim ministers serving on high positions. Besides admiring the lead role of Prof. Suleman Tahir, Kaliyan Singh said that Prof. Tahir has chosen the right region to start the message of Khawaja Fareed. Akhtar Hussain Sindhu said that true love demands total denial of ego only then one can find the eternal peace and right path of Allah.
Murtaza Noor said that from total 220 universities in Pakistan, only KFUEIT was the sole university established in the name of great Sufi saint Khawaja Ghulam Fareed, which is on its journey while carrying the narrative of Sufi philosophy of Khawaja Fareed. According to him, we should establish a Scholarship in the name of Sufi Saints in a bid to propagate the message of Sufi saints and to educate our future generations. Khizer Noshahi said that when a human being makes his inner like his outer then he becomes a Sufi. According to him Sufi never indulges in egoistic rise rather he denies himself and seeks guidance from Allah. On the concluding ceremony of the first session, Prof. Dr. Suleman Tahir distributed shields among the eminent scholars with the vote of thanks. The first session concluded with huge applause for following SOPs of the COVID-19 in impressive manner.
Registrar KFUEIT Dr. Asghar Hashmi said that the organization of 1st International Conference is the outcome of the spiritual blessings of Khawaja Ghulam Fareed keeping in view the tough circumstances in prevailing COVID-19. He said that Khawaja Fareed has given the global message of peace in his poetry and we have to adopt that message in true letter and spirit. According to him, he announced that the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Suleman Tahir has announced 0.5 million rupees in the newly established ‘Khawaja Ghulam Fareed Endowment Fund’ and 0.5 million rupees have also been announced from Murtaza Noor, Coordinator Punjab Government. He said this amount will be consumed on the deserving students which shall ultimately shine their future. Prof. Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Al-Qazi said that the passion of love is not restricted to only human beings but Sufi poets have spread the love for animals and even for plants. According to him, Sheikh Abdul-Wasti, Syed Ahmad Al-Banovi, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Basooqi and other eminent Sufis have spread Sufism in Egypt and surrounding countries. He shared that there is a Supreme Sufi Council in Egypt that decides the matters of Sufism. According to him, there are multiple religious’ offshoots in Pakistan including Qadirya, Chishtia, Naqshbandia etc., along-with their hundreds of thousands of Sufis and their followers. Khawaja Ghulam Fareed is one of those eminent Sufis in the Sub-Continent. He said that such Sufis have dedicated their lives for peace, spiritualism and love. Owing to their pure thoughts of eternal love, the individuals belonging to different religions including Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism love and respect such Sufis. He also presented a comparative analysis of Sufism in Egypt and Pakistan.
Dr Wafa Yazda who hailed from Iran said that the concept of Fareed and Sa’adi is quite similar. One can find a significant similarity between the Sufism and Philosophy of Khawaja Fareed and Sa’adi Sherazi. According to her, both Sufi poets discuss ‘Ocean, Water, Fire, Complaints against Beloved, Nature and other such concepts and relate them with the wellbeing of humanity. She further presented the comparative analysis of the poetry of Khawaja Fareed and Sa’adi. Prof. Dr Saleem Malik said that while taking birth from Cha’charan Shareef, Khawaja Fareed emerged as a world-ranking spiritual figure. Khawaja Fareed has presented global thoughts while using ‘sands, Satluj river, the atmosphere of Rohi and other such symbols’. Prof. Dr. Mukhtar said that we can find primitive Rohi and Modern Rohi both in the poetry of Khawaja Fareed. According to him, ‘Hik Di Sik’ (Seeking path to One) is the best narration of the concept of Oneness of God. He said that the dream of Khawaja Fareed to make the desert of Rohi as a flourishing Garden was materialized by his one of the greatest devotee and Nawab of Bahawalpur. Love for Education of Nawab is also visible from the Old Campus Building of the University of the Punjab, DPI and other red-coloured buildings in Lahore. He further suggested that the KFUEIT should award honorary degree to Mujahid Jatoi who has produced a huge work on Khawaja Ghulam Fareed. Dr. Ebad Nabeel Shah said that until or unless we start teaching our native language to our children starting from school to Universities, we cannot achieve the dream of understanding Sufism and the philosophy of Islam. He said Khawaja Fareed used to follow Ibn-ul-Arabi as his Imam and therefore we can find several commonalities between both Sufis. Famous Seraiki poet Prof. Mazhar Mohsin Baloch said that there is no impurity in the eternal love of Khawaja Fareed. There is no self-praise in the life of Khawaja Fareed, rather we can find recognition of man and God throughout his poetry. He revealed that we can find and understand the concept of modern geography in the poetry of Khawaja Fareed. According to him, Khawaja Fareed has discussed several concepts like Sky, Earth, River Flow, Atmosphere and other aspects of this world life and the heavenly life. President Chamber of Commerce Rahim Yar Khan also announced providing a donation to Khawaja Fareed Endowment Fund in the future.
Indeed! Such conferences are rare in Pakistani universities especially in varsities of engineering and information technology where students are imparted only technical education to make them a useful hand for regional and national development. Our educational institutes lack this aspect of training students to shine their souls and enhance their spiritual power. Universities also regarded as the ‘Houses of Wisdom’ are just producing the workforce, not scholars and intellectuals to foresee the happenings in future. This conference, the brainchild of Prof. Dr. Suleman Tahir, shall have fruitful outcomes of spreading peace and love across the world.
- ‘Sufism essential to defeat extremism’ - 24/03/2021
