A seated portrait of the Sufi saint Sharaf BuʿAli Qalandar

Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper.
Mughal Style
18th century
India

Shaikh Sharafuddeen Bu Ali Qalandar Panipati also called Bu Ali Qalandar (1209-1324 CE probably born at Panipat, Haryana) in India was a Sufi saint of the Chishtī Order who lived and taught in India. His dargah (mausoleum) in the town of Panipat is a place of pilgrimage.

His real name was Shaykh Sharfuddin but he is famous by the title Bu Ali Shah. His father, Shaykh Fakhar Uddin was a great scholar and saint of his time. He completed his studies at an early age and subsequently taught near the Qutub Minar in Delhi for 20 years. He published a collection of Persian poetry by the name of " Diwan Hazrat Sharafuddeen Bu Ali Qalandar" which was later translated by Khawaja Shahudin in Punjabi. It's a great Sufi work in Persian language. Some other famous Qalandars include Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and Shams Ali Qalandar.

- Wikipedia

Image Credit: © Trustees of the British Museum