Naushah Ganj Bakhsh
Sufi scholar and saint (1552–1654)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Haji Muhammad Naushāh Ganj Bakhsh (21 August 1552 – 18 May 1654) was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi saint and scholar from Gujrat in Punjab.[1] He was the founder of the Naushahiah branch of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, and his successors came to be known as Naushāhiyyas.[2]
Biography
Muhammad Naushah was born on 21 August 1552 in Gujrat, Punjab to a Khokhar family.[2] His father, Hajji Ala’uddin Qadiri, was an ascetic, while his mother Bibi Jiuni belonged to a respectable family.[3]
Naushāh was the most outstanding disciple of Sufi saint Shah Sulaimān Nūri of Naushera, Punjab.[2] He later shifted to Shahanpal in Mandi Bahauddin where he died in 1654.
Teachings
Naushāh was respected by his contemporaries including nobles and rulers.[3] He accepted the syncretic approach of Kabir and Guru Nanak but with more emphasis on tawhid or oneness of God. Like Kabir, he rejected caste and criticised the idea of transmigration of souls.[4] Naushāh enrolled his followers from different castes and occupations. They were Bhattis, Mochis, Lohars, Tarkhans, Awans, Jats and others.[5] He condemned the caste system in his following dohras (a rhyming couplet in the Punjabi poetry):
"Saiyid and Jat, both are human beings. Both are the sons of Adam and Eve.
Naushah do not ask the descent of a faqir, but enquire about the way that leads to Lord. This is the right mode of speech."[5]
Literary works
The following works have been published:[6]
- Kulliyāt-i Naushāh: (Urdu poetry) consisting of 76 Risala's and 2400 verses.
- Kulliyāt-i Naushāh: (Punjabi poetry) In this work 126 Risala's of about four thousand verses are alphabetically arranged.
- Ma‘ārif-i Tasawwuf: (Persian poetry) dealing with assignments on the spiritual path.
- Mawā'iz-i Naushāh Pīr: (Punjabi prose) comprises delivered speeches and advices.