Divine Love of Sultan Bahoo. Or and the Concept of Divine Love (Ishq-e-Haqiqi)
Sultan Bahoo (RA) was a renowned Sufi saint, Wali Allah (Friend of God), poet, and the true embodiment of Faqr (spiritual poverty) in the Indian subcontinent. His teachings revolve around Ishq-e-Haqiqi (True Divine Love), spiritual awakening, and union with Allah (Wisal-e-Haqiqi). He states that the love of Allah is the only path that leads a seeker to the ultimate truth and grants them divine knowledge (Ma’rifat-e-Ilahi).
What is Ishq-e-Haqiqi (True Divine Love)?
Ishq-e-Haqiqi is the love that a person has for Allah. It transcends ordinary human love because it is purely spiritual, free from material attachments and worldly desires. Sultan Bahoo describes Divine Love not merely as an emotion but as a practical and spiritual journey that ultimately leads a seeker to their true Lord. He explains that Divine Love is a flame that burns away the desires of the self (nafs) and worldly attachments, leaving the seeker completely immersed in the light of Allah. When someone attains the station of Ishq-e-Haqiqi, they become lost in the closeness and union with Allah (Wisal-e-Haqiqi).
Ishq-e-Haqiqi in the Teachings of Sultan Bahoo
Sultan Bahoo’s teachings describe Divine Love in three major stages:
1. Ishq-e-Haqiqi: The Ultimate Reality is the Love of Allah
- Worldly love is temporary, but the love of Allah is eternal.
- Ishq-e-Haqiqi brings a person closer to Allah and becomes the means of their self-annihilation (fana) in Him.
- Without the love of Allah, no true reality can be attained.
This is beautifully expressed in Sultan Bahoo’s famous verse:
“Ishq bajhon Rab milda, jehda labhe koi”
(God cannot be found without Divine Love, only those who sincerely seek Him will find Him.)
2. Faqr: Liberation from Worldly Desires
Faqr (spiritual poverty) holds a central place in Sultan Bahoo’s teachings. It refers to renouncing worldly wealth, fame, and desires while having absolute reliance on Allah.
- The true purpose of Faqr is to free oneself from material attachments and seek only the pleasure of Allah.
- A person who embraces Faqr remains protected from the impurities of the world and becomes absorbed in Divine Love.
- Faqr is the key to recognizing Allah, for when love for the world fades, true Divine Love flourishes.
3. Fana Fi Allah: Annihilation in Allah
- The final stage of Divine Love is Fana Fi Allah (self-annihilation in Allah).
- When a seeker completely erases their self (nafs), desires, and ego, they attain eternal life in Allah (Baqa Billah).
- Fana Fi Allah is the state where a person loses their individual identity and becomes completely immersed in the love of Allah.
Sultan Bahoo states that the ultimate outcome of Divine Love is that the seeker dissolves their existence into Allah and attains absolute unity with Him. This is the highest rank of love, where the seeker attains Baqa Billah, meaning they remain eternally alive in Allah’s love.
Sultan Bahoo’s Poetry on Divine Love
Sultan Bahoo’s poetry reflects the depth and intensity of Ishq-e-Haqiqi. He repeatedly emphasizes that closeness to Allah can only be attained through pure, unconditional love, which is granted only to those who abandon worldly desires and surrender completely to Him.
Some of his most famous verses include:
1. “Ishq bajhon Rab milda, jehda labhe koi”
(God cannot be found without Divine Love, only those who sincerely seek Him will find Him.)
2. “Je ishq houwe Rab de naal, te dard na houwe hijr da”
(If one’s love is truly with Allah, the pain of separation ceases to exist.)
3. “Ishq Haqiqi lehnda, aape aap nu denda”
(True love is when one completely sacrifices oneself and surrenders everything to Allah.)
The Practical Path to Divine Love
According to Sultan Bahoo, the path of Divine Love is not merely a belief or philosophy but a practical spiritual journey. To attain Ishq-e-Haqiqi, certain essential steps must be followed:
1. Zikr-e-Ilahi (Remembrance of Allah)
- Constant remembrance (zikr) of Allah purifies the heart and strengthens Divine Love.
2. Company of a Murshid Kamil (Perfect Spiritual Guide)
- Sultan Bahoo strongly emphasizes that attaining true love requires the guidance of a perfect spiritual master (Murshid Kamil) who leads the seeker toward Faqr and Ishq-e-Haqiqi.
3. Purification of the Nafs (Self-Purification)
- A seeker must control their desires, suppress their ego, and remove worldly attachments from their heart to fully embrace the love of Allah.
Conclusion
The essence of Sultan Bahoo’s teachings is that Ishq-e-Haqiqi (True Divine Love) is the only path that leads a seeker to closeness with Allah. The greatest obstacles in this path are worldly desires and enslavement to the self (nafs), which can be overcome through Faqr and self-purification. Sultan Bahoo’s message remains timeless and relevant, as it speaks of love, self-annihilation, and spiritual enlightenment. His teachings remind us that if one truly desires closeness to Allah, they must follow the path of Divine Love, for it is in this path that true success lies.
