Bulleh Shah’s Verses: the Message of Love and Peace

Bulleh Shah’s Verses: the Message of Love and Peace

A Sufi poet who dwelled in Pakistan from 1680 to 1758, Bulleh Shah is one of the most revered people in the Sub-continent. According to the history books, Bulleh Shah’s real name was Abdullah Shah. Bulleh was a nickname and it is said that he himself chose this name for himself. Bulleh Shah was a very spiritual person. He had the thirst for spiritual wisdom and knowledge. It was this thirst that took him to Lahore in search of a Murshid (Master). A Murshid was said to have his ‘mureeds’ who would be taught by the Murshid about spiritual wisdom. In Lahore he found Hazrat Shah Inayat, a well-known Qadiri Sufi, who was actually a gardener by profession. He decided to become his mureed and learn spirituality from him.

His first conversation with Hazrat Shah Inayat is known to be of particular interest. There are different accounts of the conversation but most history books generally have one basic description. It is said that after being inquired by Bulleh Shah about the realization of God, Inayat Shah replied, “What is the problem in finding God? One only needs to be uprooted from here and replanted there.” Inayat Shah graced Bulleh with the secret of spiritual insight and the Knowledge of God.
The poetry of the great poet is a reflection of the times that were face by the people of Punjab at that time. Bulleh Shah was highly critical of the people with any sort of authority. Be it rural cheifs, religious clergy or others enforcing authority over the masses. he was strongly against oppression.
The sub-continent has seen the rise of many sufi poets in this region. A multitude of saints once roamed this land. Bulleh Shah is considered among the greatest of all Sufi and Punjabi poets.

His verses strongly reflected the message of love, peace and harmony. He believed in the unity and welfare of all mankind. He believed that differences of caste, religion or colour should not separate the masses and cause differences. He believed that all humans should co-exist with love and peace. He believed that the most righteous was the one who desired the well-being of the fellow man. One of his most verses are:

‘taa day mandir, taa day masjid, taa day jo kuj tehn-da;
Bulleya kissay da dil na taa-win, Rabb dilan wich rehnda!’

Translation:

‘Tear down the mosque and temple too, break all that divides;
But do not break the human heart as it is there that God resides.’

Bulleh Shah preached in a small town of Qasur. It is situated in the vicinity of Lahore. His tomb is also situated in Qasur. Bulleh Shah is still revered as a great man by people of all faiths that dwell in the Indian sub-continent. 

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Posted by Fouad Ashraf on Oct 17 2011. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry