Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) is one of the most Famous Sufi Saints of the Islamic history and Philosopher. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) is called Sultan-ul- Arifeen and Sultan-ul-Faqr. He tells in his Persian book that Beloved Prophet Imam-ul-Ambiyya Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave him divine guidance and told him,

“OH Bahoo you are my son go and preach
the all humans either they are Muslim or
non Muslim either they are lucky or unlucky”

 Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) was born in 1628 AD in Shorkot which is a city of Pakistan. In his (God bless him) childhood there was a strange light on his face which compelled even Hindu to say Kalima Tayyiba (Shahadah) and enter in Islam His mother supervised his education but it must have been irregular because He was often found under the influence of ecstatic states . It seems that his education remained informal to the end. Whatever He expressed or wrote after-wards, it was in the light of his own spiritual vision and knowledge. His mother taught him the most essential Sufi exercises of Zikar (invocation of Allah and his names) and He probably needed no more guidance after that. He was initiated to walk of Sufis intuitively.

His spiritual experiences and vision enriched his mind and spirit with so much knowledge that He far excelled his contemporary Sufi master and Sufi poet in Tasawuf (Sufism) and Suluk (all about the Sufi way and its stations and its states) in a book He remarks: Though we have little of formal learning, yet the spirit has been blessed with the holiness by esoteric knowledge In fact He may be called a born saint.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) may have met many Sufis and visited many tombs of the Saints but He did not come across Sufi teacher of his own calibre. At the age of thirty, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) had an extra-ordinary vision in which He saw Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) through the spiritual recommendation and support of Hazrat Ali (Radhiy Allahu Anhu) and Hazrat Sheikh Abudul Qadir Jilani (Rahmatullahi Alay). The Beloved Prophet (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself took Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) Bayat (Oath) and allowed Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) to pass on the Sufi teaching. He often mention in his books about his presence in the spiritual meetings presided by the Beloved Prophet (Sall Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself. However, in the treatise of the Spirit He called Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Rahmatullahi Alay) his Murshid (Spiritual Director). He is always lavish in praise of Hazrat Sheikh and calls himself Qadri.

In the eyes of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) the teaching of the Qadria order is most effective for the spiritual development of the seeker. But at the same time it is evidently clear that by Qadria order, He means the one that He himself represented. He names it, Sarwari Qadiri. During the same period when Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) was a young man of about thirty, the war of succession between Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb was fought. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) later writing are sufficient proof His moral and spiritual support for Aurangzeb who won and became the Emperor. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) himself, however, never cares to have any concern with the court or courtiers.

All his life, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) kept travelling to the far-flung places initiating discipline and passing the spiritual knowledge and wisdom to the seeker of the truth. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) might have written most of his books during such journeys. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) never made a permanent Khaneqah (place to live for a Sufi) during his life-time .Sometime, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) fell in to ecstasy and passed the days and nights in the state of absorption. Many places are still remembered and venerated where Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) stayed for some long or short period to contemplate in solitude.

In Manaqib-e- Sultani (name of a book) a few of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) journey has been mentioned. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) travelling in Sariki region up to Sindh, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) journey to Delhi where He met the Emperor Aurngzeb and His visits to the tombs of Multan and other cities have been indicated.

The blessed soul of Hazrat Sayyidi-Murshidi, Sheikhul-Masheikh, Maulana-Murshidina, Sutanul-Arifeen Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay), departed in a blissful state to its Lord on a Thursday evening, on the 1st of Jamadu-Thani, in the year 1102 AD/Friday 2 March 1691C.E at the blessed age of 63.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) wrote one hundred and forty books and Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) told for his books that He did not write his books with the help of other books Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) wrote which Allah Almighty give him by divine guidance and from Quran and Hadith. Each of his books is full of divine education and light from Allah Almighty.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) was place to rest in a brick-built fort. This fort stood on the very land and estate that the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had conferred to the Saints father in lieu of his services to the state. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) blessed body rested in this shrine for over 70 years.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu’s (Rahmatullahi Alay) blessed body was transferred to nearby place in 1180/1766 because of the water of River Chenub began to increase and cause threat to the structure of the fort and the graves inside.

For approximately 150 years, the blessed tomb of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) illuminated the hearts and minds of the public. However, the River Chenab, once again increased its water level and reached dangerously close to the tomb, this was approximately in the year 1336/1918, during the spiritual reign of Hazrat Sultan Noor Ahmed (Rahmatullahi Alay).

Now Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) is resting under the beautiful tomb, called the “Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahu” in District Jhang, Punjab.

There is a large “Langar Khana or Public Kitchen” for the poor, which serves the daily needs of the pilgrims. During the URS of Hazrat Imam Hussain (Radhiy Allahu Anhu), which takes place on the first 10 days of Muharram-ul-Haram, the public kitchen serves thousands of people.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) wrote many books in  Persian. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) was the greatest teacher and propogator of Faqr (spiritual poverty) which is the shining and guiding star in his teaching. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (Rahmatullahi Alay) may be considered one of the great revellers in the history of Sufism. It is strange that his fame rose and spread world-wide recently, long after his departure from this world. The scholars of time turned attention to present and interpret Hazrat Sultan Bahu’s (Rahmatullahi Alay) doctrine in a systematic way.

Rise O Moon, spread your light, the stars are remembering your name. The merchants of rubies (saints) are roaming helplessly around the streets. No one should ever be a stranger as straws are heavier than them (strangers). Do not clap your hands to make use fly, O Bahu, we are already inclined to fly (towards flight).