Different opinions are found regarding Sheikh Farid Ji’s date of birth. Prof. Pritam Singh has included an article titled ‘Baba Farid Ji De Jamman-Maran Dian Tarikhan’ written by Allama Akhlaq Hussain Dihlavi in his book (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vale ‘Seikh Farid’ Di Bhal, pages 37 and 193-196). In this article, the author, while analyzing various opinions and providing several references, has considered the time period of Sheikh Farid Ji to be 1178 to 1271 CE (577-670 Hijri); Khaliq Ahmed Nizami, too, on the basis of Fawaid-ul-Fuad, has written 1175 CE (571 Hijri) as Sheikh Farid Ji’s birth year. -Khaliq Ahmad Nizami, Sheikh Farid-Ganji Shakar (Jiwan, Saman Te Bani), Chetan Singh (trans.), page 43; However, the more widely accepted birth year is 1173 CE. Many scholars, including S.S. Amol (Baba Farid: Jiwan Te Rachna, page 43), Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi (Sikh Panth Vishvakosh, part three, page 1378), Prof. Sahib Singh (Salok Te Shabad Farid Ji Satik, page 9), etc., also mention the same year.
The compositions of six Gurus, fifteen Bhagats, three Sikhs, and eleven Bhatts are recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Prof. Pritam Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vale ‘Seikh Farid’ Di Bhal, page 92; Prof. Sahib Singh, Adi Bir Bare, page 63.
Sabad 1: dilahu muhabati jinn̖ seī saciā.
This Sabad is recorded in Rag Asa on page 488 of the Guru Granth Sahib. It has four stanzas of two lines each. The stanza of rahau, which also consists of two lines, is separate from these stanzas. This Sabad is in a verse form known as chaupada in Indic poetics. In this Sabad, the true seekers immersed in the love of IkOankar (the Divine) are praised, and the beings who have forgotten IkOankar are described as a burden on the earth. At the end of the Sabad, pleading before IkOankar, Sheikh Farid Ji asks for the gift of devotion.
Sabad 2: bolai sekh pharīdu piāre alah lage.
This Sabad is also recorded in Rag Asa on page 488 of the Guru Granth Sahib. It has eight stanzas of two lines each. The stanza of rahau, which consists of only one line, is separate from these stanzas. This Sabad is in the form of an astpadi. In this Sabad, the transient nature of life is described. Sheikh Farid Ji teaches that by following the path guided by Wisdom (Guru), one can unite with IkOankar in this very life. The key is to control the senses that distract the mind and cause it to waver.
Sabad 3: tapi tapi luhi luhi hāth maroraü.
This Sabad is recorded in Rag Suhi on page 794 of the Guru Granth Sahib. It has four stanzas of two lines each. The stanza of rahau, which also consists of two lines, is separate from these stanzas. This Sabad is in the form of a chaupada. In this Sabad, Sheikh Farid Ji describes the miserable condition of the seeker who failed to recognize the importance of union with IkOankar during their youth. He encourages the being to make efforts to experience this union while they still have time.
Sabad 4: beṛā bandhi na sakio bandhan kī velā.
This Sabad is also recorded in Rag Suhi on page 794 of the Guru Granth Sahib. It has three stanzas of two lines each. The stanza of rahau, which consists of only one line, is separate from these stanzas. This Sabad is in the form of a tipada.
A three-stanza Sabad.
Saloks
The one hundred and twelve saloks revealed by Sheikh Farid Ji are recorded on pages 1377 to 1384 of the Guru Granth Sahib. A salok is a verse form that does not have any prescribed rag; therefore, there is no description of the rag for these saloks recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib. Most of these saloks consist of two lines each, but the first salok has eight lines; the sixteenth, ninety-eighth, and ninety-ninth have four lines each; the forty-ninth and seventy-seventh have three lines each; and the hundredth has six lines. In his saloks, Sheikh Farid Ji inspires the being to lead a virtuous life. The central theme of these saloks is the love for IkOankar. The being is urged to prepare for union with IkOankar. The transient nature of the world is described while emphasizing the significance of humility, patience, contentment, inner-cleansing, and service to humanity.
Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi, Bhav Prabodhani Tika Sri Guru Granth Sahib, part eight, page 4238.
In the Guru Granth Sahib, along with the saloks of Sheikh Farid Ji, eighteen saloks by different Gurus are also recorded. While compiling the Guru Granth Sahib, Guru Arjan Sahib, in order to convey his thoughts, recorded these saloks along with some of Sheikh Farid Ji’s saloks.
Prof. Pritam Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Vale ‘Seikh Farid’ Di Bhal, page 107.
An important point to note here is that no information is provided regarding the revealer of seven of these eighteen saloks, which are recorded along with Sheikh Farid Ji’s saloks. However, these saloks are also found in other parts of the Guru Granth Sahib, where the information about their revealer is also given:
- The thirty-second salok also appeared with the sixth pauri of a var revealed by Guru Amardas Sahib in Rag Maru (Guru Granth Sahib 188). This salok is revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib.
- The one hundred and thirteenth salok has also appeared with the second pauri of ‘Sirirag Ki Var’ (Guru Granth Sahib 83) revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib. This salok is also revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib.
- The one hundred and twentieth salok also appeared as the eighteenth salok in ‘Salok Varan Te Vadhik’ (Guru Granth Sahib 1411). This salok is also revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib.
- The one hundred and twenty-first salok has also appeared with the fifteenth pauri of ‘Kanre Ki Var’ (Guru Granth Sahib 1318) revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib. This salok is revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib.
- The one hundred and twenty-second and one hundred twenty-third salok have appeared with the first pauri of ‘Vadhans Ki Var’ (Guru Granth Sahib 585) revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib. These saloks are revealed by Guru Amardas Sahib.
- The one hundred and twenty-fourth salok also appears alongside the twentieth pauri of ‘Sirirag ki Var’ (Guru Granth Sahib 91) revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib. This salok is revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib.
