Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689–1752) (Sindhi: شاھ عبدالطيف ڀٽائيِ,
Urdu: شاہ عبداللطیف بھٹائی) was a Sufi scholar, and is considered one
of the greatest poets of the Sindhi language. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
was born in 1689 in Hala Haveli's village Sui-Qandar located near
Hyderabad, Pakistan. Shah Abdul Latif was son of Syed Habibullah and
grandson of Syed Abdul Quddus Shah. He settled in the town of Bhit
Shah in Matiari, Pakistan where his shrine is located. His most famous
written work is the Shah Jo Risalo, which is a master-piece of Sindhi
Literature as well. The major themes of his poetry include Unity of
Almighty, love for Prophet, Religious tolerance and humanistic values.
For his works, he is regarded as a'Direct Emanations of Rūmī's
spirituality in the Indian world.'
Names of Bhittai
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is known by several honorific names - Lakhino
Latif, Latif Ghot, Bhittai and Bhitt Jo Shah. Shah Abdul latif's
deepness of poetry affiliated with the relationship between the
Almighty and human is cause of his visits at different places of the
regions surrounded to him and he always feel the circumstances carried
out in his premises and he feels the people mind he had such a calm
and sharp mind and such things made him the greatest poet of the
world, if one could seriously understand his preaching.
The Early Life
Most of the information that has come down to us has been collected
from oral traditions. A renowned Pakistani scholar, educationist, and
a foremost writer of plays, dramas and stories, Mirza Kalich Beg has
rendered a yeoman service to Sindhi literature by collecting details
about the early life of Shah Bhitai, from the dialogues that he has
constantly held with some of the old folks, still living at that time,
who knew these facts from their fathers and grandfathers for they had
seen Shah Latif in person and had even spoken to him.
"The next day I sat down, and listened to the Story of the 'Vairagis.'
Their salmon-coloured clothes were covered with dust. Their hair-bands
were worn out. They had let their hair grow quite long. The lonely
ones never talk to anyone about their being. These 'Nanga' are content
and happy. They move about unmarked amongst the common
folk."........Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai
He was born around 1689 CE (1102 A.H.) to Shah Habib in the village
Sui-Qandar a few miles to the east of the present town of Bhit Shah
(named after him), on Safar 14, 1102 A.H. ie November 18, 1690 CE. He
died at Bhit Shah on Safar 14, 1165 A.H., i.e. January 3, 1752 CE. In
his memory, every year, on 14th Safar of the Hijri Calendar, an Urs is
held at Bhit Shah, where he spent the last years of his life and where
his elaborate and elegant mausoleum stands.
Shah Abdul Latif got his early education in the school (maktab) of
Akhund Noor Muhammad in basic Persian (the government language at that
time) and Sindhi (local spoken language). He also learned the Qu'ran.
His correspondence in Persian with contemporary scholar Makhdoom
Moinuddin Thattavi, as contained in the Risala-e-Owaisi, bears witness
to his scholastic competence.
"Beloved's separation kills me friends, At His door, many like me,
their knees bend. From far and near is heard His beauty's praise, My
Beloved's beauty is perfection itself.".....Bhitai
Bhitai's Ancestry
Shah Abdul Latif's lineage has been traced back directly to the
Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam, through Imam
Zain-ul-Abideen Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, son of Imam Hussain Radi
ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho. His ancestors had come from Herat in Central Asia,
and settled at Matiari. Shah Abdul Karim 1600 CE, whose mausoleum
stands at Bulri, about 40 miles from Hyderabad, a mystic Sufi poet of
considerable repute, was his great, great grandfather. His verses are
extant and his anniversary is still held at Bulri, in the form of an
Urs.
His father Syed Habib Shah, lived in Hala Haveli, a small village, at
a distance of about forty miles from Matiari and not far from the
village of Bhitshah. Later he left this place and moved to Kotri,
where Shah Latif spent some part of his adolescent life.
Education
Young Shah Abdul Latif was raised during the golden age of sindhi
culture. His first teacher was Noor Muhammad Bhatti Waiwal. Mostly,
Shah Latif was self-educated. Although he has received scanty formal
education, the Risalo gives us an ample proof of the fact that he was
well-versed in Arabic and Persian. The Qur'an, the Hadiths, the
Masnawi of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, along with the collection of Shah
Karim's poems, were his constant companions, copious references of
which have been made in Shah Jo Risalo. In his poems he writes about
Sindh and its neighbouring regions, he mentions distant cities such as
Istanbul and Samarqand, he also writes about Sindhi sailors their
navigation techniques voyages as far to the Malabar coast, Sri Lanka
and the island of Java.
Appearance and Characteristics
In appearance, Bhitai was a handsome man, of average height. He was
strongly built, had black eyes and an intelligent face, with a broad
and high forehead. He grew a Sunnah beard. He had a serious and
thoughtful look about himself and spent much time in contemplation and
meditation, since he was concerned about his moral and spiritual
evolution with the sole purpose of seeking proximity of the Divine. He
would often seek solitude and contemplate on the burning questions
running through his mind concerning man's spiritual life:
Why was man created?
What is his purpose on this earth? What is his relationship with his Creator?
What is his ultimate destiny?
Although he was born in favoured conditions, being the son of a
well-known and very much respected Sayed family, he never used his
position in an unworthy manner, nor did he show any liking for the
comforts of life. He was kind, compassionate, generous and gentle in
his manner of speech and behaviour which won him the veneration of all
those who came across him. He had great respect for woman, and he
exercised immense reserve in dealing with them, in an age when these
qualities were rare. He hated cruelty and could never cause physical
pain to any man or even to an animal. He lived a very simple life of
self-restraint. His food intake was simple and frugal, so was his
dressing which was often deep yellow, the colour of the dress of sufis
and ascetics, stitched with black thread. To this day, his relics are
preserved at Bhitsah (where his mausoleum stands), some of which
include a "T"-shaped walking stick, two bowls, one made of sandal-wood
and another of transparent stone, which he used for eating and
drinking. His long cap and his black turban are also preserved.
"Cloud was commanded to prepare for rain, Rain pattered and poured,
lightning flared. Grain hoarders, hoping for high prices, wring their
hands, Five would become fifteen in their pages they had planned. From
the land may perish all the profiteers, Herdsmen once again talk of
abundant showers, Latif says have hope in Allah's blessed
grace."......Bhitai
Quest for Religious Truths
In quest of religious truths, Shah Bhitai travelled to many parts of
Sindh and also went to the bordering lands. He kept himself aloof from
the political scene of favouritism and intrigues which was going on at
the height of the power and rule of Kalhoras in Sindh. Instead of
visiting towns and cities, in political canvassing, to serve the
purpose of the rulers and elite of the land, though he was much
respected by the members of the dynasty and could have benefited from
it, he went to hills, valleys, the banks of river, and the fields,
where he met the ordinary simple people, the sufis (mystics). He went
to the Ganjo Hills in the south of Hyderabad for contemplation, and
then to mountains in Las Bela in the south of Sindh and Balochistan.
For three years, he travelled with these sufis in search of the truth,
peace, and harmony, to Hinglay, Lakhpat, Nani at the foot of the
Himalayas and to Sappar Sakhi. At several places in the Risalo,
mention has been made of these sufis and of his visits to these
wonderful, holy and peaceful places. The two surs, Ramkali and
Khahori, describe them under various endearing names and a detailed
account of the sufis' lifestyle is given. He also travelled to such
far away places as Junagardh, Jesalmere and parts of the Thar desert.
"In deserts, wastes and Jessalmir it has rained, Clouds and lightning
have come to Thar's plains; Lone, needy women are now free from care,
Fragrant are the paths, happy herdsmen's wives all this
share."..........Bhitai
Piety and Asceticism
By the time he was a young man of twenty one years, he began to be
known for his piety, his ascetic habits and his absorption in prayers.
Observation and contemplation were chief traits of his character. A
number of people flocked round him adding to the already large number
of his disciples. This aroused jealousy of some powerful, ruthless,
tyrannical persons - landlords, Pirs, Mirs, and Rulers - who became
his enemies for some time. Later, seeing his personal worth, and the
peaceful and ascetic nature of his fame, abandoned their rivalry. At
this time he was living with his father at Kotri, five miles away from
the present site of Bhitshah. It was here that his marriage was
solemnised in 1713 CE with Bibi Sayedah Begum, daughter of Mirza
Mughul Beg. She was a very virtuous and pious lady, who was a proper
companion for him. The disciples had great respect for her. They had
no children.
In the true ascetic spirit, Shah Latif was now in search of a place
where in solitude, he could devote all his time in prayers and
meditation. Such a place he found near Lake Karar, a mere sand hill,
but an exotic place of scenic beauty, four miles away from New Hala.
This place was covered by thorny bushes surrounded by many pools of
water. It was simply and aptly called 'Bhit' (the Sand Hill). On the
heaps of its sandstones he decide to settle down and build a village.
As it was sandy, he along with his disciples dug out the hard earth
from a distance and covered the sand with it to make the ground firm.
After months of hard labour, carrying the earth on their heads and
shoulders, the place was now fit enough for the construction of an
underground room and two other rooms over it, along with a room for
his old parents. A mosque was also built and the houses of his
disciples properly marked out. In 1742, whilst he was still busy
setting up a new village, Bhit, he got the sad news of the death of
his dear father.. Soon after this Shah Latif shifted all his family
members from Kotri to Bhitsah, as the village now began to be called.
His father was buried there, in accordance to his will, where his
mausoleum stands only eight paces away, from that of Shah Abdul Latif,
towards its north.
The Seven Queens of Sindh
The women of Shah Abdul Latif's poetry are known as the Seven Queens,
heroines of Sindhi folklore who have been given the status of royalty
in the Shah Jo Risalo. The Seven Queens were celebrated throughout
Sindh for their positive qualities: their honesty, integrity, piety
and loyalty. They were also valued for their bravery and their
willingness to risk their lives in the name of love.
Perhaps what Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai saw in his tales of these women
was an idealised view of womanhood, but the truth remains that the
Seven Queens inspired women all over Sindh to have the courage to
choose love and freedom over tyranny and oppression. The lines from
the Risalo describing their trials are sung at Sufi shrines all over
Sindh, and especially at the urs of Shah Abdul Latif every year at
Bhit Shah.
The Seven Queens mentioned in the Shah Jo Risalo are:
*.Marvi
*.Momal
*.Sassi
*.Noori
*.Sohni
*.Sorath
*.Lila
The Final Years
For the last eight years of his remarkable life, Shah Latif lived at
Bhitshah. A few days before his death, he retired to his underground
room and spent all his time in prayers and fasting, eating very
little.
Laggi Laggi wa'a-u wiarra angrra latji, Pa-i kharren pasah-a pasand-a
karrend-i pirin-a jay.
Wind blew! The sand enveloped the body, Whatever little life left, is
to see the beloved.
After 21 days in there, he came out and having bathed himself with a
large quantity of water, covered himself with a white sheet.
He suffered from no sickness or pain of any kind. The date was 14th
Safar 1165 Hijra corresponding to 1752 CE. He was buried at the place
where his mausoleum now stands, which was built by the ruler of Sindh,
Ghulam Shah Kalhoro. His name literally means 'the servant of the
Shah'. He, along with his mother, had adored and revered Shah Latif
and were his devoted disciples. The work of the construction of the
mausoleum was entrusted to the well-known mason, Idan from Sukkur. The
mausoleum, as well as the mosque adjoining it, were later repaired and
renovated by another ruler of Sindh, Mir Nasir Khan Talpur.
Korren kan-i salam-u achio a'atand-a unn-a jay.
Countless pay homage and sing peace at his abode.
"Tell me the stories, oh thorn-brush, Of the mighty merchants of the
Indus, Of the nights and the days of the prosperous times, Are you in
pain now, oh thorn-brush? Because they have departed: In protest,
cease to flower. Oh thorn-brush, how old were you When the river was
in full flood? Have you seen any way-farmers who could be a match of
the Banjaras? True, the river has gone dry, And worthless plants have
begun to flourish on the brink, The elite merchants are on decline,
And the tax collectors have disappeared, The river is littered with
mud And the banks grow only straws The river has lost its old
strength, You big fish, you did not return When the water had its flow
Now it's too late, You will soon be caught For fishermen have blocked
up all the ways. The white flake on the water: Its days are on the
wane."......Bhitai [translated by Prof. D. H. Butani [1913-1989] in
The Melody and Philosophy of Shah Latif
The Urs Sharif
The URS is a Grand event in Sindh, where people from almost every
village and town of Sindh and from different cities of other provinces
of Pakistan - rich and poor, young and old, scholars and peasants -
make a determined effort to attend. The Urs commences every year from
14th Safar (2nd month of Hijra calendar) and lasts for three days. A
literary gathering is also held where papers concerning the research
work done on the life, poetry, and message of Bhitai, are read, by
scholars and renowned literary figures. His disciples and ascetics,
gather around and read passages from his Risalo. Scholarly debates and
exhibitions of his work and traditional Sindhi artifacts are also
organized.
"Sleeping on the river's bank, I heard of Mehar's glory, Bells aroused
my consciousness, longing took its place, By Almighty! fragrance of
Mehar's love to me came, Let me go and see Mehar face to
face.".....Bhitai
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NAJIMUDEEN M/
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