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BABA SHEIKH FARID JIBaba Farid was born in 1173 CE(in the month of Ramzan) in Kothiwal (Punjab) in the family of Jamal-ud-din as father and Bibi Mariam as mother. His parents named him Farid-ud-Din Masaud, while he got another name from his mother as "Shakar Ganj" later, but he is mostly known by Baba Farid . Baba Farid’s Grandfather Sheikh Sahib came as refuge in Punjab in CE 1125. When Baba Farid was a few years old his mother taught him his prayers. The boy asked her what was gained by prayer. His mother replied Sugar. Accordingly, she used to hide some sugar under his prayer-carpet, and, when he had finished his prayers, draw it forth, and give it to him as a reward of his devotion. One day his mother forgot to put the sugar but after prayers, there was sugar under the carpet. From that day on, Bibi Miriam started calling his son Shakar Ganj, or the treasury of Sugar. When Baba Farid was 16 years old he went to Hajj. Since, Baba Farid ji used to talk in Punjabi, an unkempt faqir on hearing Farid’s language foretold the Boy’s subsequent greatness. After Farid came back to Punjab, he was sent to Khwaja Qutub-ud-Din Bakhtiar Kaki at Delhi to learn theology. Baba Farid was married to Hazabra(the Emperor's daughter) Baba Farid visited a city called Mokhalpur, it is now called Faridkot in honor of the Baba Farid,Punjab (India). Baba Farid died in CE 1266.He was unique, a saint of God. Baba Farid was buried outside the town of Pak Pattan at a place called Martyr's Grave. His initiaton of bhagati movement was carried by his successor such as Shri Guru ravidassji, Bhagat Kabirji, Shri Guru Nanak Devji and their followers. Baba Sheikh Farid Shakarganj can be truly called the founder of Punjabi literature, making Punjabi literature older than Hindi, Urdu. It was much after Baba Farid's use of Punjabi that Tulsidas, Mira Bai, etc started using Hindi as the language for writing religious literature. Baba Sheikh Faridji's contribution to sikhism is great and can't be explained in words. Baba Sheikh Faridji's 4 Hymns and 130 Sloaks are included in Shri Guru Granth Sahib. Baba Sheikh Faridji's Bani In Shri Guru Granth Sahib |