Muhammad Naushah was born on 21 August 1552 in present-day Punjab, Pakistan to a Punjabi Khokhar family.[2] His father, Hajji Ala’uddin Qadiri, was an ascetic, while his mother Bibi Jiuni belonged to a respectable family.[3]
Naushāh was respected by his contemporaries including nobles and rulers.[3] He accepted the syncretic approach of Kabir and Guru Nanak but with more emphasis on tawhid or oneness of God. Like Kabir, he rejected caste and criticised the idea of transmigration of souls.[4] Naushāh enrolled his followers from different castes and occupations. They were Bhattis, Mochis, Lohars, Tarkhans, Awans, Jats and others.[5] He condemned the caste system in his following dohras (a rhyming couplet in the Punjabi poetry):
"Saiyid and Jat, both are human beings. Both are the sons of Adam and Eve.
Naushah do not ask the descent of a faqir, but enquire about the way that leads to Lord. This is the right mode of speech."[5]
