FROM IRAQ TO DELHI- SUFI'S JOURNEY AND MEETING WITH THE THRONE

It Is Said That Spiritual People Walk On The Earth Like A Flowing River-

It Neither Stops Nor Halts, It Just Continues Its Journey.

When The World Was Changing, Kingdoms Were Falling, And The Light Of Knowledge 

Was Being Suppressed In The Glare Of Swords, At That Time A Syed Emerged From Iraq.

Relationship With The Children Of Hussain (A.S.), And A Confluence Of Love, Bravery And Sufi Spirit In The Heart.

The Journey Started From Iraq (Baghdad).

The Streets Of Baghdad Were Quiet That Night, Only A Caravan Was Leaving.

That Caravan Had Horses, Camels, Soldiers-

And In The Middle Was A Simple Sufi, Whose Name Was Syed Ibrahim Malik Baya Rahmatullah Alaih.

There Was The Spirituality Of Iraq In His Eyes, The Flame Of Love And Justice In His Heart.

Belonging To The Progeny Of Hussain (A.S.), Bravery In The Heart, And Light In The Eyes.

And The Restlessness In His Feet, Which Was Pulling Him Towards India.

Leaving The Streets And Sufi Gatherings Of That Place, He Headed Towards Hindustan.

1258 AD- Blood Was Flowing In The Streets Of Baghdad.

Mosques Were Burning, Books Were Floating In The River Dajla.

In Such A Situation Malik Baya R.A. Stood Up And Said-

This Fire Cannot Stop Me, I Will Go In Search Of That Land Where The Crop Of Love Can Be Sown.

The Caravan Started From Iraq-

Passed Through Khurasan, Crossed The Valleys Of Kabul, Breathed In The Air Of Ghazni, Reached Delhi  Via Lahore. 

This Was Not Just A Journey, This Was Hijrat-E-Maqsi (Migration With A Purpose.)

Passed Through Every City, On Every Land People Said-

He Is A Syed, A Child Of Rasool, His Face Itself Is A Prayer.

Delhi Was The Centre Of Both Knowledge And Politics In Those Times.

His Fame Started Resonating Here- People Would Say- A Sayyed Has Come,

 Who Has Light In His Words And Bravery In His Hands.

This News Reached Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

He Himself Was A Knowledge Loving King.

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq Called Him To His Court.

The Tughlaq Court Was Decorated.

The Soldiers Were In Rows, The Courtiers Were Silent, And The King Was On His Throne.

As Soon As Malik Baya Entered The Court, Everyone’s Eyes Turned Towards Him.

His Stature, The Strictness Of His Gaze And His Piety Astonished Everyone.

When They Met In The Court, The King Saw That Malik Baya Was Not Only A Commander

 In The Battlefield But Also Followed The Path Of Justice And Religious Mercy.

When They Met For The First Time, Tughlaq Came Down From The Throne And Stood Up.

The King Said- 

O Sayyed Ibrahim, We Have Heard Of Your Goodness.You Have Knowledge As Well As Skill With 

The Sword. We Are In Dire Need Of Such People.

It Was The Year Of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. The Sultanate Was Large But Fragmented. Military Leaders Kept Coming And Going.

It Was A Time When The Chieftains Of Magadha And Mithila Were Eyeing The Government Of Delhi.

The Throne Of Delhi Was Filled With Power, But The Region Of Bihar Was Seething With Rebellion Of Chiftains And Kings And Maharajas.

But The Person On Whom The King’s Eyes Fell Was- Malik Baya

Brave Sword, Sharp Mind, And Pure Faith In The Heart.

Malik Baya R.A. Was Originally From The Syed Family And Due To His Knowledge And Scholarship, 

His Status Was Elevated In The Eyes Of Sultan Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

The Sultan Made Him The Commander Of His Army And Sent Him To Bihar To Strengthen The Government.

Bihar Was An Important Region At That Time Where Rebellions Of King And Landlords Used To Take Place.

The Sultan Got The News That A Strong, Intelligent And Brave Person Was Needed

 There Who Could Handle The Army And Win The Hearts Of The People.

That Is Why The King (Sultan) Recommended Him And He Was Sent To Bihar.

The Sultan Said- Malik Baya, Only You Can Do This Work- Go To Bihar And Plant The Flag Of Peace.

And Give The Message Of Peace To Bihar- Not With The Sword, But With Justice.

O Son Of The Prophet (S.A.) Your Steps Will Increase The Respect Of My Kingdom.

Malik Bayaa Bowed His Head And Replied-

Our Strength Is Given Only By Allah. If The Work Is Of Peace And Justice, Then I Offer My Life.

Hearing This Answer, The Heart Of The Tughlaq Emperor Melted.

He Gave The Title Of Malik (i.e. A High Position.) To Malik Baya.

And Then He Ordered-

There Is Growing Unrest And Rebellion In Bihar, Go There And Establish Peace On Our Behalf.

Malik Baya Rahmatullah Alaih Agreed- As If Destiny Itself Showed Him 

The Way To Bihar After Crossing Tughlaq's Threshold.

That Moment Was Very Unique In Delhi's Tughlaq Fort.

Two Kings Were Face To Face On The Land Of Delhi-

One Is The King Of The Throne- Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, The Other Is The King Of The Soul- Syed Ibrahim Malik Baya.

The Court Was Silent, Eyes Were Fixed.

Tughlaq Stood Up Respectfully And Said-

A Child Of The Prophet Like You Is The Blessing Of My Kingdom.

And Malik Baya R.A. Smiling And Replied-

Sultanates Will Disappear, But The Light Of Love Will Always Remain Alive.

That Day The Wind Of Delhi Saw-

On One Side Is The Crowned King, On The Other Side Is The Spiritual King.

This Was The Moment That Changed The Course Of His Life.

From Here His Journey From Delhi To Bihar Began, And Later He Settled Down In Bihar Sharif Forever.