Hazrat Saidu Baba (Akhund of Swat Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Ghafoor Mujaddad) (Sawat, Pakistan)

 

 

 

Silsila: Naqshbandia Mujaddadia

Date of Wisaal: Not Known

Date of Urs: Not Known

Address:
Saidu Shareef, Swat Valley, Pakistan

Description:
Akhund Abdul Ghaffur (Akhund 'Abd al-Ghafur'), now known as Saidu Baba, was born at Jabrai (in Shimizai), a small shepherd's hamlet in Bar (Upper) Swat, about the year 1794. His father's name was Abdul Wahid (Abd al-Wahid). Born of Gujar parents, Abdul Ghaffur began life as a herd boy. His early occupation afforded ample time for mediation; and Abdul Ghaffur was soon noted amongst his own people as a sober, thoughtful lad, with a natural predeliction for a retired and religious life. As a shepherd boy, it is related of him that for years he lived on the milk of a single buffalo, which he always led to pasture, tied with a rope to prevent it grazing on the crops of others, rather than drink that of the rest of the herd which grazed on unlawful grounds.
At eighteen years of age, he resolved to devote himself to a religious life. Leaving his home, he went to the village of Barangolah, and there became the chailah (chaylah or disciple) of a priest, from whom he learned the rudiments of his religion, and the arts of reading and writing.
After a while he set out as a Talib al-'ilm, or "enquirer after wisdom"; and in the course of his wanderings, arrived at Gujargarhi. After a few months he went to Tordher (now in Sawabi District) and became the murid or disciple of Sahibzadah Muhammad Shwaib (Shu'ayb) at that time the most noted priest in these parts and adopted Naqashbandiyah tariqah (order) for its undisturbed observance.
At the age of twenty years, 1816, he migrated and settled on a lonely spot on the river (Indus) bank below the village of Baiki (or Beka), near Hund. Here he built a zozkhanah, or "camel's thorn hut", at the river's brink; and, shut off from the world, dwelt in it for twelve years sitting silent and motionless, his head bowed on his chest, and his eyes fixed on the ground. During all this time his diet, it is said, was only Shamukha; the seed of a wild grass (panicum frumentaceum) and water. This grain is said to be his chief food at the present time but the water is replaced by buffalo's milk. At Beka his sanctity and holiness began to attract universal attention, and he got the title of Akhund. His fame as a saint, records Wylly, dates from his sojourn at Beka, and even to this day, in the most distant parts of Persia, he is still remembered as The Hermit of Beka.