Sultan Bahoo The Life and Teachings/Birth, Childhood and Education
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh was born in Shorekot, Jhang, in the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan on Thursday, Ist Jamadi-us-Sani 1039 Hijri (17th Jan, 1630) at the time of Fajr prayer. According to “Manaqib-e-Sultani” when Bibi Raasti Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayha reached Shorekot from Anga, she was about to give birth to Sultan-ul-Arifeen and she was informed through spiritual revelation that this child would be the Sultan of Arifeen (King of the Knowers of Allah) and will be born in the Valley of Chenab. She named this sacred child “Bahoo ” according to the Divine Order, as his status and name were already revealed to her.
Before him, no one in history has ever been named Bahoo. Sultan-ul-Arifeen is the exact manifestation of Ism-e-Hoo. In his books, he frequently calls himself Faqeer Bahoo Fana Fi-Hoo and describes his status of Fana (annihilation) and Baqa (immortality) with Hoo.
Sultan Hamid writes the complete name of Sultan-ul-Arifeen as “Sultan Bahoo.” Some writers also write his name “Mohammad Bahoo” or “Sultan Mohammad Bahoo.” But he himself writes his name only “Bahoo” in all his books.
In Mehek-ul-Faqr Kalan he writes:
Bahoo’s mother named him Bahoo because he always remains with Hoo.
Thousands of praises for the mother of Bahoo. Bahoo, who is the son of Bibi Raasti, finds pleasure only in the Zikr of “Ya Hoo.”
As far as, ‘Sultan’ being part of his name is concerned, Shaikh-e-Akbar Allama Ibn-e-Arabi writes about Insan-e-Kamil (The Universal Man) that:
Insan-e-Kamil is the Qutb and ‘Sultan’ of his time. (exegesis of Fasoos-ul-Hakam)
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh was Insan-e-Kamil of his time.
Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh says:
“The Zikr (invocation) of Hoo is the Sultan-ul-Azkar (crown invocation) and one who annihilates in Hoo is the ‘Sultan’.” Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo is the Sultan of all Sultans (King of all Arifeen and saints) i.e. the Sultan-ul-Arifeen and is stationed at the highest status of Sultan-ul-Faqr. That is why, ‘Sultan’ became a part of his name and afterwards, writers and research scholars added ‘Mohammad’ to his name out of respect. Common people also call him ‘Haq Bahoo’. In Risala Roohi Sharif Sultan-ul-Arifeen Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh writes . Meaning: The Haq (Divine Reality-Allah) has given him (Sultan Bahoo) the title of ‘Haq’ as he is always with Haq. This means, he was graced with the title of “Haq” by Allah Himself, which is why, he became famous among people by the name of ‘Haq Bahoo’.
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh used to remain engrossed in heavenly experiences and doubtless spiritual triumphs since his early age. Once, he was lying at some place, a group of Hindu ascetics passed by. One of them hit him by his foot and asked him despicably to show them the way. He got up and recited the creed. This group of ascetics embraced Islam there and then merely by his single glance and the stroke of creed recited by his sacred tongue. All of them afterwards became saints.
Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan-ul-Faqr Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh did not get any bookish knowledge or conventional education. In his book Ain-ul-Faqr he says:
I did not get worldly education like Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam but I have got such spiritual and Divine Knowledge due to the heavenly experiences, that a lot of books are required to express it.