Waris Shah ( pa, ; ; 1722–1798) was a
Punjabi Sufi
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...
poet of the
Chishti order
The Chishtī Order ( fa, ''chishtī'') is a tariqa, an order or school within the mystic Sufi tradition of Sunni Islam. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. It began with Abu Ishaq Shami in Chisht, a ...
, known for his contribution to
Punjabi literature.
[ He is primarily known as the author of '']Heer Ranjha
''Heer Ranjha'' (or ''Heer and Ranjha'') ( pnb, , ਹੀਰ ਰਾਂਝਾ ) is one of several popular tragic romances of Punjab, other important ones being "Sohni Mahiwal", "Mirza Sahiban" and " Sassi Punnhun". There are several poetic na ...
'' .
Background
Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan
Jandiala Sherkhan, or Jandiala Sher Khan ( ur, ), is a town of Sheikhupura District in the Punjab (Pakistan), Punjab, Pakistan. It is part of Sheikhupura Tehsil. and is located at 31°49'15N 73°55'10E. The town is notable for being the birthpl ...
, Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
, present-day Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
into a reputed Sayyid
''Sayyid'' (, ; ar, سيد ; ; meaning 'sir', 'Lord', 'Master'; Arabic plural: ; feminine: ; ) is a surname of people descending from the Prophets in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali ...
family and was a descendant of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki
Sayyid Muhammad ibn Shuja' al-Din ibn Ibrahim ibn Qasim Shah al-Husayni al-Makki ( ar, السيد محمد الحسيني المكي), 1145–1246, also known as Sayyid Mahmood Shah al-Makki ( ur, سيد محمود مكي) and well known by the ...
through his son Sayyid Badruddin. His father's name was Gulsher Shah and mother's name was Kamal Banu. Waris's parents are said to have died when he was young. Waris spent years in search of the perfect spiritual guide. Waris Shah acknowledged himself to be a disciple of an ustad
Ustād or ostād (abbreviated as Ust., Ut. or Ud.; from Persian language, Persian ) is an honorific title used in West Asia, North Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is used in various languages such as Persian language, Persian, , Azerbai ...
from Kasur
Kasur (Urdu and pa, ; also Romanization of Urdu, romanized as Qasūr; from pluralized Arabic word ''Qasr'' meaning "palaces" or "forts") is a city to south of Lahore, in the Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. The city serves as th ...
, namely Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza
Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza was a 17th-century Sufi saint and scholar of the Qadiri-Chishti Sufi order, living in Kasur, Punjab. He was also the teacher of the poets Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah. He was the Imam (main spiritual head) of the city of Kasur ...
from whom he received his education. After completing his education, Waris moved to Malka Hans
Malka Hans ( ur, ), is a historical town of Punjab in Pakistan. It is located 12 kilometers north of Pakpattan in the Pakpattan District.
History
Waris Shah, a poet from the Punjab, came here from his native village Jandiala Sher Khan and compo ...
, a village twelve kilometres north of Pakpattan
Pakpattan (Punjabi and ), often referred to as Pākpattan Sharīf (; ''"Noble Pakpattan"''), is the capital city of the Pakpattan District, located in Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the 48th largest city of Pakistan by population according ...
. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic mosque now called Masjid Waris Shah, until his death.[
Other poets later added their own verses in Qissa Waris Shah throughout the history. It is estimated that there are 11069 forged verses in the commonly available Qissa Waris Shah. One of the oldest and most accurate copy of Qissa Waris Shah published by Kripa Ram in 1916 is available in the Punjab Public Library in ]Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
.
Works
Examples
Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used in Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
in a moral context, for instance:
* ''Naa adataan jaandiyan ne, Bhavein katiye poriyan poriyan ji''
:
:(A man never abandons his habits, even if he is hacked to pieces)
* ''Waris rann, faqir, talwar, ghora; Chare thok eh kisse de yar nahin'' (Waris says that woman, beggar, sword and horse, these four are never anyone's friends)
* ''Waris Shah faqir di aqal kithe; eh pattian ishq padhiyan hun''
:
: (It is beyond the wisdom of faqeer
Fakir ( ar, فقیر, translit=faḳīr or ''faqīr'') is an Islamic term traditionally used for Sufi Muslim ascetics who renounce their worldly possessions and dedicate their lives to the worship of God. They do not necessarily renounce ...
Waris Shah (to write this verse), (But) these lessons are taught by Love)
* ''Eh rooh qalboot da zikr
''Dhikr'' ( ar, ذِكْر}, , also spelled ''Zikr'', ''Thikr'', ''Zekr'', or ''Zikar'', literally meaning "remembrance, reminder" or "mention") is a form of Islamic meditation in which phrases or prayers are repeatedly chanted in order to remem ...
sara nal aqal de mel bulaya ee'' (This entire reference is about Soul meeting with the Divine, Beloved which has been contrived with great wisdom)
The renowned Punjabi writer and poet Amrita Pritam
Amrita Pritam (; 31 August 1919 – 31 October 2005) was an Indian novelist, essayist and poet, who wrote in Punjabi and Hindi. A prominent figure in Punjabi literature, she is the recipient of the 1956 Sahitya Akademi Award. Her body of wo ...
is best remembered for her famous work Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu
Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu (English: "Today I Invoke Waris Shah" or "I Say Unto Waris Shah", Punjabi: , ਅੱਜ ਆਖਾਂ ਵਾਰਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਨੂੰ) is a famous dirge by the renowned Punjabi writer and poet Amrita Pritam (1919-200 ...
(lit: "Today I Invoke Waris Shah") about the horrors of the partition of the Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
during the Partition of India
The Partition of British India in 1947 was the Partition (politics), change of political borders and the division of other assets that accompanied the dissolution of the British Raj in South Asia and the creation of two independent dominions: ...
.
* ''Ajj Akan Waris shah nu, k tu Qabran vichon bol''
:
: (Today, I call upon Waris Shah, to rise from the grave and speak)
* Te Ajj kitaab e ishq da, koi Agla warka phol
:
:(And plead with him to open another page in the book of love)
Portrayal in media
Waris Shah's life has been fictionalised in Punjabi-language films. A 1964 Pakistani film titled ''Waris Shah'' featured Inayat Hussain Bhatti
Inayat Hussain Bhatti
( ur, ),
(12 January 1928 – 31 May 1999) was a Pakistani film playback singer, film actor, producer, director, script writer, social worker, columnist, religious scholar and a promoter of the development of the Punj ...
in the title role. Another film on the life of Shah, ''Sayyed Waris Shah'', was released in India in 1980; followed by '' Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris'' in 2006 which had Gurdas Mann
Gurdas Maan is an Indian playback singer, songwriter and actor mainly associated with Punjabi and Hindi language music and films. He gained national attention in 1980 with the song "Dil Da Mamla Hai". Since then, he had gone on to record over ...
in the role of Waris Shah.2006 film ''Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris'' on IMDb website
Retrieved 29 May 2018
See also
* List of Punjabi language poets
Poets of Punjabi language (Shahmukhi: , Gurmukhi: ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਕਵੀ).
Poets
* Sanjeev Panje ke -21st Century
Further reading
*''Sufi Poets of the Punjab Pakistan (Their Thought and Contribution)'' Prof M Ashraf Chaudhary. Nat ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Waris
1722 births
1798 deaths
Punjabi-language poets
People from Sheikhupura District
Sufi poets
Sufism
Mystic poets
Punjabi Sufi saints
Punjabi people
Sufism in Pakistan
Sufi shrines in Pakistan
Heer Ranjha