Baba Farid

Baba Farid

News: Recently, Baba Farid has been in the news due to India’s 800-year-old connection with Jerusalem.

Background:
• Legend has it that Baba Farid, a Sufi saint from Punjab, meditated at a spot in Jerusalem. Over time, this humble spot evolved into a shrine and hospice for Indian travelers.

Who was Baba Farid?
• Baba Farid, also known as Farīduddīn Masūd Ganjshakar, was a 13th-century Punjabi Muslim preacher, poet, and mystic. He was born around April 4, 1173, and died on May 7, 1266.
• He is one of the most revered and esteemed Muslim mystics of the Middle Ages and the Islamic Golden Age.
• Baba Farid was born in Kothewal, near Multan in the Punjab region. He received his early education at Multan, which had become a center for Muslim education.
• Baba Farid followed the Chishti Order and was a pioneering Sufi who wrote verses in Punjabi. His significant impact is seen in Sikhism, where many of his verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhs.