Farid, wake up, your life is fleeting, and the time you have is quickly slipping away.
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Sufi
Baba Farid
Sufi1173 – 1266Khotwal, Punjab (modern-day Pakistan)79 quotes· 3 sources
Baba Farid (Fariduddin Ganjshakar) was a 12th-century Sufi saint of the Chishti order whose devotional poetry in the Punjabi language became a bridge between Islamic mysticism and the everyday spiritual seeker. His verses, later incorporated into the Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib, speak of longing, humility, and the soul's yearning for God.
Born near Multan in what is now Pakistan, Farid became a disciple of the great Chishti master Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. He spent decades in rigorous ascetic practice, reportedly hanging upside down in a well for extended periods of meditation, and earned the title 'Ganjshakar' (treasure of sugar) for his sweet, gentle nature. Settling in Pakpattan, his khanqah (spiritual hospice) became a place of refuge for the poor, the sick, and spiritual seekers from all faiths. His Punjabi verses — among the earliest literature in that language — are remarkable for their raw honesty about mortality, suffering, and the mercy of God. The inclusion of his shabads (hymns) in the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev speaks to his universal appeal across religious boundaries.
Wisdom
Farid, the grave is calling you, come home, for in the end, you must come to it, and do not fear death.
Farid, do not become attached to wealth and material possessions; remember that death is inevitable, and think about where you will go after you die.
Come back, no matter who you are or what you've done. If you've broken your vows a hundred times, come back. God's mercy is for sinners, so whether you're an unbeliever, drunk, or idolatrous, come back.
Farid, greed and love cannot coexist; greed destroys love. How long can someone stay under a leaky roof in the rain?
Farid, why wander from jungle to jungle, treading on thorns? God resides in the heart, so why go to the jungles?
Farid, the nights are long, my sides are aching and burning; those who yearn for someone else's life are cursed.
Farid, coarse sugar, crystal sugar, jaggery, honey, and buffalo milk are all sweet, but their sweetness is not of the same kind as God's.
Eat your simple dry bread and drink cool water; Farid, never think about the ghee-coated bread of others.
I do not fear the passing of youth, as long as my love remains; Farid, many a youth has withered and dried up due to lack of love.
Farid, my cot is made of worries, pain is the string, and separation is the mattress; this is my life, my true Lord, come and see.
Welcome the pain of separation, for it is a royal pain; Farid, the body that cannot bear this pain is like a corpse.
Farid, level your heart, smoothing out the bumps and hollows; you will not pass through hell-fire.
Farid, do good in return for evil, and do not let your heart turn to anger. If your body contracts no ills, you will earn all that you desire.
Farid, death seems like a river bank that has been washed away. We have heard of hellfire ahead and the wails of dismay. Some have understood this, while others are still far away. In this world, only one's deeds will be rewarded later.
Farid, one who is not awake before daybreak, even if alive, is dead. You may forget God, but He always remembers you instead.
If patience is your guiding principle, your aim, and your driving force, God will ensure you don't miss out on anything.
My body is burning like a furnace, my bones like fuel; even if my feet get tired, I will crawl on my head to meet my beloved.
The word is humility, the virtue is forgiveness, and the chant is a sweet tongue. If you embody these three, sister, you will surely enchant your lord.
Don't speak a single harsh word, for the True One resides in all. Don't break anyone's heart, for they are all priceless jewels.