Hazrat Sheikh Bahauddin Zakariya Multani

Abu Muhammad Baha-ud-Din Zakariya Multani (d. 665 - 1267 CE) 'alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan

Hazrat Shaykh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya 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-ud-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-ud-Din Ali Shah Qurayshi al-Hashmi arrived in Multan from Makkah en route to Khwarizm where he stayed for a short while. Shaykh Baha-ud-Din was from the descendents of Asad Ibn Hashim the maternal grandfather of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (radi Allahu anhu).

In Tariqat he was the disciple of Renowned Sufi Master Shaykh Shahab-ud-Din Sohrawardi (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 & after his wanderings "Bahawal Haq" settled in Multan in 1222. One of his famous disciples is Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (radi Allahu anhu) (d. 650).

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

Humbled by Shaykh Baha-ud-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 & accept my submission & bai't." Shaykh Baha-ud-Din embraced him & included him in his circle of Rushd-o-Hidayat (spiritual guidance & enlightenment). Shaykh Baha-ud-Din is reported to have addressed Usman with the name "Lal Shahbaz" & since then, he has been known by this name.

According to Hazrat Makhdoom Ashraf Simnani:

"Qalandar is one who has severed connections with the world. He should be an expert of shariat (law) & tariqat (way) & should be immersed in the ocean of existence." Usman had all these qualities, which is why he is known as "Qalandar".

Shaykh Baha-ud-Din Zakariya died in 1267 CE &  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).