It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce that our Pir o Murshid (spiritual mentor and teacher) Hazrat Faqir Abdul Hamid Sarwari Qaderi (RA) passed away on Friday 23.2.2018 at 1.15pm in Lahore, Pakistan after a short illness.
Hazrat Faqir Abdul Hamid Sarwari Qaderi (RA) is the founder and spiritual head of the Sarwari Qaderi Silsila of South Africa and the Sultan Bahu Centre and Masjid in Mayfair, Jhb. Hazratsaab (RA), as he was popularly known throughout South Africa and the world by his many murids as an enlightened Sufi saint, poet, teacher and spiritual luminary of our time, known for his profound teachings on the inner mystical dimension of Islam and for his awe inspiring generosity of spirit and sublime humility. The Sarwari Qaderi Silsila RA) of South Africa was founded by Hazratsaab (RA) together with his student and Khalifa, Sheikh Sayed Ally Chopdat in 1980. This was then followed by the establishment of the Sultan Bahu Mosque and Centre in 1995 on 4th Ave, in Mayfair, which was originally a Church. Under the spiritual guidance and leadership of Hazrat Faqir Abdul Hamid Sarwari Qaderi (RA), the Sultan Bahu Centre has emerged as a leading humanitarian NGO in the fields of children's homes, cataract and dialysis outreach, drug rehab centre's, education and social support programmes, nationally. Hazratsaab (RA) was a frequent traveller to South Africa and many who are not familiar with his life and work will recall meeting him at the info stall at the Annual Sultan Bahu Fete in Mayfair where he would receive and meet visitors. Hazratsaab (RA) is the son of Hazrat Faqir Nur Muhamad (RA) (1882-1960), a mystic and scholar on Islamic spiritual sciences and the author of the two volume classic books on Islamic spirituality, IRFAN, published in 1930. Hazrat Faqir Abdul Hamid Sarwari Qaderi (RA) hails from a distinguished family of Sufi scholars and is a Sayyid, tracing his illustrious lineage to the Noble Prophet Muhammad through the 14th Century scholar and Sufi Syed Muhammad al Husayni Gesudiraz,1321-1422) (RA) known as the Saint of Decan, whose mausoleum( maqam) is in Gulberga, Hyderabad, India. Hazrat Faqir Abdul Hamid Sarwari Qaderi (RA) was a lifelong scholar and teacher on the life and work of the 17th Century Sufi mystic, poet and scholar, Hazrat Sultan Bahu (1630-1691) and lovingly transmitted this love and his teachings to his very first student and Khalifa in South Africa, Sheikh Sayed Ally Chopdat, and hence the name SULTAN BAHU CENTRE. As a result of this transmission of Love, the teachings and poetry of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) continues to inspire many generations of seekers from all over South Africa and beyond our shores, to deepen their connection to Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (sallal lahu alaihi wassalam) through meditation, self reflection, purity of mind, thought and action and acts of selfless humanitarian service. Hazratsaab has 3 sons, Sheikh Ahmad Javid, Sheikh Haroon and the late Sheikh Jamshed and 3 daughters Parween, Shabnam and Egmarien and grand children, great grand children and great, great grand children. On behalf of Sheikh Sayed Ali Chopdat and the Sultan Bahu Centre, we extend our deepest and most profound condolences to the family of Hazratsaab and murids in South Africa and abroad and pray Allah grant Hazratsaab the highest place of near-ness to Him and to His Messenger of Absolute Beauty, Muhammad (sallal lahu alaihi wassalam). Hazratsaab (RA) was 103 years old and was buried in his hometown, Kulachi, Pakistan on Saturday 24 Feb 2018 at 11am South African time.
- Submitted
