The Divine Love of Sufi and the Sufi Poetry from Punjab

 The feeling of wonder is a truly inexplicable and beautiful phenomenon. Wonder captivates us in a way nothing else can. What lies beneath the illusion of wonder? What is the reason that grown women and men - both well-informed and emotionally stable appear to be swept away by this bliss?

It's because wonder, even though it is finite it is, in the end, is a signpost towards an withinfinite.

I was born within Rawalpindi located in Punjab. Punjab, (literally 'Five Rivers') has been a spiritually fertile ground of Divine worship for over a hundred years. Muslim sufis have travelled the country and spread The message that Divine Oneness is the only way to be throughout the centuries. Certain sufis, like Ali al-Hujwiri (d. 1072 CE/464 AH) are known for writing numerous books on Tasawwuf which is the purification of the heart.

The Sufis preaches ' Ishq, more than anything else, as the ultimate expression of the Divine Reality. Ishq is an Arabic word that comes from "asaq," meaning to cling on or hold. that means to 'cleave on' or adhere to. It provides insight into the condition that is the 'ashiq who was drowned in ocean of Ishq. The sufis did exactly that, they clung towards the way that led to Allah and His beloved . Indeed The patron saint for Kasur and also the child of Punjab, Bulleh Shah said:

"Tariqat is my mother,

Shariat is my foster mother.--

"This is the way I've come to know the truth"

It's difficult to fully capture the impact Sufi poets and saints were able to have on Punjab and in the Indian Subcontinent at large, in a brief article like this, however to state that they have fundamentally changed the spiritual environment of the region could not be overstated.

                               Bulleh Shah's shrine Kasur, Punjab. Photo

Sufi poetry was able to convey the devotion from God and Prophet to the homes and hearts of thousands of worshippers. Punjab is an agricultural land and has an oral tradition of folklore. Sufis were the Sufis were able to combine the profound philosophical ideas of Islam through mystic poetry, and communicate these ideas to the people in a manner that was awe-inspiring to their. Folklore and symbolism played a major role. Consider the poetic and ethereal tales of Heer-Ranjha or Sohni Mahiwal. In a way, these stories were about love in the temporal between the two lovebirds ( Ishq-e-Majazi). In a more esoteric sense, however they spoke of deeper truths the The Divine Loving ( Ishq-e-Haqiqi).

Punjabi Sufi poetry often extolled the virtues of having the guidance of a Shaykh to make sure that one does not drown in the waters in the river dunya. The tale of Sohni-Mahiwal actually an allegory of the risks of not having a guide or holding on to the route.

The story goes as follows: Sohni and her beloved, Mahiwal, were separated physically and physically, with the river Chenab cutting across the two of them, acting as a brutal barrier. Sohni used the clay pot ( garha) as a vessel to cross the river and reach the opposite side. A few days later, some acquaintances of Sohni changed her clay vessel that was baked with a unbaked version - out of pure jealousy. Then, she drowned and passed away in the raging waters of the Chenab and her love was eternally etched into the vessels that represent Punjab's heart.

Sohni Swims to meet her lover Mahiwal. India, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow or Farrukhabad in the year 1780.

The symbolism is clear; Sohni is the seeker and her beloved is The God of the Beloved (God) as well as the turbulent river is called the dunya. The pot symbolises the Law The Path, the Law along with The Shaykh- - the conduit. One can't expect to get across the river of deceit by using the weakest conduit.

Sohni complains towards the pot "how can you possibly betray me this way?"and the pot responds:

"Main garha, main khur jana, meinoun hath na lawaein-

Pharh palra Pakkay Murshid da, jerha tenoun paar langaway."

"I am just an unbaked pot that is fragile, don't try to get me in touch!

Get hold of a real Shaykh one, one that will aid you in crossing. "

Numerous different Sufi Shayukh (scholars) from Punjab stressed this point. Sultan Bahu (d. 1691 CE) one of the Qadiri Sufi saint from southern Punjab is well-known for his writing of the following words:

"The guide gave me the seeds of God's love inside me

He drank my veins using affirmation and negation

The blossoming flower of His love sprang its fragrance throughout me

My perfect guidance, Bahu, who has set this in me."

In this case, Sultan Bahu is referring to his Shaykh and how he assisted him to develop the faith of Allah in the man. The affirmation and negation has to relate to what is known as the Shahada that says: There can be no god (negation) however there is God (affirmation). These were the methods of these mystics, through which they revealed the divine message of God.

             Shrine of Sultan Bahu in Garh Maharaja, Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan. 

Sufi poetry was also adapts to the dialectal diversity of Punjab. Sultan Bahu's poetry is influenced by Seraiki influences, the dialect that is a dialect of Punjabi spoken in the south of Punjab. Others, such as Mian Muhammad Baksh (d. 1907 CE) were influenced by the Pahari/Potoharidialect of northern Punjab and Kashmir. The dialect changed, however, the message was similar: Ishq.

Mian Muhammad Baksh penned a famous poem, Saif-ul-Maluk. The captivating poetry cannot be adequately described in this essay, but I have to refer to one of my favourite lines:

"Ik gunah mera maa-pe waikhan

dewan des Nikalan

lakh gunah mera Allah waikhay

parday pawan aala."

"A single wrong I committed, will my parents see?

and they remove me from my land

A thousand sins do my Allah bear witness

the veiler for all vices."

It's not surprising that, to this day, these four lines can bring people to tears. The power of these words in Punjabi is not limited to the content but also the tone, the delivery , and the emotion tug at the most worn-out cords of our hearts.

Growing as a child in an Sufi family I was no new to poetry manifestations in the form of Divine love. My mother's village is located in Central Punjab is the burial site of my great-great grandfather who was a sufi-shaykh the days before Partition of India. I was always at sessions called Samaa' sessions in my young teens. Samaa comes from the word "istima"which is a reference to 'listening. It is a popular event in South Asia it usually involves an ensemble of dedicated singers who sing poetry of devotion and celebrate the affection of Allah His Messenger, the Sahaba along with The Awliyawhich is the saints.

They evoked in me the longing for something spiritual. It's Ishq. That is a wonder.

I left Pakistan to go to the university. I returned four years later to visit for a few days. It was expected that being back was filled with a myriad of emotions. But, what I truly wanted (and was a year ago wishing for throughout those long four years of absence) was that sense of excitement. I wanted to be the child I was who surrendered his heart, mind, and soul to the Divine Love.

I had the perfect method to accomplish this.

Islamabad is a gorgeous city. It is situated at the base of the majestic Himalayas It is a peaceful city that is both urban and peaceful. It could be the last thing one looks at for spiritual nourishment.

Just to the outskirts of it in a tiny town known as Golra in the outskirts, is the mosque. It is situated near an altar dedicated to Pir Meher Ali Shah Sufi Mystic, who lived in the late 19th century of India. The Shaykh was one of the founders in the Chishti tariqah (founded by Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti). Pir Meher Ali Shah was not just an adept at mysticism, he was also a poet. When he was in one of his most ecstatic state of consciousness, he composed the following ethereal couplet for a tribute Prophet Muhammad :

"Aj sik mitraan dee vadheri ay

kyoon dilri udaas ghaneri ay

loon the shawq changeri loon

aj nainaan laiyaan kyon jhariyaan!"

" Why is the longing to be loved particularly strong in the present?

What makes my heart hurting more this day than it has ever been?

Why does the desire penetrate every fiber of my body?

What is the reason for tears gushing from the eyes like monsoon rains?"

"Subhan Allah! Maa ajmalaka

maa ahsanaka, maa akmalaka"

"Glory all praise to Allah! There is nobody as beautiful as Allah!

There is no one better than you, and there is no better!"

"Kithay mihr ali kithay teri sanaa

gustaakh akheen kithay jaa ariyaan!"

" Who is (the humble) Meher Ali to chant the praises of Allah;

What (presumptuous and) extravagant his eyes appear to attain the top of the world of romance!"

A humid day I made a trip to the Mosque in Golra. After I recited Fatiha to his soul Pir Meher Ali Shah I took a seat at the entrance of the mosque, with the warm marble under me and a refreshing breeze gently blowing through my hair. I observed children playing, older people praying, and people caught in awe. After a short time it was time to begin Maghrib Prayers. When I took my place as a part of the congregation, and the Imam started the prayer something completely bizarre occurred. It began to rain. Pouring. When the prayer ended, every worshipper was covered in water. Everyone was happy.

When we awoke and headed for the safety of our homes I was able to hear an Punjabi voice in the crowd:

"Ae vi Rehmat houndi ae,"

"This (the rain) is also a blessing!"

Inspired by the experience I took my leave of the shrine to go to my home. While putting salawat on my lips , I asked to the spirit of Pir Meher Ali Shah as well as all those who are the Awliya of Allahwho have propagate an understanding of Divine love across all of the Punjab in addition to who propagate Wonder.

God bless all of them.