Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s Contributions to Sufism
Both Hindus and Muslims respect him alike. He has unmatched stature as a mystic, philologist, scholar and missionary. The legend says that when he arrived in the city of Sehwan to settle down and continue his work of propagating Islam, some fakirs in the city sent him a bowl of milk. It was filled to the brim. This indicated that Sehwan has no room for new fakirs, and that the existing are enough for it. Lal Shahbaz Qalandar returned the bowl with a flower floating in it. This story had spread far and wide by the time of his death in 1274, when he was 97 years old.
Life Journey of LaL Shahbaz Qalandar
Games and fun interest young boys. But, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar showed a strong inclination toward education and Islam. By the age of just seven, he memorized the Quran by heart. When he was 20, he entered in the circle of Qalandar order of Sufism. Qalandar is a Sufi wandering dervish who leads a simple life. He wears clothes fit for a beggar. Also, he lives in poverty and dearth. He moved from one place to another, indicating that he has no permanent home. Qalandars consider the blue sky as the roof on their head, and the entire earth their temporary home.
Arrival in Multan
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar traveled and wandered in the Middle East in the search of truth. From there he arrived in the land of Sindh from Baghdad. He took to dasht-e-makkran to get to the city of sehwan. He had achieved his sufi glory and fame by the time he reached Multan in 1263. The people of Multan wanted him to make Multan his permanent abode in the temporary world, because of his knowledge of religions and his miracles. But he refused and chose to travel to Sehwan, which was a popular place of worship and reverence for Hindus. He stayed in Sehwan for six years, where he lived in the outskirts of the city in the trunk of a tree.
Stay in Sehwan
He used his stay in Sehwan to spread the light of Islam and providing counsel to hundreds of people who came to him with their questions and problems. Since his tomb is located in Sehwan as well. Hundreds of devotees flock to sehwan every day, but the number swells to thousands on Thursdays and urs festivities. Sehwan is a focal point for pilgrims from all over the world. Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was the patron saint for the sad and lonely. He was a dynamic sufi who was a doorway between this world and eternal life.
