There is nothing more joyous for the seekers of Allah than to behold the sacred face of their beloved (perfect spiritual guide). Nineteenth of August is a special day when king of ardent lovers, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman was born. Every year, his disciples organise a grand spiritual gathering for celebrations of this blessed day with zeal and fervour. It is an opportunity for the seekers of Allah to enlighten their inwards with the theophanies manifesting from Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s sacred face.
This year, as before, Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr organised a grand ceremony for celebrations of birth anniversary at the Khanqah Sarwari Qadri in Lahore on the evening of Monday 19th August 2019. The teams from various departments of Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr (TDF) had started preparations for the event well in advance. The Central Executive Committee and the General Council called a joint meeting before the event of birth anniversary to review preparations and to ensure completion of all activities on time. The team at Sultan-ul-Faqr Publications published a special issue of the monthly Sultan-ul-Faqr Magazine to mark the event. This issue had special articles written according to the occasion to educate the readers about Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s tremendous efforts in spreading the message of Faqr. People from throughout Pakistan as well as devotees from abroad attended this blessed gathering.
Thirteen Continuous Years of Publishing Monthly Sultan-ul-Faqr Magazine
In order to spread the message of Faqr to the masses, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen initiated the publication of monthly Sultan-ul-Faqr magazine in August 2006. This publication has been successfully publishing for the past thirteen years. It has been a source of guidance and inward enlightenment for the seekers of Allah. May Allah continue His blessings to further succeed Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen in his mission.
Sultan-ul-Faqr Publications’ had announced a special discount on the purchase of the book ‘Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’. This book documents Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s biography, his struggle for spreading the message of Faqr and spiritual observations of his disciples. It is highly recommended to anyone wanting to learn more about Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen and his life history.
Preparations for the 19th August Event
The social media wing of Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr started an awareness campaign a month before the event. They utilised all key social media platforms for this purpose. The teams and volunteers from this wing made special slides and published them on social media platforms. Some of the key topics of the slides include: Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s personality, his spiritual grandeur, his struggle for spreading the message of Faqr, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s quotes on the subject of Faqr, Divine vision, beneficence of Ism-e-Allah Zaat and Ism-e-Mohammad and sharia.
In order to keep the devotees up to date with the preparations for the event, the social media team created events on Facebook titled ‘Jashn-e-wiladat Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’ and ‘Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Day’. By the grace of Allah Almighty, 19th August will continue to be celebrated as ‘Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Day’ till the Doomsday.
Security Arrangements
In view of the prevailing situation around the time of the event, Malik Naeem Abbas (chief executive of the Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr) instructed Muhammad Maqbool (Incharge of security) to make fool proof security arrangements on the day. Muhammad Abdullah Iqbal supervised a drill to check security arrangements.
The morning of 19th August, 1959 is the blessed day when the current Shaikh of the Sarwari Qadri order Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Muhammad Najib-ur-Rehman was born, indeed it is a very special day. Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo’s below verses are very relevant to this occasion:
چڑھ چناں تے کر رشنائی، تارے ذکر کریندے تیرا ھو
تیرے جیہے چن کئی سے چڑھدے، سانوں سجناں باجھ ہنیرا ھو
جتھے چن اساڈا چڑھدا، اوتھے قدر نئیں کجھ تیرا ھو
جس دے کارن اساں جنم گوایا، باھوؒ یار ملے اک پھیرا ھو
Explanation: O’ enlightened moon of Faqr! Rise soon and fill this dark and evil world with the Divine light. The seekers and true believers of Allah are desperately waiting for you. Hundreds of fake moons (fraud spiritual guides and their fake ways) have risen and deceived the umma claiming to be you, but without you there is darkness everywhere. When our real moon (a perfect spiritual guide of the Sarwari Qadri order, who is the true and complete manifestation of the Divine self) will appear, the fake moons will disappear and these fraud guides will run away. O Bahoo! I am longing to see my beloved for whom I have devoted my whole life and everything.
Highlights of the 19th August Birth Anniversary Event
The Khanqah had been decorated beautifully for the event on 19th August. A special meal was prepared for the devotees who came to attend the event. The heads of Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr’s regional offices led their respective caravans to the Khanqah. They gathered in the Khanqah along with disciples from their area before the event commenced. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen departed from his residence (Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen House) for the Khanqah shortly after dusk.
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s Warm Welcome upon Arrival
The devotees warmly greeted Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen upon his arrival at the Khanqah. They chanted slogans in respect of their beloved spiritual guide. The disciples holding Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr’s flags showered rose petals on Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s car to welcome him. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s spiritual successors Sahibzada Muhammad Murtaza Najib, Muhammad Abdullah Iqbal, Muhammad Hasnain Mehboob and chief executive of Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr Malik Muhammad Naeem Abbas presented flowers to Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen one by one and congratulated him on his birth anniversary.
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen then took to the stage where he met the devotees individually who had come from various parts of the country. The disciples congratulated Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen and presented gifts. Following that, Naeem Abbas formally commenced the ceremony by greeting all the attendees. He congratulated the audience on the blessed occasion of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s birthday on behalf of management of Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr. He further stated that Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s life is a shining beacon that is guiding the seekers of Allah on the path of Faqr. Naeem Abbas then invited Molana Muhammad Aslam to recite few verses from the holy Quran. Molana Muhammad Aslam recited few verses from Surah Al-Rahman with translation. Whenever he recited the verse:
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ( 55:18)
Meaning: So which of your Lord’s blessings will you both deny? (55:18)
It resonated in my mind that indeed the presence of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen is such a grand blessing of Allah Almighty that neither can be denied nor we can thank Allah enough for Hid blessing.
Following Quran recitation, Muhammad Ramzan Bahoo read a naat in praise of the Holy Prophet. Mohsin Raza Sultani then read a beautiful eulogy in praise of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s spiritual successor Nasir Hameed had written this eulogy especially for this occasion. The devotees listened to the eulogy with passion and chanted slogans in praise of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen.
Address by Molana Muhammad Aslam
Molana Muhammad Aslam addressed the audience according to the occasion. He highlighted Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s spiritual grandeur and his tremendous efforts to spread the message of Faqr since adorning the throne of Divine guidance and persuasion. He also highlighted Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s efforts to utilise the modern technologies and platforms in this regard. In addition, he mentioned the material published by Sultan-ul-Faqr publications is second to none when it comes to Sufi literature.
Ata-ul-Wahab then read a beautiful eulogy that he had written himself in praise of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen. To mark the end of the ceremony Molana Muhammad Aslam made a supplication.
Cake Cutting
The management of Tehreek Dawat-e-Faqr had prepared a cake to mark the birth anniversary of our beloved spiritual guide. Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen cut the cake. He took a bite himself and also gave it to all three of his spiritual successors as well as to Naeem Abbas.
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen’s beneficence is not just restricted to disciples within Pakistan. Countless disciples have taken online oath of allegiance on the sacred hand of Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen who have been granted with the invocation and contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat and the method of inscribing this on the body. Through his Divine company and perfect spiritual glance, Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen has elevated many of his disciples to grant them with presence in the Mohammadan Assembly and Divine vision. May Allah shower his blessings upon our beloved spiritual guide and give us the strength to follow the path of Faqr with perseverance. Ameen.
Waqar Ahmed penned the Urdu report of the 19th August event. Waheed Hassan has translated it into English. For Urdu report please click here: