How Sufism Shaped Spiritual Landscape of Southern Punjab

Muhammad Salman Raza

Multan: Sufism, or tasawwuf, is regarded as the mystical heart of Islam, starting with a spark of divine love that aims to awaken the minds and souls of people towards the essence of Islam.

Some scholars argue that Sufism emerged as a distinct spiritual movement during the 8th-9th centuries CE, while others believe it originated from the inner mystical interpretations of the Holy Qur’an.

“God awakens the lamp of divine light within the hearts of those who believe in Divine oneness. For the Sufi, this light is felt as love, tenderness, and guidance necessary to help us on our path.

This light moves us from the pain of separation to the embrace of union with the Divine,” said Dr Ashraf Ali Qureshi, Divisional President of Jamiat Ulema Pakistan.

Islam began spreading in Southern Punjab only after the 8th century. The first Muslim state in Punjab was the Emirate of Multan, established in 855 CE following the disintegration of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Multan, dating back to 5000 BC, is one of the oldest cities in the world and has a rich archaeological and cultural heritage, often compared to Rome.

Previously known as the “City of Gold,” Multan is now referred to as the “City of Saints.” Within a 25-mile radius, hundreds of mausoleums of saints who propagated Islam in the subcontinent can be found.

Despite many shrines being erased or destroyed over time, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 remain intact, frequently visited by devotees from Southern Punjab and interior Sindh.

One of the most notable Sufi saints of the region is Hazrat Sheikh Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi, also known as “Baha-ul-Haq.”

Born around 1170 AD in Kot Kehror (now Karor Lal Esan), near Multan, he is credited with spreading Islam and earning Multan the metaphorical title of “Baghdad of the East.” His shrine, located near the clock tower in the heart of the city, remains a significant site.

According to certain chroniclers, Bahauddin Zakariya’s mother was related to Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, a revered Muslim mystic. The Khanqah (shrine) of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, an architectural masterpiece, is a prominent landmark in Multan.

Situated on a small hillock behind the old Multan Fort, its dome spans over 50 feet in diameter and rises over 100 feet in height. The complex, built with red bricks and decorated with exquisite woodwork, hosts an annual Urs from the 5th to 7th Jamadi-ul-Awwal, attracting 2,000 to 3,000 devotees.

Bibi Pak Daman, also known as Bibi Rasti, was the mother of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and a disciple of Bahauddin Zakariya. She is credited with bringing the Suhrawardiyya order of Sufism to Multan. Her tomb, decorated with Multan’s signature blue and white tiles, is located near the site of a pre-Islamic temple.

The Mausoleum of Shah Yusuf Gardez, a significant Sufi saint born in 450 AH in Gardez, Afghanistan, is situated at Bohar Gate inside the walled city of Multan. Built in 1150 AD, 14 years after his death, the tomb is accompanied by a mosque constructed by Sher Shah Suri.

Other notable shrines include those of Hameed-ud-Din Hakim, Qutab-al-Qutaab, Syed Pir Sakhi Shah Hassan Parwana, Syed Hasan Khanjzee, Hazrat Shah Dana Shaheed, Abu Hassan Hafiz Jamal-ud-Din (Musa Pak Shaheed), Hazrat Shah Kamal Qadari, Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Chisti Nazami, Pir Chup Wardi Waly, Mollana Hamid Ali Khan Naqshbandi, Hazrat Khawaja Awais Khagga, Pir Syed Wali Muhammad Shah (Chadar Wali Sarkar), and Hazrat Gul Shah.

“For the Sufi, love is both the beginning and the end of the journey. The Sufi’s mystical journey begins with a spark of divine love that leads to the remembrance of God. 

This journey of love and longing burns away the ego and the sense of a separate self, a process called ‘fana’ or annihilation, which leads to ‘baqa’ or abiding in God,” said Shakir Hussain Shakir, author of Hazrat Shah Yusuf Gardez and Hazrat Shah Shams Tabrizi.