(AD 1689–1752; AH 1100–65)
A contemporary of Baba Bulleh Shah, the Sufi scholar and saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai settled in the town of Bhit Shah in Sindh, Pakistan.
He is considered one of the greatest poets in the Sindhi language, although much of his work was transmitted orally. There is, however, a famous collection of his verses, the Shah Jo Risalo.
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s shrine is located in Bhit and attracts hundreds of pilgrims every day.
I
The One Creator, the all great;
Lord of the universe –
The living, the original;
Ruler with power innate;
The giver, the sustainer,
the unique, compassionate;
This master praise, to Him alone
thyself in praise prostrate…
The generous, who does create
the universe in pairs.
II
None shares His glory, ‘He was… is,
shall be’… who this doth say
Accepts Mohammad as ‘guide’
with heart and love’s true sway;
None from amongst those lost their way
or ever went astray.
III
‘He is without a partner’, when
this glorious news you break –
With love and knowledge, Mohammad
accept… as cause him take.
Why would you then obeisance make
to others after that?
IV
From One, many to being came;
‘Many’ but Oneness is;
Don’t get confounded, Reality
is ‘One’, this truth don’t miss
– Commotions vast display – all this,
I vow, of Loved-one is.
V
The Echo and the call are same,
if you sound’s secret knew –
They both were one, but two became
only when ‘hearing’ came.
VI
A thousand doors and windows too,
the palace has… but see,
Wherever I might go or be
My master confronts me there.
VII
If you have learnt to long, by pain
be not distressed –
Secret of love’s sorrow must be
never confessed –
Suffering is by the heart caressed,
and there it is preserved.
VIII
The poison-drinking lovers, lured
by poison sweet, drink more and more;
To bitterness of fatal cup,
the poison-drinkers are inured,
Though wounds are festering, and uncured,
no whisper to the vulgar goes.
IX
All from Beloved’s side is sweet
whate’er He gives to you.
There is no bitter, if you knew
the secret how to taste.
Elsa Kazi
They read and read, but what they read
in their hearts refuse to store –
The more they pages turn, the more
are deeply steeped in sin.
O friend, why are you still inclined
to waste paper and ink? –
Go rather forth and try to find
the source where words were formed.
The world with ‘I’ doth overflow
and with it flaunts about –
But its own ‘Self’ it doth not know…
’Tis a magician’s spell.
They do not heed the glorious line
that does begin with A –
In vain they look for the Divine,
though page on page they turn.
Read only the letter A –
all other pages put aside –
Book-reading nothing will convey –
but your being purify.
Unuttered is unknown… The uttered
is never understood… Behold,
Although it be as true as gold,
humanity never takes note.
Elsa Kazi
You profess to be a ‘faithful’,
Holy maxims you recite…
But your heart deceit is hiding
Duality – satanic spite –
Faithful outward, you delight
in idolat’ries inside.
Elsa Kazi
The body is a rosary,
the mind a bead, a harp the heart.
Love-strings are playing there the theme
of unity in every part;
The nerves do chant: ‘There’s none like thee;
the “One” and only one thou art.’
E’en in sleeping, beauty they impart,
their very sleep their worship is!
Elsa Kazi
I
Currents have their velocity,
rivers their speed possess –
But where there’s love, a different rush
its currents do express,
And those that love fathomlessness,
are steeped in depth of thought.
II
Master the lesson thoroughly
that law doth teach Sohni –
Then contemplate and meditate
till ‘truth’ comes near to thee –
But ‘Reality’s Vision’ will be
reward of lovers true.
Elsa Kazi
I
When ‘Be’ was not yet said, nor was
there flesh-bone scheme or plan;
When Adam had not yet received
his form, was not yet man;
Then my relationship began,
my recognition too.
II
‘Am I not thy Lord?’ came a voice;
a voice so sweet and clear;
And I said: ‘Yes’ with all my heart
when I this voice did hear;
And with a bond I did adhere
that moment to my love.
III
Ere God created souls, by saying,
‘Be’, all one they were;
Together were they – and behold
my kinship started there –
I still this recognition bear
with thee, Beloved mine.
Elsa Kazi