Sufi Sarmad Shaheed: The Complete Biography of the Martyr of Love
Introduction
History has witnessed many saints, poets, and mystics who challenged the rigid systems of their time. Among them stands Sufi Sarmad Shaheed, also known as Sarmad Kashani, whose life and martyrdom continue to inspire seekers of truth. He was the mystic who roamed naked in Delhi, proclaimed “I am the Truth”, and fearlessly confronted emperors. Ultimately, Emperor Aurangzeb had him executed, but even in death, Sarmad became immortal. His severed head is said to have risen in his own hands while chanting the complete Islamic testimony of faith.
This is the complete story of Sufi Sarmad Shaheed – the martyr of love, truth, and divine ecstasy.
Early Life in Iran
Sarmad was born in 1618 CE in Kashan (Some say 1590), Armenia, into a wealthy Jewish family. From childhood, he was deeply inclined toward learning. Being the son of a prosperous merchant, he had access to the best education.
He memorized the Torah at an early age.
He studied the Bible and other Christian scriptures.
He mastered Arabic and Persian, which opened doors to Islamic literature.
Sarmad’s thirst for knowledge eventually brought him into the company of great teachers such as Mulla Sadra Shirazi and Abul Qasim Findiriski. Their influence left a deep mark on him, nurturing in him a love for Islam. Eventually, Sarmad embraced Islam, leaving behind his Jewish identity. After conversion, he became known simply as “Sarmad”, though in some records he is mentioned as Sarmad Saeed or Mohammad Saeed.
Career as a Merchant
Following family tradition, Sarmad engaged in trade. His honesty and integrity made him successful, and he earned both wealth and reputation. He was known for helping the poor and living generously.
His trade journeys took him across different lands, and it was on one such journey that destiny led him to India, where his life took a dramatic turn.
Arrival in India and the Love of Abhay Chand
Sarmad reached Thatta (Sindh, present-day Pakistan) as a merchant. Here, he met a Hindu youth named Abhay Chand (often pronounced Abichand). The encounter changed his life forever.
Sarmad fell deeply in love with Abhay Chand. But this love was not limited to the physical—it became the gateway to divine love. Sarmad taught him scriptures including the Psalms and Torah. Abhay Chand, deeply attached, became his companion in travels.
It was during this period that Sarmad’s mystical transformation began. He abandoned worldly business, detached from material possessions, and gradually moved towards a life of spiritual ecstasy.
Journey to Hyderabad and Rise of Fame
Some sources mention that Sarmad visited Lahore and later traveled to Hyderabad Deccan. There he gained recognition for his mystical insight and poetry. Both the ruler and nobles of Hyderabad respected him.
A famous incident occurred:
Sarmad blessed Mir Jumla, predicting his rise to power.
He also foretold the death of another noble, Sheikh Muhammad, during a sea voyage.
Both predictions proved true.
Sarmad was also a master of Persian poetry. His Rubaiyat (quatrains) are filled with Sufi wisdom—urging detachment from the world and immersion in divine love.
Arrival in Delhi with Abhay Chand
Eventually, Sarmad and Abhay Chand arrived in Delhi, where they met the great Sufi Syed Hare Bhare Shah, who became Sarmad’s spiritual guide. Under his guidance, Sarmad’s passionate love turned into spiritual ecstasy.
By now, Sarmad had renounced worldly attire completely. He lived in nakedness, symbolizing his detachment from illusions of society. He and Abhay Chand wandered the streets of Delhi together, attracting curiosity, admiration, and controversy.
Sarmad and Prince Dara Shikoh
At that time, Emperor Shah Jahan ruled India. His son, Prince Dara Shikoh, was a seeker of Sufi wisdom. Dara became deeply attached to Sarmad, considering him his spiritual master.
When Shah Jahan heard of Dara’s connection to the “naked faqir,” he ordered his police chief, Anayat Khan, to investigate. For days, officers could not locate Sarmad—he had mysteriously disappeared. Only after the investigation was called off, Sarmad reappeared at the steps of Jama Masjid, as if nothing had happened.
This added to his mystical reputation.
The Conflict with Aurangzeb
When Aurangzeb seized power, he viewed Sarmad with hostility—partly because Sarmad was the spiritual guide of Dara Shikoh, whom Aurangzeb had executed.
One day, during congregational prayer at Jama Masjid, people forced Sarmad to wear clothes and stand in the rows. But midway, he broke his intention of prayer and declared:
“How can I pray behind an Imam who prays not for God, but for the Emperor’s reward? The wealth he desires lies beneath my very feet.”
The ground was dug, and indeed a treasure was found beneath the spot. The Imam was humiliated, and Aurangzeb remained silent. This incident further increased Sarmad’s popularity—and Aurangzeb’s unease.
Accusations Against Sarmad
To silence Sarmad, Aurangzeb summoned scholars and clerics to issue fatwas against him. Three main accusations were leveled:
He roamed naked, violating Islamic norms.
He recited only half of the Shahada (testimony of faith)—“La ilaha” (There is no God)—and never completed it.
He denied the Prophet’s Ascension (Mi’raj).
Sarmad’s Replies
On nakedness, he recited a Persian verse explaining that God clothes whom He wills in wealth and strips whom He wills in poverty—his nakedness was a divine decree.
On the incomplete Shahada, he said:
“I am still in the stage of negation. When I reach the vision of Truth, I shall complete the testimony.”On Mi’raj, he explained through poetry that the seeker who realizes inner truth rises beyond the skies.
But the clerics twisted his words into blasphemy and declared him a heretic. Aurangzeb signed his death warrant.
Martyrdom of Sufi Sarmad
In 1661 CE (1072 AH), Sarmad was brought to a platform before Jama Masjid, Delhi, to be executed.
His followers begged him to save his life by wearing clothes and completing the Shahada. He refused, saying:
“It has been long since Mansur’s cry of ‘Ana al-Haqq’ was silenced. I have come to revive it.”
With divine ecstasy on his face, he offered his neck to the executioner. His head was severed—yet the miracle occurred:
His head did not fall lifeless.
He lifted it in his own hands.
From the severed head came the complete Shahada: “La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah.”
He walked up the steps of Jama Masjid with his head in hand.
His master, Syed Hare Bhare Shah, appeared and asked: “Where are you going, Sarmad?”
Sarmad replied: “To complain about Aurangzeb in the Prophet’s court.”
The master told him: “I just returned from there—Aurangzeb said he acted out of respect for Shariah.” Hearing this, Sarmad cast his head to the ground and finally surrendered his soul.
Burial and Legacy
Sarmad was buried near the steps of Jama Masjid, Delhi, where he often sat in ecstasy. His shrine remains there today:
His grave is covered with a red cloth, symbolizing martyrdom.
Beside him rests his guide Syed Hare Bhare Shah, whose tomb is covered with a green cloth.
Legacy
Sarmad is often called the “Mansur al-Hallaj of India”, for he too declared “Ana al-Haqq (I am the Truth)”.
His Rubaiyat continues to be studied for its deep spiritual insights.
To this day, visitors come not only to honor a martyr but to awaken their own souls.
Sarmad’s silence echoes through history with one timeless message:
“Love demands sacrifice, and Truth never dies.”
Conclusion
The life of Sufi Sarmad Shaheed is more than a biography—it is a tale of divine madness, fearless truth, and ultimate sacrifice. From Kashan to Delhi, from the Torah to the Qur’an, from earthly love to eternal love, Sarmad’s journey remains a beacon for seekers across faiths.
At his shrine, seekers find not just the memory of a mystic, but the living reminder that truth may be slain, but it can never be silenced.