Lehal Library

26 The Punjab and the Birth of Sikhism living of their Indian co-religionists. In this way the Muslims of India came close to the Hindus. Ia dress, food, customs, speech, music-in fact everything except the place of worship-the two communities became identical. All they needed was someone who could bridge the gap between the temple and the mosque. There are many famous names in the long list of Sufis who settled in the Punjab. Among the earliest was Ali Makhdum Hujwiri (d. AD 1092), who, because of his great generosity came to be known as Data Ganj Baksh, God's treasure house.,; The most imponant Sufi name in the Punjab is that of Shaikh Farid Shakarganj (13th century) of the Chishti order. He lived at Pak Pattan, which became the centre of Sufism in the province.7 Another centre was opened at Multan by the Suhrawardiyas, Bahaud-<lin Zakarya and Ruknuddin Zakarya, and in the 15th century the Qadiriya order set up a centre in Sinclh.8 Religious and Political Climate in Fifteenth-Century Punjab Taimur's invasion in AD 1398 was the end of organized government in nonhem India. Local governors threw off allegiance to the Sultan at Delhi and set themselves up as independent monarchs. Thereafter there was constant strife between the king and his provincial satraps, and lawless elements began to raise their beads in defiance. The ruling class, which was largely 6 His mausoleum was rebuilt in marble by the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh and his daughter-in-law, Rani Chand Kaur, wife of Maharajah Kharak Singh. The tomb ofDaui Ganj Baksh in Lahore was venerated by members of all communities. The Sikh ruling family gave generously for the upkeep of many Sufi tombs. Ranjit Singh paid homage every year at the tomb of Madho Lal-Hussain, which was rebuilt by Ranjit's Muslim wife, Bibi Mohran. 7 Moinuddin Chishti of J\jme-r and Nizamurldin Auliya of Delhi, who spread Islam in ce11t.ral India and Rajaslhan, also belonged to the Chishti order. 8 Mian Mir, the famous divine of Lahore who became a personal friend of the fifth guru, Arjun, and laid the foundation stone of the Harimandir at Amritsar, was a member of the Qadiriya order.