Naushah Ganj Bakhsh

Haji Muhammad Naushāh Ganj Bakhsh was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi saint and scholar from Gujrat in Pakistani Punjab. He was the founder of the Naushahiah branch of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, and his successors came to be known as Naushāhiyyas.

Biography

Muhammad Naushah was born on 21 August 1552 in present-day Punjab, Pakistan to a Punjabi Khokhar family. His father, Hajji Ala’uddin Qadiri, was an ascetic, while his mother Bibi Jiuni belonged to a respectable family.
Naushāh was the most outstanding disciple of Sufi saint Shah Sulaimān Nūri of Naushera, Punjab. He later shifted to Shahanpal in Mandi Bahauddin where he died in 1654.

Teachings

Naushāh was respected by his contemporaries including nobles and rulers. He accepted the syncretic approach of Kabir and Guru Nanak but with more emphasis on tawhid or oneness of God. Like Kabir, he rejected caste and criticised the idea of transmigration of souls. Naushāh enrolled his followers from different castes and occupations. They were Bhattis, Mochis, Lohars, Tarkhans, Awans, Jats and others. He condemned the caste system in his following dohras :

Literary works

The following works have been published:

Kulliyāt-i Naushāh: consisting of 76 Risala's and 2400 verses.
Kulliyāt-i Naushāh: In this work 126 Risala's of about four thousand verses are alphabetically arranged.
Ma‘ārif-i Tasawwuf: dealing with assignments on the spiritual path.
Mawā'iz-i Naushāh Pīr: comprises delivered speeches and advices.