BEYOND THE SHADOW OF KHUSHAL KHAN KHATTAK A BIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF FAQEER JAMEEL BAIG

Abstract

The article is a biographical study of Faqeer Jameel Baig (more commonly referred to as Faqeer Baba) who was an obscure Sufi mystic, poet, scholar and the sole full brother of the renowned Pashtun warrior-poet Khushal Khan Khattak. He was born in Akora Khattak to the Khattak chieftain Shahbaz Khan, but his name became Jameel Baig because of his family’s connection with Mughals. The historical wrongs about the birth date of his life, commonly reported as 966 AH (1558 CE) - this paper will concentrate on the primary sources and the localized learning to determine the actual date when he was born 1024 AH (1615 CE). The work describes his life during his youth, the work as a son of a chieftain, his involvement at the Battle of Aka Khel (1050 AH) together with his father and brother, resulting in the martyrdom of his father. After this turning point, Jameel Baig abdicated his chieftainship, material possessions and legacy to lead a life of utter asceticism (Faqr) with the spiritual guidance of Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar (Kaka Sahib). He took his family to Chashmai, setting up a sanctuary (Khalwat) where he performed vigorous self-mortification (Riyadat), in order to overcome his ego (Nafs). In spite of his renunciation, he was a kind benefactor, who financed marriages of the poor, distributed revenues of his estate at Nihalpura, and gave shelter to theg family of Khushal Khan whenever life squeezed them. The paper also mentions his literary work in Pashto, Persian and Arabic including Tazkirat-ul-Awliya, alongside more oral narratives documenting his spiritual charisma (Karamat). Ultimately, this paper shines a lot on the life of Faqeer Jameel Baig as a writer, a Sufi saint, on the spiritual heritage he left and the bond he had with Khushal Khan Khattak.