Journey of a Seeker of Sacred Knowledge

Abu Muhammad Baha al-Din Zakariya Multani [d.665 – 1267 CE] ‘alayhi al-rahmah wa’l-ridwan

Hadrat Shaykh Baha-al-Din Zakariya (Persian: بہاؤ الدین زکریا ) was a Sufi of the Suhrawardiyya order (tariqa). His full name was al-Shaykh al-Kabir Baha-ud-Din Abu Muhammad Zakaria al-Qurayshi al-Asadi al Hashmi.

Shaykh Baha al-Din Zakariya known as ‘Bahawal Haq’ was born at Kot Kehror, a town of the Layyah District near Multan, Punjab, Pakistan, around 1170 Common Era. His grand father Shah Kamal al-Din Ali Shah Qurayshi al Hashmi arrived in Multan from Makkah en route to Khwarizm where he stayed for a short while. Shaykh Baha al-Din was from the descendents of Asad Ibn Hashim the maternal grandfather of Hadrat Ali ibn Abi Talib Radi Allahu anhu.

In Tariqat he was the disciple of Renowned Sufi Master Shaykh Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi Radi Allahu anhu who awarded him Khilafat only after 17 days of stay at his Khanqaah in Baghdad.

For fifteen years he went from place to place to preach Islam and after his wanderings ‘Bahawal Haq’ settled in Multan in 1222. One of his famous disciples is Hadrat Lal Shah Baz Qalander Radi Allahu anhu [d.650].

Shah baz Qalandar (Sayyad Uthman) was seen as a controversial figure by some, because he was a majzub wali. He would put on red clothes and was often found in a state of spiritual ecstasy. This offended the orthodox ulema of the time. Qazi Qutb al-Din Kashfi, a prominent alim, gave a fatwa [religious edict) against Sayyad Uthman, who was staying in a village near Multan. He was furious when he heard about this fatwa and travelled to Multan with his followers to avenge the dishonour. At the time, Shaykh Baha al-Din Zakariya Multani was presiding over the seat of spiritual guidance and enlightenment and his circle of disciples included scholars and sages. When he learnt of Sayyad Uthman and the cause of his anger, Shaykh Baha al-Din, managed to calm him down.

Humbled by Shaykh Baha al-Din, he said: ”O personification of the light, I beg your pardon. I was in the wrong. I had come to take revenge from an alim of your city, but I have myself become your prisoner. Don’t keep me waiting for long and accept my submission and bai’t.” Shaykh Baha al-Din embraced him and included him in his circle of Rushd-wo-Hidayat (spiritual guidance and enlightenment). Shaykh Baha al-Din is reported to have addressed Uthman with the name ‘Lal Shahbaz’ and since then, he has been known by this name.

According to Hadrat Makhdoom Ashraf Semnani.

Shaykh Baha-al-Din Zakariya died in 1267 CE and his mausoleum is located near the main gate of the Multan Fort. (Some reports say that the Shaykh died on the 7th of Safar – 661/21 December 1262).