Today’s discussion in class on Sufi poetry and its branches in revered Sufi temples across South Asia made me dig deeper into the written trails of Bulleh Shah and the message he preached centuries before I was born. The short post below reflects a commentary on the significance of one of his poems in the contemporary world.

 

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In my attempt to find out more about an incredibly inspiring sufi poet and thinker, I learned that even historians clash on particular points from Bulleh Shah’s life and origins. Many say he draws his roots from Uzbekistan and that a large part of his life has been preserved through oral legends that have kept his character alive. In addition to his poetry and philosophy strongly criticizing Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day, he was also a beacon of peace between Muslims and Sikhs in Punjab. As I read more on the way he interacted with the local communities, I found myself admiring his sense of mission more and more.

Bulleh Shah

What truly captured my attention was the applicability of his life philosophy, teachings and poetry on our contemporary world. Have we gone backwards?, I asked myself several times. Should we not know better? Should we not be wiser? After all, education should alleviate some clashes Bulleh Shah’s society faced. But the persistence of state-imposed beliefs and state-mandated rulings on what is right and wrong defies time. As if our beliefs are taken away from the sanctity of our inner struggles and put out in front of everyone. As if something deeply personal and intimate has become a communal ceremony and the state, as that uncle who knows more than he should, smiles contemptibly in the background. This is the line where the inner loses value and the outter gains on it, in my opinion.

In his poem called “Makkeh Gaya“, Bulleh Shah depicts the purity of beliefs as opposed to the mainstream representation of the pinnacle of religious devotion.

 

Going to Makkah is not the ultimate,

Even if hundreds of prayers are offered.

Going to River Ganges is not the ultimate,

Even if hundreds of cleansing (Baptisms) are done.

…

Bulleh Shah the ultimate is

When the “I” is removed from the heart!

(An excerpt from “Makkeh Gaya” poem)

 

What I found fascinating within these lyrics is the concept of true belief that is juxtaposed to the outward depiction of such a belief. To illustrate the essence of Shah’s words, this true belief is not confined by sacred pilgrimages that many ‘believes’ do to show the world what the climax of their belief is. The true belief, as written by Bulleh Shah above, is hidden within one and it represents an internal struggle that is not visible to the human eye nor a battle that is to be shown to others.

I do want to stress on the fact that pilgrimage to Mekkah in Islam is one of the five pillars and should be done at least once in the lifetime, however Bulleh Shah points to the societal ramifications of such outward actions of inner beliefs that can be controversial. The outward representation might be there with the inner emptiness. This is what Bulleh Shah is pointing to. The outer representation is never more important than the inner struggle and the purity of inner beliefs. And this is, in my opinion, what he advocates.

I found this particular poem fascinating as it was written centuries ago and can still be applied to the world we live in. The famous Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan melodiously translates Bulleh Shah’s poetry into a powerful musical experience:

 

 

The collaboration between age-old lyrics and music that intertwines our contemporary times with sufi roots sounds truly amazing. As long as the message of Bulleh Shah is still present, the impact of his words prevails in a discord between the purity of inward and outward beliefs that many believers live through, especially in societies where the outward depictions of religion are still state-mandated.

I want to see a day where the message of Bulleh Shah, such as the poem I chose for this blog, comes naturally to the growth and prosperity of our contemporary society.

 

 

Resources:

Sufi Poetry: The Biography of Bulleh Shah (source)

Shah, Bulleh; “Makkeh Gaya” (poem)

Khan, Nusrat Fateh Ali, “Makkeh Gaya” (song)