Faqr literally means indigence; usually taken for poverty, pauperism, destitution and the like. In Islam 'Faqr' is the way or course that removes all the veils between Allah and man, hence bestowing him with His Deedar (Vision) and Visal (Union). Indeed 'Faqr' is the true soul of Islam. Modern scholars and occidentals, being strangers to this way of our great sufi saints and pious predecessors, have diverted people at large to superficial values and acts. They have forgotten the purpose of these acts i.e. getting closer to Allah. It is quite unfortunate that today, both the Muslims and non-Muslims are equally unaware of the term ‘Faqr’though, our Holy Prophet Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam declared Faqr as his pride and attributed Faqr especially to his Holy Self. He Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam said:
"Faqr is my pride and Faqr is from me."
Faqr means the degree of soul's ascension to Allah where His Deedar and Visal were bestowed upon the Holy Prophet Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam at Shab-e-Meraj (the Night of Ascension to Allah). On that night he prayed Allah to bestow this great blessing of His Deedar and Visal as a gift for his Ummah. Allah blessed him with the gift of Saum and Salat (fasts and prayers) for the apparent purity and with the Light of Faqr for the internal and intrinsic sanctification of the soul, thus, opening the way for the Ummah of Hazrat Mohammad Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam to access Allah. Before our Holy Prophet Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam, requests of the previous prophets to His Deedar were responded with "you cannot see me.” Allah the Exalted, conferred this blessing only upon His beloved Prophet Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam and through him to the Mohammadans. It is the greatest blessing of this universe and there is no such pleasure as the pleasure of Deedar-e-Elahi. This great blessing is the reason why all the prophets prayed to be Mohammadans. By Allah's grace, this is what excels our Holy Prophet over all the prophets and the Mohammadans over all the other ummahs. Our Holy Prophet Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam declares:
"Faqr is my pride and Faqr is from me and Faqr is the reason of my superiority over all the prophets and messengers."
This treasure is bestowed upon a person's soul on its ascension to Allah, in the form of ultimate Union of the soul with Allah.
TEACHINGS OF SULTAN-UL-ARIFEEN ABOUT FAQR
Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo Rehmat-ul-Allah Alayh titles his teachings neither as Sufism, Tasawuf or Tareeqat nor any of its schools, but calls it 'Faqr'. All his teachings are about the path of Faqr, its related stages and basic philosophies. He explains the philosophy of Faqr in these words:
"One who seeks Allah and His glorious sight should follow the path of Faqr.” (Ain-ul-Faqr)
"Faqr is exactly and truly Allah Himself.” (Ain-ul-Faqr)
"Faqr is the Divine Knowledge to find the splendid sight of Allah.” (Ain-ul-Faqr)
"One who followed the path of Hazrat Mohammad Sall'Allahu Alayhi Wa'alihi Wasallam, made Faqr his companion. No status is more honourable or higher than Faqr, Faqr is the eternal life.” (Noor-ul-Huda)
"Faqr has all the heavenly treasures. Worldly treasures exhaust at last and this material life is just like a dream but Faqr is the eternal treasure and mystic knowledge of Wahdat (being one with Allah). The worldly pleasures last for a few days. At last, one has to be accountable to Allah Almighty.” (Taufeeq-ul-Hadayat)