Why Sai Baba Is Called Fakir
Sai Baba of Shirdi is often lovingly called a Fakir, and many of his devotees still remember him in the simple robe of a Muslim ascetic. This article explains why Sai Baba is called Fakir, what the term means, and what it teaches us in daily life.
DEVOTION
Vedant Sharma
1/11/20262 min read
Who Called Sai Baba a Fakir?
Sai Baba of Shirdi lived like a Fakir from the time he arrived in Shirdi. He stayed in a mosque, wore simple clothes, begged for alms, and lived without possessions.
Villagers naturally began calling him Sai Baba Fakir out of respect and affection.
What Does the Word Fakir Mean?
The word Fakir comes from Arabic and means a person who lives in poverty for God. A Fakir gives up worldly comforts and depends completely on divine will.
A Fakir is not poor in spirit. He is rich in faith, wisdom, and inner peace.
Sai Baba’s Life as a Fakir
Sai Baba followed the true life of a Fakir.
Simple Living
He owned almost nothing. Whatever he received, he shared with others.
Living in Dwarkamai
Sai Baba lived in a mosque called Dwarkamai. He kept a sacred fire there, known as Dhuni, which symbolized purity and protection.
Begging for Alms
Sai Baba begged for food, not for survival, but to teach humility and equality. He treated every giver the same.
Fakir and Saint Together
Though Sai Baba lived like a Muslim Fakir, he respected Hindu traditions deeply.
He spoke of God, karma, devotion, and righteousness. He allowed Hindu rituals and Muslim prayers to exist together in Dwarkamai.
By doing this, Sai Baba showed that spirituality is beyond religion.
Why Sai Baba Chose the Fakir Path
Sai Baba chose the Fakir life to teach important lessons:
Detachment from material greed
Equality among people
Complete surrender to God
Simplicity and humility
His life showed that inner wealth matters more than outer comfort.
Meaning of Fakir for Devotees Today
Calling Sai Baba a Fakir reminds devotees to:
Live simply
Avoid ego and pride
Trust God completely
Help others selflessly
It is not about giving up family or work. It is about giving up greed, anger, and fear.
Sai Baba’s Message Through His Fakir Life
Sai Baba never asked people to become Fakirs. He only asked them to become kind and honest.
His Fakir life silently taught:
Faith over fear
Love over division
Service over selfishness
Sai Baba is called Fakir because he lived a life of surrender, simplicity, and devotion to God. His Fakir identity was not about religion, but about spiritual freedom.
Even today, remembering Sai Baba as a Fakir inspires people to live with faith, patience, and humility.