Mian Mir was a famous Sufi saint who resided in Lahore, specifically in the town of Dharampura (in present-day
Pakistan). He was a direct descendant of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab. He belonged to the Qadiri order of Sufism. He
is famous for being a spiritual instructor of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
Mian mir was a friend of God-loving people and he would shun worldly, selfish men, covetous Emirs and ambitious
Nawabs who ran after faqirs to get their blessings. To stop such people from coming to see him, Mian Mir posted
his mureeds (disciples) at the gate of his house.
Once, Jahangir, the Mughal emperor, with all his retinue came to pay homage to the great faqir. He came with all the
pomp and show that befitted an emperor. Mian Mir's sentinels however, stopped the emperor at the gate and
requested him to wait until their master had given permission to enter. Jahangir felt slighted. No one had ever dared
delay or question his entry to any place in his kingdom. Yet he controlled his temper and composed himself. He
waited for permission. After a while, he was ushered into Mian Mir's presence. Unable to hide his wounded vanity,
Jahangir, as soon as he entered, told Mian Mir in Persian: Ba dar-e-darvis darbane naa-bayd ("On the doorstep of a
faqir, there should be no sentry
Pir Mian Mir, whose mind and soul were one with the Lord, caring little for the emperor's irritation, replied in
Persian: Babayd keh sag-e-dunia na ayad ("They are there so that the dogs of the world/selfish men may not enter").
The emperor was ashamed and asked for forgiveness. Then, with folded hands, Jahangir requested Mian Mir to pray
for the success of the campaign which he intended to launch for the conquest of the Deccan. Meanwhile, a poor
man entered and, bowing his head to Mian Mir, made an offering of a rupee before him. The Pir asked the devotee to
pick up the rupee and give it to the poorest, neediest person in the audience. The devotee went from one dervish to
another but none accepted the rupee. The devotee returned to Mian Mir with the rupee saying: "Master, none of the
dervishes will accept the rupee. None is in need, it seems."
"Go and give this rupee to him," said the faqir, pointing to Jahangir. "He is the poorest and most needy of the lot.
Not content with a big kingdom, he covets the kingdom of the Deccan. For that, he has come all the way from Delhi
to beg. His hunger is like a fire that burns all the more furiously with more wood. It has made him needy, greedy and
grim. Go and give the rupee to him."
Guru Arjan Sahib, the fifth Sikh Guru, often visited Lahore, the birthplace of his father (the fourth Guru, Guru Ram
Das) to meet his relatives. On the occasion of one of such visit, he called on Mian Mir. The two men of God met and
became very close lifelong friends. Mian Mir was thirteen years older than Guru Arjan.
In 1606, Guru Arjan was implicated in the affair of Prince Khusraw, who had rebelled against his father, Jahangir. He
was imprisoned in the Lahore fort and tortured. When Mian Mir heard about it, he came to see the Guru. He found
Guru Arjan calm and serene, having completely resigned himself to the will of God. Mian Mir suggested to the Guru
whether he should intercede with Emperor Jahangir on his behalf. The Guru forbade him saying that God's will must
have its course unchecked, as it was not proper to interfere with its working.
A couple of years after the death of Guru Arjan, his son and successor Guru Hargobind, who was thirteen years of
age was called on Mian Mir at Lahore.
Guru Tegh Bahadur, the son of Guru Hargobind and the ninth Guru, as a child met Mian Mir who blessed him.
Sri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji and Baba Budha Ji consulted with the leading Sikhs of the time and set a day for setting the
foundation stone of Sri Harmandir Sahib. A great congregation took place of 1 Maagh, 1654 Bk. The Sarovar had
been drained in preparation and the divaan took place in the sarovar itself. Sri Guru Ji explained the meaning of
Harmandir and the importance. After distributing karah parshaad and invoking the first four Satgurus, Baba Budha
Ji asked Guru Arjan Sahib Ji to place the first brick.
After having lived a long life of piety and virtuosity, Hazrat Mian Mir died on 11 August 1635. He was eighty-eight
years old.
His funeral oration was read by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, who was a highly devoted disciple.
He was buried at a place which was about a mile from Lahore near Alamganj, that is at the south-east of the city.
