-
Appointed to distribute food
- Thinking that lest Hazrat Makhdoom should feel shy or
cautious, remain hungry sometimes, or that he should get food without asking
entrusted him the duty of the distribution of food to the people. This was
also to train him mentally and practically. He joy-fully accepted the
appointment, distributed food two times a day, in between engaged in prayers,
but after the evening prayers he attended to the discourses of Baba
Farid.
- He dispensed with his duties well; did not partake a
single morsel form the langar, kept fasts, and when had nothing to break them
in the evenings, would go to the jungle and ate wild berries and
fruits.
-
Title of the
Sabir
- He did his duties for 12 years. Frequent and
continuous fasting made him weak. When his mother came and saw him, she
complained to his brother of her son's weakness and alleged that he had kept
him hungry.
- Baba Farid replied, "I appointed him the
administration of the langar" Then said to him, "why did you not eat from it?"
Hazrat Makhdoom replied, "you ordered me to distribute the food and not to
partake from it." His reply surprised all. Baba Farid remarked. "He is Sabir
(patient). God has not created him to eat." Later the word became a part of
his name.
Prayers and Meditation
He continuously prayed and his abolition was never
disrupted. Continuous fasting made him weak and famished.
Obedience
Tazkaratul Aulia-Hind mentions that Baba Farid, his
maternal uncle, admitted him to the Order and sought his pledge of obedience in
623 Hijri.
His Marriage
The story of his marriage is very interesting. After a
long time his mother came from Harat and requested her brother to marry his
daughter to her son. Baba Farid replied, "He has nothing to do with marriage. He
is lost in meditation and awe- some ness." The sister said. "This is an excuse
since he is an orphan, you decline the request." Baba Farid, upon this, married
away his daughter, Khadija, to him. During the night when the bride entered the
room, she found him lost in prayers. When finished, he asked who she was. She
replied, "your wife!"
Hazrat Makhdoom said. "How can he accommodate two in my
heart? I have already it to one." As he uttered the words a fire burned the
bride to ashes.
At Kalyari
When attained the outer as well as spiritual knowledge
his
Teachers, Baba Farid, led him out of his room one day
and made him sit in an open place. Hazrat Nizam Uddin who was not bestowed upon
the rank of the spiritual heir attended the ceremony. Baba Farid put a green
turban on his head and taught him the secret ism-e-azam drawn in the Order by
word of mouth, and asked him to select a place to serve Him as a center for the
movement of the spread of Islam. He preferred Delhi. Baba further gave him role
of the heir and wrote the letter of sainthood in his own hand and instructed him
to show it Sheikh Jamal Uddin resident of Hansi and the bearer of Baba Farid's
stamp. Accordingly Makhdoom Sabir presented himself to Sheikh Jamal Uddin. Both
disagreed each other. As a result he was denied Delhi and so moved to
Kalahari.
The theologians of Kalahari were unaware of his rank
among the mystics and started opposing him and treated his followers badly. Once
he along with his followers went to say the Junia prayer to the Jama Majid and
sat in the front row. Thereafter came the theologians and told him to vacate the
place, as it was not suitable for him. His followers refused to move away. The
theologians turned violent. Hazrat Sabir raised his head and said that the saint
was only entitled to sit there. They demanded proof of his being the saint. He
replied the proof was there. They would all die and the city is ruined
completely. Saying this he went out of the mosque. The building of the mosque
not only collapsed and killed all under it but also a disease struck the city
and destroyed it completely.
The Prayer and
Meditation
He stayed on a mound near the ruins of the Kalahari and
used to say that loneliness was better than habitation. He was taciturn by
nature and engaged himself whole heartily in prayer and meditation. His awe some
ness was such as no man could stand to it. He was absorbed beyond description.
He stood holding the branch of a goolar tree for 12 years waiting for the
revelation of godly presence. The body dried up became thin, and immovable. Only
eyes worked until at last he realized the Supreme Being. Baba Farid's inner
powers revealed to him Makhdoom Sabir's state so he sent one of his trusted
disciples, Khawaja Shamsuddin Turk, to serve him in the wilderness. He directed
him not to go before him but serve him form behind his back.
Khawaja Shams Uddin's
Obedience
Khawaja Shamsuddin Turk was the most distinguished
spiritual heir of Sabir Kalahari, served such an awesome man for 24 years and
never left him. When grew knowledgeable of intrinsic learning and heart
illuminated of Divinity, his teacher ordered him to enlist himself into the
royal army and bring about reformation among the soldiers. "Whenever your wish
is granted understand I am dead". Under the orders of the teacher Shamsuddin
Turk joined the royal army. Once Sultan Ala-Uddin Khilji invaded Chittor but the
fort could not be won. Continuous siege of Chittor annoyed the Sultan. He
therefore approached Shams-Uddin Turk to pray to God for the victory. He prayed
and the Sultan won it.
Death
The moment Hazrat Shamsuddin Turk's prayer was granted.
Hazrat Makhdoom Sabir Kalahari left for his heavenly abode (on 13, Rabi-ul-Awwal
690 Hijri). His tomb stands at Kalahari in the district of Saharanpur. People,
irrespective caste and creed, attend to pay their token of love and
devotion.
Revelations and
Miracles
It is said in the book
'Hadiqat-ul-Aulia' that
Makhdoom Sabir Kalahari one Friday, went to the Jama Majid to say his Juma
prayer and sat besides the Imam's prayer mat. When others came they said the
place was for the Qazi and he must vacate it. He said," I am the Qutab and the
Qutab is senior to the Qazi." People mocked at him and removed him from the
place forcibly. When all stood to say the prayer and that he had none to occupy,
he addressed the mosque, "0, mosque! All people prostrate, Why don't you?" With
these words the mosque along with roof, and walls, collapsed and the people died
under the debris.
Poetry
He was a good poet; wrote under poetic name 'Sabir'. In
the state of extreme absorption he composed profound couplets on divine subjects
which his disciple Shamsuddin Turk learnt by heart. Later, he edited the verses
into a Persian works.
He spent a larger period of his life in awesome ness
but the presence of Shamsuddin Turk mellowed him considerably. Later, he
preached and attracted people towards Islam. His influence was not only confined
to the territory of Kalahari but people from far and near approached him for
guidance.
Quotes
1.
Shairah is wonderful, draws one from presence to
intimacy.
2.
The beggar, who visits the rich, is hypocrite.
3.
If desire greatness, be simple and truthful.
4.
The guide should have the ability to correct the weakness of the
seeker of truth.
5.
Renunciation means to renounce the undesirable
activities.
6.
Illiterate and greedy mystic is Satan's clown
