Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar फ़रीदुद्दीन मसूद गंजशकर فرید الدین مسعود گنج شکر اور مزار کی تاریخ

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Biography of Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar and the history of his shrine.

Dekhti Aankhooon aur sountay kaanoon ko Asslamoalaikum, sisters, brothers friends and elders, in informative series videos of Islamic ascolars, sufisaints, cultural heritages, islamic philosophys, islamic mysticisms and historical figures. today we are describing biography of Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar and the history of his shrine.

Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar, commonly known as Baba Farid or Sheikh Farid (also in Anglicised spelling Fareed, Fareed ud-Deen, Masood, etc.), was a 13th-century Punjabi Muslim mystic, poet and preacher. Revered by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs alike, he remains one of the most revered Muslim mystics of South Asia during the Islamic Golden Age.

Baba Farid was born in 1188 (573 AH) in Kothewal, 10 km from Multan in the Punjab region, to Jamal-ud-din Suleiman and Maryam Baba (Qarsum Baba), daughter of Wajih-ud-din Khojendi. He received his early education at Multan, which had become a centre for Muslim education. There he met his teacher Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, who was passing through Multan on his way from Baghdad to Delhi.

Once his education was over, he moved to Delhi, where he learned the Islamic doctrine from his master, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. He later moved to Hansi, Haryana. When Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki died in 1235, Farid left Hansi and became his spiritual successor and instead of settling in Delhi, he returned to his native Punjab and settled in Ajodhan (present-day Pakpattan, Punjab, Pakistan). He was one of the founding fathers of the Chishti Sufi order.

Fariduddin Ganjshakar's shrine darbar is located in Pakpattan, Punjab, Pakistan.

The small Shrine of Baba Farid is made of white marble with two doors, one facing east and called the Nuri Darwaza or 'Gate of Light', and the second facing north called Bahisht? Darw?za, or 'Gate of Paradise'. There is also a long covered corridor. Inside the tomb are two white marbled graves. One is Baba Farid's, and the other is his elder son's. These graves are always covered by sheets of cloth called Chaddars' (the green coloured chaddars are covered with Islamic verses), and flowers that are brought by visitors. The space inside the tomb is limited; not more than ten people can be inside at one time. Women are not allowed inside the tomb, but the late Benazir Bhutto, then Prime Minister of Pakistan, was permitted to enter inside by the shrine guardians, when she visited the shrine. Another rare exceptional case was the late Hajjah Kainz Hussain of Jhelum, wife of the late Haji Manzoor Hussain, who was allowed inside the tomb and was given a Chaddar,.

Charity food called Langar is distributed all day to visitors here and the Auqaf Department, which administers the shrine. The shrine is open all day and night for visitors. The shrine has its own huge electricity generator that is used whenever there is power cut or loadshedding, so the shrine remains bright all night, all year round. There is no separation of male and female areas but a small female area is also available. There is a big new mosque in the shrine. Thousands of people daily visit the shrine for their wishes and unresolvable matters; for this they vow to give to some charity when their wishes or problems are resolved. When their matters are solved they bring charity food for visitors and the poor, and drop money in big money boxes that are kept for this purpose. This money is collected by the Auqaf Department of the Government of Pakistan that looks after the shrine.

Baba Farid's death occurred in 1266 CE, and his passing marked the end of a life dedicated to spiritual enlightenment and service to humanity. The exact date of his death is often observed on the 5th or 6th of the Islamic month of Rabi' al-Awwal, although variations exist in different traditions and local customs. His death left a deep void in the hearts of his disciples, who regarded him as a spiritual guide, teacher, and a model of divine love.

The shrine of Baba Farid, which is a place of pilgrimage for millions of devotees, is located in Pakpattan, a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Pakpattan is not just the final resting place of the saint but also a center for those seeking spiritual solace and guidance. Over time, the shrine has evolved into a major religious and cultural landmark in South Asia. It stands as a testament to the enduring influence of Baba Farid's teachings and the widespread reverence that followers of Sufism hold for him.

The shrine was initially constructed shortly after Baba Farid's death, but it underwent several renovations and expansions over the centuries. The first structure was built by his disciples, who wanted to honor his memory and create a space where people could come to seek his blessings. As the shrine became more prominent, successive rulers and noble families, particularly from the Mughal and later periods, contributed to its enlargement and embellishment. Notably, the shrine was enhanced during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century, who was known for his patronage of Sufi shrines. Akbar's contribution helped elevate the status of Baba Farid’s tomb and attracted even greater numbers of devotees.

The shrine complex includes a mosque, a tomb, and a series of courtyards. The tomb itself is housed in a beautifully constructed building, with a marble structure marking the spot where Baba Farid's remains are interred. Visitors to the shrine often engage in prayers, offer floral tributes, and light candles as acts of devotion. The atmosphere around the shrine is deeply spiritual, and many pilgrims believe that their prayers are answered through Baba Farid's intercession. The site also serves as a venue for annual religious gatherings and festivals, with the most prominent being his Urs, the anniversary of his death, which attracts thousands of people from all over the region.

The shrine of Baba Farid continues to be a focal point for those who wish to connect with his spiritual legacy, a place where his messages of love, tolerance, and selfless devotion continue to inspire generations. Through this sacred space, Baba Farid’s teachings are kept alive, ensuring that his legacy as a towering figure in Sufism endures.

On 25 October 2010, a bomb exploded outside the gates of the shrine, killing six people.

In great old holy city of Jerusalem, there is a place called Al-Hindi Serai or Indian hospice (Indian lodge or shrine), where it is claimed Baba Farid lived for many years in the early 13th century, almost 800 years ago. Baba Farid walked into Jerusalem around the year 1200, little more than a decade after the armies of Saladin had forced the Crusaders out of Jerusalem. The place is now a pilgrim lodge for people of the Indian sub-continent. It is claimed that this building is currently cared for by the 94-year-old caretaker, Muhammad Munir Ansari, in 2014. "No one knows how long Baba Farid stayed in the city. But long after he had returned to the Punjab, where he eventually became head of the Chishti order, Indian Muslims passing through Jerusalem on their way to Mecca wanted to pray where he had prayed, to sleep where he had slept. Slowly, a shrine and pilgrim lodge, the Indian Hospice, formed around the memory of Baba Farid." "Later accounts of his life said that he spent his days sweeping the stone floors around Al-Aqsa Mosque, or fasting in the silence of a cave inside the city walls.

With that allow us until tomorrow, tomorrow we will be described biography of Islamic Scholar Sufi Sanit Fazl Ahmad Khan, Indian Sufi teacher and the history of his shrine.

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