Shah Latif and His Message
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G M Syed Shah Latif and His Message Translated By: Prof. Egnert Azariah An imaginary portrait of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai 2 About the book Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai is one of the great Sufi poets and intellectuals of South Asia. He is a notable enlightened humanist, who firmly believed in the metaphysics of the unity of being and turned the socio-psychological implications of this metaphysics into subjects of his impressive poetry. His voice repeats the echo of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and is the expression of the same spirit which can be felt in the poetic works of Baba Fareed, Shah Hussain, Baba Buleh Shah, Khushal Khan Khattak, Khawja Fareed and other Sufi poets of our region. There is no end to Shah Latif's admirers. Every Sindhi has the Saint's verses in his memory and can aptly use them in matters of every day business when the occasion arises. His writings have been critically studied and a number of books have been published on the life of Shah Latif, his poetry and message. Lately, the Pakistan Philosophical Congress organized a symposium on Shah Latif's philosophy and learned articles were read on his teachings. However, it goes without saying that Sain G.M. Syed was the most remarkable interpreter of Shah Latif. He as born and brought up in a world which had been nurtured by Shah Latif himself. In this respect, G.M. Syed appears to be a Second Coming of the great saint. G.M. Syed believes in the unity of being, in the unity of religions and also in an enlightened form of humanism. The great saint Shah Latif and Sain G.M. Syed, both deeply love Sindh, its language and people. They are both the celebrated sons of Sindh whom the people of Sindh venerate with and equal sense of pride. In this book, Syed Sahib has given a simple and direct version of his guru's poetry and teachings. The book guides us not only to correctly understand the message of one of the great eighteenth century Sufi intellectuals but also helps understand the soul that lurking the soil of Sindh since the ancient times of the Indus Valley Civilization. The book was originally written in Sindhi. We are indebted to Khadim Hussain Soomro Sahib who has made the book available in English language for a larger international readership. The English version is indeed a gift from Sindh to a trans-cultural world. Soomro Sahib deserves our congratulations for this service Kazy Javed 3 Dedication to the poet Whose thoughts, verses and expression arouse inspiration for independence our souls, hearts, mind and body. Sassi!, if you had died yesterday, you would have been united with your beloved. No one has heard any person achieving this objective without the sacrifice of his/her life. 4 Chapter 1 - Shah Latif and His Family Tree Any biographer of much significance has not yet comprehensively written the life and work of eminent mystic and national poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai of Sindh. However quite a few writers have bent their energies in this direction, of whom the following deserve special mention. Mir Abdul Hussain Khan Talpur, Mirza Qaleech Baig, laela Ram Watan Mal, Dr. Hotechand Gurbakhshani, Mr. Jeth Mal Parsram, Dr. J.H. Sorely, Maulvi Din Muhammad Wafai, Kalyan Advani and Ghulam Muhammad Shahwani. All these authors have exhibited a commendable spirit of dedication in their effort to highlight the life and work of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. Since the aim of "Shah Latif and His Message" is not merely to bring to the knowledge of the readers the life and work of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, but at the same time the understanding of the political and social message of Shah Sahib and at the same time develop its comprehensive understanding in the reader. Keeping this in view, it is not considered of great significance "to record the experiences and incidents related to his personal life, it is regarded adequate to introduce to the readers about his family background and a brief history of his life. The family of Syed Haider Ali, the son of Syed Amir Ali Herati is known in Sindh as "Sadaat Matyari. "Jarar Pota tribe is an honorable branch of this family. Shah Latif is the peerless scion of this eminent family. Sadaat Matyari traces its link with Jafar Saani al Havari, the son of Imam Moosa Kazim, and through this relationship, he is recognized as Kazmi. The genealogical history of Syed Haider Ali has revealed that, he came to India during the times of Amir Timur around 801 to 806 Hijra. Alter visiting various places, temporarily he settled in Halkandi (Present Hala) where he married the daughter of Arbab Shah Mohammed and Syed Amir Ali Sani was born to her. He had three sons: Syed Sharfuddin, Syed Ahmed and Syed Murtaza. The children of Sharfuddin came to be known as Pota and the children of Syed Ahmed were called Miran Pota through their relationships with Syed Ahmed son of Syed Al Syed Murtaza remained issue less. He came to be known, b, title of Shah Bharya, and he is entombed in his Mausoleum the north of Manjhand. Of the children of a aforementioned Sadaat most of people, after their short stay at Hala, settled in a small not far from Hala, on the roadside. Sometime back a pious man who was entirely given to the worship of God, used to serve travelers who came for a drink, for which, purpose he kept a pitcher full of water. For this reason this village known "Mat Waru Goth" (The Village of the Pitcher) later came to be known Matyari. During the height period of fame, the 'Sadaat' designated the village Matt. During this Persian period in which the letter sounding did not exist, due to that in writing, it came to be known Matalvi. In the same manner, another off-shoot of Kazmi Syed family settled in a village at the foot of Bhago Thoro mountain neighboring a village by the name of "Lak Waro Goth" or Lucky, who named this village Luck Alvi during the period of their glory. Consequently, this same village came to be known as "Sadaat Lak Alvi or Layari". The actual time when the above mentioned Sadaat left Hala to settle in Matyari cannot be established with any certainty. However, by the information available through the tradition one can presume the time between 830 H to 840 H. After their settlement in Matyari for a fairly long period of time, when their families began to flourish and the grew, ultimately, due to the paucity of sources of livelihood, mutual rivalries, domestic feuds, and due the defects of their customs and traditions, a fairly large number of families departed and settled in other villages. During the period of their Shah Latif and his message 5 settlement in Matyari these Sadaat split into four different tribes. These tribes are, known by names of 1. Jarar Pota 2. Baqeel Pota, 3. Moosa Pota 4. Moeen Pota. 1. Jarar Pota: This tribe derives its name from the title of its first venerable elder Syed Jalal known by the title of Jarar. At the chief of this tribe, in the city of Matyari, is Syed Ali Sher. Four members of this tribe achieved eminence as saints (or pious men). (A) Syed Shah Rukunuddin: He was a pious and venerable man, and had the honor to have gone through the early stages of his education in the hands Makhdoom Sahir (Sawai) Lanjar. Shah Ruknuddin's final resting- place is in Matyari. The exact year of his death is unknown. It is conjectured that he died somewhere between 350 Hijra to 380 Hijra. The tomb of Makhdoom Sahir Lanjar stands on an elevated near Unarpur Railway Station. (B) Syed Hashim Sakhi: Syed Hashim Sakhi achieved an honorable position through the learned men of the tribe, begins with his great grandfather Shah Ruknuddin. He died on Rabi-ul-Awal 1100 Hijiri. He is buried next to the tomb of Shah Ruknuddin. Every year a fair is held at his tomb on 14th Rabi-ul-Awal, in which devotees participate in thousands. Of his descendents, Pir Haji Baqadar Shah, at present occupies his seat of honor. (C). Syed Shah Abdul Karim: Syed Shah Abdul Karim was born in the city of Matyari, but as he gained in years he left the city and settled in the Bullary town, in the Tando Muhammad Khan Tehsil. These characteristics of sainthood, he received from Syed Abdul Quddus and Shah Ibrahim Bokhari, who was a holy man from the line of Qadria He also continued his visits to Makhdoom Nooh, the influence of which is quite evident in his life. Syed Shah Abdul Karim was a poet of great eminence, he enjoyed a great reputation because of his patience, and faith stories are related to his life in this connection. He died in Bullary and his tomb stands at this place. Every year, on the day of his death, 15 Ziqaad a fair is held, and from everywhere his devotees in thousands gather in this fair to honor him. During this fair, the Sajjada Nashin at his Shrine is Pir Mian Ghulam Haider Shah. (D). Syed Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai: Later in this book a brief life history, of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai will be related. This book has been written especially explain and illustrate his poetry, which primarily, consists of Ibbiyat. 2. Baqeel Pota: The members of this tribe are the descendents of Muhammad Baqar. Many saints and pious men have existed in this branch of the Sadaat Syed Shahmir Shah who was a reputed scholar and a man of great piety, related to Maulvi Muhammad Hashim Thatvi, came from this tribe.