THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HAZRAT SHEIKH RAHAMKAR KAKA SAHIB R.A : AN OVERVIEW
Keywords:
Kaka SahibR.A, Sufism,, Spirituality, Shariat, TariqatAbstract
Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar Kaka SahibR.A was born in 983 Hijri with unique spiritual blessings in the domain of Sufism. He preached the message of human as well as Muslim brotherhood at a time when family feuds were rampant in the society. He was very keen to acquire religious and spiritual knowledge with special care and attention. In the field of spiritualism he did very unique and vigorous efforts right from his boyhood. He was blessed by birth with immense religious and spiritual powers. His service to humanity is remarkable. The present research paper highlights the life and times of Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar Kaka SahibR.A in order to understand the philosophy of Sufi traditions and its basic aims and objectives.
References
Here “Rahamkar” means a kind personality and “Sheikh” stands for a highly respected spiritual leader. Hence, “Sheikh Rahamkar” means “a cherished and kind religious cum spiritual leader.” The effect of his kindness was so great that he was popularly given the title of “Sheikh Rahamkar.” According to a source, his father named him as “Rahamkar.” See, “Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar al-maruf Kaka Sahib AwaisiR.A”, [Urdu] Encyclopaedia Auliakraam, vol.6, (Rawalpindi: Book
Centre,n.d.),p.556.
Syed Qasim Mahmood, “Rahamkar, Sheikh”, Islami Encyclopaedia (Lahore: Al-
FaisalPublishers,nd,Vol.II)p.978.
Muhammad Shafi Sabir, Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad (Peshawar: University Book Agency,
n.d.),p.31.
Pashto word Kasteer means fragrance or aroma and Gul means flower. Thus
Kasteer Gul means a flower with fragrance. See, Muhammad ShafiSabir, 5 Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad(Peshawar:UniversityBookAgency,n.d.),p.31.
According to Encyclopaedia Aulia Keram SheikhRahamkar was “Mutsarrafbatasarrufaat (bestowed with spiritual power to apply or insert), Sahib- i-Kashf-wa-kremaat-wa-Ilmulyaqeen (spiritual vision as well as power and trust religious matters by knowledge), Haqqulyaqeen (faith as deserved), Ainul Yaqeen (faith by vision), Jami-ul-uloom Jahri-wa-bateni (External and internal knowledge), Jame-us-sifaat-wa-kamalaat-wa-hasanaat (combination of high character, extreme power and moral fibre), Sheikh Mashaikh (teacher of spiritual leaders), Alim-i-uloom-i-Rabbani (knower of the knowledge of God) and Sahib-i- nisbat-i-Rasuli (Having relation with Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon Him). See, “Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar al-maruf Kaka Sahib Awaisi Rahmatullahalihe”,
[Urdu]EncyclopaediaAuliakraam,Vol.6,(Rawalpindi:BookCentre,n.d.),p.556. Among the people of the area he was also famous as Zaire Kaka. In Pashto language respected people are called Kaka.Syed Qasim Mahmood, “Rahamkar,
Sheikh”,IslamiEncyclopaedia(Lahore:Al-FaisalPublishers,nd,Vol.II),p.978. Ejazul Haque Quddusi, Tazkirah Sufia-i-Sarhad (Lahore: Markazi Urdu
Board,1966),p.268.
“Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar al-maruf Kaka Sahib Awaisi Rahmatullah Alihe”, [Urdu]
EncyclopaediaAuliakraam,vol.6,(Rawalpindi:BookCentre,n.d.),p.556.
Syed Sihauddin Kakakhel, Tazkira-i-Sheikh Rahamkar (Layalpur
(Faisalabad):Idara Ashaat-i-Islami, 1964), p. 6.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 44. Also see, Sher Afzal Khan Brikoti ,Byazid Ansari (Peeru Khan) (Lahore: Millat Educational Printers, 1995?), P. 263. Also see, “Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar al-maruf Kaka Sahib Awaisi Rahmatullah Alihe”, [Urdu] Encyclopaedia Aulia kraam, vol. 6, (Rawalpindi: Book Centre, n.d.), p.556; and Muhammad Shafi Sabir, Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad (Peshawar:
University Book Agency, n.d.), p.31. 12Syed Bahadur Shah ZafarKakakhel, p. 65.
Muhammad ShafiSabir, Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad (Peshawar: University Book Agency, 13n.d.), p.31.
Ibid.
Syed Bahadur Shah ZafarKakakhel, p. 67.
The manuscript was written 1286 Hijri. See, Syed Bahadur Shah ZafarKakakhel, 16Sheikh Rahmkaar Kaka Sahib (Peshawar: Junaid Paper Mart, 2007), p. 67.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 68.
Qazi Abul Aala, also known as Qazi Budha, was father of Qazi Abul Fattah
Bilgrami. See, Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, Sheikh Rahamkar Kaka Sahib 18(Peshawar: Junaid Paper Mart, 2007), p. 68.
Abdullah Ansari Sultanpuri and Maulana Abdul Lateef Sultanpuri were among the 19teachers of Kaka Sahib. Both of them were experts the knowledge of the time. 20Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 118.
Broad explanations and descriptions of the Holy Quran in the light of time, subject 21and space. Some of them relate the meanings as per the current situation.
Syed Sihauddin Kakakhel, p. 19.
Famous book of Hadith (Sayings of the Holy Prophet, Peace be upon Him). 24Commentaries on the Holy Quran.
Sheikh Akhuuddeen Seljuqi was known as Ekhwanuddin Seljuqi also. His mazar is
situated in Okaora Khattak. Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, Sheikh Rahamkar 25Kaka Sahib (Peshawar: Junaid Paper Mart, 2007), pp. 70-71.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 71. Also see, Syed Sihauddin Kakakhel,
Tazkira-i-Sheikh Rahamkar (Layalpur (Faisalabad): IdaraAshaat-i-Islami, 1964), 26 p.127.
Syed Bahadur Shah ZafarKakakhel, p.71.
Efforts and practices in religious and spiritual path.
Muhammad Shafi Sabir, Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad (Peshawar: University Book Agency, 29n.d.), p.31.
Syed QasimMahmood, p. 978.
Pashto word “Zairay”means yellowish colour. This popular title was given due to excessive fasting and resultant pale colour. See, Syed Qasim Mahmood, “Rahamkar, Sheikh”, Islami Encyclopaedia (Lahore: Al-Faisal Publishers, nd, Vol.
II) p. 978.
Syed Qasim Mahmood, “Rahamkar, Sheikh”, Islami Encyclopaedia (Lahore: Al-
Faisal Publishers, n.d., Vol. II) p. 978.
Muhammad ShafiSabir, Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad (Peshawar: University Book Agency,
n.d.), p.31.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, Sheikh Rahamkar Kaka Sahib (Peshawar:
Junaid Paper Mart, 2007), pp. 121-22.
SherAfzal Khan Brikoti, Byazid Ansari (Peeru Khan) (Lahore: Millat Educational
Printers, 1995?), P. 263. 36Muhammad ShafiSabir, p.31.
This view has been extended by Qazi Abdul Haleem, in his hand-written
manuscript tiled: “Ruhani Rabta.” See, Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, 37Sheikh Rahamkar Kaka Sahib (Peshawar: Junaid Paper Mart, 2007), p. 125. 38Tariqa means spiritual path.
Syed SihauddinKakakhel, p.27.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 99. 41Syed Sihauddin Kakakhel, p. 56.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 98.
Ishq is basically an Arabic word which means complete love with full devotion 43and without being fascinated by the goodness or powers of others.
Syed Bahadur Shah ZafarKakakhel, p. 110.
SherAfzal Khan Brikoti, Byazid Ansari (Peeru Khan) (Lahore: Millat Educational 45Printers, 1995), P. 263.
Ejazul Haque Quddusi, Tazkirah Sufia-i-Sarhad (Lahore: Markazi Urdu Board, 461966), p.293.
Muhammad ShafiSabir, Shakhsiat-i-Sarhad (Peshawar: University Book Agency, 47nd), p.32.
Mostly the ulema used to hesitate to respond to the questions in the presence of Kaka SahibR.A due to high respect for him but on his insistence they used to answer the questions. When some one used to hesitate to answer Kaka SahibR.A used to say “you are learned, so, you may respond.” See, Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 131. Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Haleem wrote that “ once one person came to the Mahfil of Kaka SahibR.A and asked a question Hazrat Sheikh paid attention tome and said ‘(bete)my son Abdul Haleem you respond to the question. The person asked another question and I was asked to respond. Hence, I responded. Then the person asked the third question I thought in my mind that I do not know the answer. For that answer The Sheikh did not ask me to respond. Rather, he himself responded. Similarly, I did not have knowledge to respond to the fourth question of the same person. Then also the Sheikh himself responded to the question. From that incidence I could understand that the Sheikh [spiritually] knew that I was unable to respond the [last two] questions. So, he himself responded to those questions I was unable to respond”. It is to mention here that Sheikh Abdul Haleem did not tell or indicate to Kaka SahibR.A about his inability to respond the
questions. See, Syed Bahadur Shah ZafarKakakhel, pp. 132-33. 49Wisal means reunion of spirit with the spiritual power. 50Muhammad ShafiSabir, p. 32.
Dars-o-tadris means a particular process of religious discussions and learning as
well as knowledge disseminating among the intending people. See, Sher Afzal 51Khan Brikoti, P. 263.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 119.
Friend of Allah.
SherAfzal Khan Brikoti, Byazid Ansari (Peeru Khan) (Lahore: Millat Educational 54Printers, 1995?), P. 263.
Ibid.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p.88.
Ibid, p.89.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p.89.
Sher Afzal Khan Brikoti ,Byazid Ansari (Peeru Khan )(Lahore: Millat Educational 59Printers, 1995?), P. 263.
SherAfzal Khan Brikoti, P. 263.
Ibid.,pp. 90-91.
Non-compulsory prayers offered voluntarily. 63Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, pp.93-94.
Ibid.,pp.95-96.
Syed Bahadur Shah Zafar Kakakhel, p. 178.
Saifur Rahman Syed Kaka Khel, Sheikh Kaka Qutub (Peshawar: Darul Maktab 66Printing Agency, 2010), p. 254-55.
Not available nowadays.
This is a comprehensive biography of Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar Kaka Shahib. It is 68available in Pashtu Academy, Peshawar.
Saifur Rahman Syed Kakakhel, Sheikh Kaka Qutub (Peshawar: Darulkutub 69Printing Agency, 2010), p. 206.
Farzand-i-Danishmand means “Intellectual Son”. He remained busy with intellectual and writing activities. That is why he was given the title. His book on Kaka SahibR.A titled Makamat-i-Qutbia Maqamat-i-Qusia is considered to be the most precious original source on the life and time of Kaka SahibR.A. See, Syed Sihauddin Kakakhel, Tazkira-i-Sheikh Rahamkar (Layalpur (Faisalabad): Idara
Ashaat-i-Islami, 1964), p.239.
Saifur Rahman Syed Kakakhel, p. 231.
Syed Qasim Mahmood, “Rahamkar, Sheikh”, Islami Encyclopaedia (Lahore: Al- 72Faisal Publishers, nd, Vol. II) p. 978.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid. 76Ibid.
Urs is an Urdu word which bears the meaning of spiritual reunion of a saint with the Creator.
