On April 4, the 25th of the Islamic month of Jami-us-Sani, saw the 362 Urs celebrations of Shah Farhad. His father was the governor of Burhanpur and, in those days, a famous Sufi master, Hazrat Dost Muhammad, disciple of the famous Syedna Shah Ameer Abul Ulai Ahrari of Agra, stayed in Burhanpur. As a young child, Shah Farhad often accompanied his father to Shaykh Dost Muhammad’s khanqah.
Drawn to the mystic, the child began visiting him frequently. The spiritual inclination of the young lad disturbed his father and he requested the Sufi to somehow put an end to these visits. Despite being dissuaded by the Sufi, the child continued to seek out the company of Hazrat Dost Muhammad. When his father repeated his fears to the mystic again, Shaykh Dost Muhammad commented, “You desire that your son stands with folded hands in front of kings, but Allah desires that kings should stand with folded hands in front of your son.”
The father resigned himself to God’s will and entrusted the child to the mystic.
Hazrat Dost Muhammad initiated Shah Farhad in the Abul Ulai order, an offshoot of the Chishti and Naqshbandi orders. Shah Farhad achieved an exalted spiritual rank, gaining a reputation for cleansing souls with a sheer glance at those who sought his company.
Hazrat Dost Muhammad ordered Shah Farhad to leave Burhanpur and live in Delhi. Shah Farhad is also known by the title “Shaykh ul Jinn”, for it is said that countless jinns were his disciples. Muslims believe that jinns exist in a parallel world and, like humans, can be good or evil. Sometimes these other worldly beings can clash with human beings.
Many who feel possessed by jinns come to the dargah of Hazrat Shah Farhad, for they believe that jinns are scared of him and leave the affected person. They come and hold the stone trellis around the tomb for three consecutive Thursdays, or a few days consecutively, and they have been cured of the jinn.
Hazrat Shah Farhad is also known for blessing childless couples with children. Ever so often, I see such couples bring their infant children for thanksgiving at the threshold of the Sufi. The dargah of Shah Farhad near Sadar Bazaar is one of my favourite places in Delhi.
