Sultan Bahoo The Life and Teachings/Search for The Divine Truth and Oath of Allegiance (Bayat)
Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh writes in his books, “I searched for a Murshid for thirty years but in vain.”
One day, engrossed in Allah’s vision, he was wandering in the suburbs of Shorekot. Suddenly an extremely honorable and dignified rider appeared who held his hand and affectionately said, “I am Ali bin Abu Talib.” Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh was young of age, not of intellect. He at once recognized Hazrat Ali Karum Allah Wajhu and was about to sacrifice his self for him. Hazrat Ali Karum Allah Wajhu looked towards him and said, “Son! Today you are summoned in the court of the Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam.”
Sultan-ul-Arifeen says, “When my Lord, Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam persuaded me the Kalma once, all the veils of stations and stages were removed. The Azal (pre-existence) and Abad (Eternity) became equal for me. After persuasion from the Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam, Hazrat Bibi Fatima-tuz-Zahra Razi Allah Anha honoured me by saying, “You are my son.” I kissed at the feet of Hazrat Imam Hassan and Hussain and entered the circle of their slavery. Then the Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam advised me “Call the people towards Allah. Persuade and guide them. Your position will be raised day by day and it will continue till eternity because this is the eternal order of The Lord.” Afterwards, the Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam entrusted him over to Ghaus-ul-Azam Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu who blessed him with the spiritual treasure and ordered him to persuade and show the path of righteousness to people. Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo says, “When the great rider of Faqr (Ghaus-ul-Azam) cast his kind eyes upon me, I surpassed all the spiritual levels from Azal till Abad.”
He writes about this experience of presence in the Assembly of the Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam, “Whatever I saw there, it was with my physical eyes and experienced everything with my physical body.” In Risala Roohi Sharif, he says:
Hazrat Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam has taken my allegiance and called me his spiritual son. He has allowed and ordered me to persuade and guide people on the Divine Way to Allah.
OUTWARD OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan-ul-Faqr Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo reached home after this spiritual benevolence and told his mother about this experience. After hearing this, she said, “Now you should swear the outward oath of allegiance at the hands of the Perfect Murshid.” “But I have already sworn allegiance”, replied he, “I have been blessed directly by the Holy Prophet Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam through the Awaisi way. Hazrat Ghaus-ul-Azam has also blessed me with spiritual treasure and allowed me to persuade and guide people.” But his mother told him that it was inward allegiance. In the way of Faqr, outward allegiance is necessary and for this, he should find the Perfect Murshid. Then he asked, “Why should I find a Murshid when you are like a Murshid to me?” She replied, “My son! Women cannot take allegiance or perform the duty of persuasion. Neither Hazrat Fatima-tuz-Zahra nor Hazrat Rabia Basri did this.” Then Hazrat Sultan Bahoo asked, “Where should I find a Murshid?” She replied, “Find on the entire earth” and pointed towards east. He Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh once again set out to find a Murshid. He travelled long distances in search of the Perfect Murshid and met many saints and dervishes but none could fulfill his desire.
Then he heard about Shah Habib Allah Qadri Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh who belonged to the progeny of Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu, and lived in Garh Baghdad (Mian Channu, district Khanewal, Punjab Pakistan) a village near River Ravi. Sultan-ul-Arifeen went to Garh Baghdad to meet him. When he entered his Khanqah, he saw that it was full of devotees, faqeers and servants.
Shaikh Habib said, “What could I tell you? I do not have what you desire. You can get your destiny from Hazrat Abdul Rehman Jilani Qadri Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh who is in Dehli.”
It is also said that Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu ordered Hazrat Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh, after completing his inward training, to swear allegiance upon the hands of Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi. Sultan-ul-Arifeen immediately set for Dehli to obey this order. When he was a few miles away from Dehli, a man met him, touched his feet and told him that Shaikh Abdul Rehman had sent him to welcome Sultan-ul-Arifeen. He took him to the Shaikh.
Sultan-ul-Arifeen met Shaikh Abdul Rehman Jilani on Friday, 29 Ziqa’ad 1078 Hijri (11th May 1668). The Shaikh took him in privacy. Sultan-ul-Arifeen received his eternal destiny in the form of Ism-e-Allah Zaat in only one meeting with his Murshid.