Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ)

The Saint Poet Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) occupies a unique place of unsurpassed value and vintage in the world of soul and spirit. He was not only a saint of unparallel reputation but was also a poet of the greatest merit in the Sareiki Language. He rendered almost the whole of his philosophy and Teachings into the poetical literature of the classic type. His poetry carries the massage of Islamic ethics and social equality among the Muslims. He was not only inspired by the eternal teachings of Islam but also had keen eye on his surroundings. He therefore expressed his thoughts and ideas by symbolizing the phenomenon of nature around him with the teaching of Islam and the concept of Triqat. His Poetry has been translated into English and is greatly appreciated and admired throughout Pakistan.

          He was Born in 1261 A.H. in Chachran Sharif District Rahim Yar khan. His father Khawaja Khuda Bakhsh was a God fearing man was known for his prayers and piety. The pore fathers of Khawaja Sahib had migrated from Arabia and were from the line of Basir Bin Abdullah Bin Omar Farooq. Mithan Khan one of the prominent personalities of the area became a devoted disciple of the Khawaja family. He crossed over the Indus and founded the town of Mithan kot. When khawaja Sahib grew up in to spiritual prominence he migrated and permanently settled in that town. Khawaja Ghulam Farid was a bright and brilliant child from early age. He was clear in speech comprehensive in expression and devoted in his deeds and actions of everyday life as a boy. He had all the indications ot forecast the force of his soul and spirit which associated him with live of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and the fear of God Almighty.

          He learnt the Holy Quran at the tender age eight by heart. He acquired the knowledge and education of Arabic and Persian by the time he was sixteen. He was the disciple of his elder brother Khawaja Fakhar Jahan. After the death of his master he succeeded him at the age of 28. He spent most of his time in meditating and praying at Rohi. His poetry is full of references to the place of his prayers and seclusion from the hue and cry of the world at large.

          The Poetry of Khawaja Farid has been recognized and acknowledge as a Classic work in Sareiki Literature. But to confine his thoughts and expressions to the limits of literature is to dany the claim of his poetry as bearing the message of the Mystic. The generally understandable version of Mysticism implies the Concept of Triqat which lays emphasis on complete subjugation of One’s body and soul with total commitment to God Almighty. This commitment entails unconditional love of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) the last Holy Prophet of Allah.

          Measured on the standard thus set the verses of Khawaja Farid abound in delicacy of expression clarity of thought purity of dedication and piety of emotions. It has spontaneous flow of rhythmic music and possesses simple beauty of its relationship to the very day situation of normal social and cultural life of the area. Visibly it appears to be the remorse of a worldly lover for his separated beloved. Inwardly the depth and the contents of its meaning simple hold the groans and grief of one who is totally lost in the passionate love of Muhammad (Peace upon him) and dedicated meditation of God Almighty in seclusion.

Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) wrote the following books both in poetry and prose:-

1. Dewan-E-Farid in 1882. (Saraiki Poetry)
2. Dewan-e-Farid in 1884. (Urdu Poetry)
3. Manaqabe Mehboobia (in Persian prose)
4. Fawaid Faridia (in Persian prose)

Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) died on 7th Rabi-ath-Thani, 1319 (24th July, 1901) and was laid to rest in Mithan Kot.