The Spiritual Experiences of Khawaja Ghulam Farid during His Journey to Haramain and their Implications (An Analytical and Descriptive Study of His Kafis related to Hajj and Umrah)

خواجہ غلام فریدؒ کے مُشاہداتِ حرمین شریفین اور اُن کے تقاضے

Abstract

The journey of a sincere and pious Muslim to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah
for Hajj and Umrah are the blessed and unique among other travels because he is granted
with special spiritual blessings and experiences. Although many scholars and spiritual
guides have recorded their experiences of Hajj and Umrah for the benefits of coming
generations, Khawaja Ghulam Farid Chishti of Kot Mitthen Pakistan is unique in the sense
that he wrote his experiences in very sweet Kafis—a special kind of poetry—of the Saraiki
language. His description is not only of what he saw openly, observed materially and
experienced spiritually, but also it contains valuable Sufi lessons for those who intend to
go for Hajj and Umrah.
There are two basic questions of research on this topic. Firstly, what experiences of
Khawaja Ghulam Farid are found in his Kafis which he wrote during his journey of Hajj
and Umrah? Secondly, what are the manners and etiquettes he intended to teach to those
who want to visit Makkah and Madinah for Hajj and Umrah? This research follows
analytical and descriptive method to investigate the answers of these questions. The
findings of this research are helpful in improving peace and harmony of a Muslim with
Almighty Allah, the Holy Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allah be upon him), the people
of Makkah and Madinah, his Muslim fellows and humanity in large.