TIMES OF HAZRAT SULTAN BAHU AND THE POLITICAL EVENTS OF THAT
PERIOD.
Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) was born during the reign of the Mughal
Emperor Shah Jehan. The emperor’s rule, known as the golden period of the
Mughal's, lasted for 31 years beginning from1036/1628.Historians agree that
Shah Jahan was kind and benevolent and held the shari'a in reverence. He was a
great builder, especially of beautiful and magnificent mosques. His personal
life was blameless and he used to place reliance on the advice of the scholars
and the pious around him. His Prime Minister S'ad Ullah Khan `Allami (d
1066/1656) was a noted scholar and educator.
Whatever the view of the personal character of Sha Jahan, his rule
was a marked difference from the rule of Amber who had brought about a policy
of promoting concepts and rules which were alien to Islam With the liberty and
freedom of Akbar's religious beliefs and practices, Sha Jahan only object was
to restore the shari'a rather than to persecute believers of other religions.
His personal conduct showed as much reverence for religion as his state policy
demonstrated
his desire to restore the tenets of Islam. Sha Jahan had conferred
on the father of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) an estate in the proximity of the
small town of Shorkhote in Punjab Province. The Saint was born in this town in
1039/1631.However,it was during the rule of Aurangzeb, the son of Sha Jahan
that Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) lived most of his life.
Prince Dara Shikoh, the son of Sha Jahan began to lean towards the
ideas and beliefs of Akbar causing serious misgivings to the Muslim community,
for they had been a witness to the indignities heaped on Islam and the muslims
during Akbar's rule. So the Muslims were in a way sympathetic to the Prince
Aurangzeb, who was God fearing and the defender of the orthodox faith. This
provided a golden opportunity to the practical and intelligent Aurangzeb to
take advantage of the situation. The final outcome of the war of succession is
too well known to be recounted here. Aurangzeb ascended to the throne in
1068/1659 and ruled over the country for almost half a century.
We need not give any detailed account of the personal character
and conduct of Aurangzeb who was acclaimed by his contemporary historians as a
believing, pious ruler free from vice. He used to sleep for three hours only,
and on awakening use to offer his usual prayers. In the words of a
historian...."Every year he goes into a forty days retirement, during
which he sleeps on the ground. He fasts and gives alms....Thus in twenty-four
hours his rule is to eat once and sleep three hours. His cloths are plain and
he wears few ornaments....nothing but a small plume......He wears no strings of
pearls ....... and his coats are of a very moderately priced material."
Aurangzeb had displayed a concern for the faith from the very beginning. There
was not a field of activity-- political , social and moral in which he did not
try to bring about improvements. He passed a number of ordinances for restoring
the rules of Islam in his administration and bringing the lives of the people
into closer accord with the moral teachings of the Quran. These steps earned
him the title of `Muhyiuddin'. Allama Iqbal deemed Aurangzeb to be one of the
protectors of the true faith in India.
The book `Aurang-Shahi', written by Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)
alludes to the meeting between himself and the King Aurangzeb. This incident
took place in Delhi during the saint’s days of wandering. His Holiness related
his teachings to the King, which were written down by a scribe immediately. The
teaching became known as `Aurang-Shahi' and this treatise is still extant
today. It contains in its very brief form the teachings, advice and philosophy
of the great Saint.
