The Shrine of Sultan Sahib (Sultan Darvesh) at Hakura Badasgam, Anantnag

A 20th century Sufi known as Sheikh Muhammad Sultan used to live in a small village in Anantnag, the Kashmir valley called Hakura Badasgam. He has achieved miraculous status throughout the Kashmir area as well as outside of it as one of its prophets. Baba Sultan is classified as a Qalandar (one of 4 categories of Sufis). The Qalandars lived their lives wholly devoted to God by following Him alone and not following social customs (that is, the accepted rules of society) as a matter of course, except where doing so might violate the Shari'ah (that is, the universal law of God). (The differences in behaviour, dress, and objects carried by Qalandars has been used as an excuse to consider Qalandars to be separate from others.) There exists a considerable amount of literature concerning Qalandars in languages other than English such as Urdu (the principal native language of Pakistan), Persian (the principal native language of Iran), and Arabic (the principal native language of Saudi Arabia). There are countless numbers of varying Qalandars, as a qalandar is a person who has made his way through this life to God based on the particular route in which God has called him/her. Whether each Qalandar achieves a level of heightened spiritual awareness ordoes not depends on his/her level of awareness. Nevertheless, all Qalandars are alike in that they exhibit little or no regard for societal norms and practice following their own path dictated by their God by whatever means and in whatever manner their God calls upon them to follow that path.

We refer to the Sufi Silsila (Line) of the Qalandars as Silsila Qalandariya; it was in this lineage of fabulous Sufi teachers that Sheikh Muhammad Sultan was named. Baba Sultan started working as a rice farmer after marrying and having two daughters. When Baba Sultan's daughters were still very young, he began to display Qalandar-like behavior, which greatly troubled his wife and family, but this did not hinder God's call for Muhammad Sultan Sahib to accept the Sufi Way.

In just a short period of time — His healing powers became known and great numbers of people began to come to him. His home was no longer a quiet home in a village. It had become a busy place with people from the village and surrounding towns, as well as inexperienced pilgrims and seekers from different religions and backgrounds. Hundreds of people came to him and he had a long line of people waiting to ask him for help. He never turned anyone away. All who came to him and asked received help. For many, many hours each day and night, he had many people gathered around him. Many of these people actually set up camp in his home, and also outside on the veranda and anywhere else they could create a space to sleep. Not only did Baba Sultan show compassion through his assistance to people, but he also demonstrated compassion through his assistance to animals. Sick animals including dogs, cats, birds, sheep, cows, chickens, goats, and other creatures often found their way to Baba Sultan's home for help. He cared for and showed unfathomable compassion to all of God's creations.

Baba was skinny and weak in appearance, but he was an extremely strong person. Whenever you were near Baba, you felt the presence of a "Woali Allah" (Friend of God) around you. Baba had the ability to read hearts, therefore, when someone had a need or wanted something, they did not have to use words to tell him; he would know their thoughts without the use of verbal communication. Baba also knew what each of his guests needed and wanted. Baba was quiet and spoke only when it would benefit the listener, and he often used the language of symbols to communicate with others. Some understood what Baba was trying to say, while others did not. Regardless of whether they understood him, he helped them either way. Baba would not allow his guests to leave without "permission" (a blessing) from him until their needs had been met and the necessary help had been given. Baba Sultan was a source of light, a teacher, comfort, a healer, and above all else, A LOVER OF GOD and a blessing for all people. Today, many still visit Baba Sultan's home, and his shrine (which has been rebuilt by those who love him) will continue to be a place where thousands of seekers continue to gather. Each year in the month of August, people gather from many different places to celebrate the life of their Baba. Everyone that loves him still feels his presence and Baba Sultan will always be in our hearts.