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Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (Sindhi: شاه عبداللطيف ڀٽائي; 1689/1690 – 21 December 1752), commonly known by the honorifics Lakhino Latif, Latif Ghot, Bhittai, and Bhit Jo Shah, was a Sindhi Sufi mystic and poet from Pakistan, widely considered to be the greatest poet of the Sindhi language. Born to a Kazmi Sayyid family of Hala Haweli originating from Herat,[13][14][15] near modern-day Hala, Bhittai grew up in the nearby town of Kotri Mughal. At the age of around 20, he left home and traveled throughout Sindh and neighboring lands, and met many mystics and Jogis, whose influence is evident in his poetry. Returning home after three years, he was married into an aristocratic family, but was widowed shortly afterwards and did not remarry. His piety and spirituality attracted a large following as well as the hostility of a few. Spending the last years of his life at Bhit (Bhit Shah), he died in 1752. A mausoleum was built over his grave in subsequent years and became a popular pilgrimage site. His poems were compiled by his disciples in his Shah Jo Risalo. It was first published in 1866. Several Urdu and English translations of the work have been published since. Bhittai's poetry is popular among the people of Sindh and he is venerated throughout the province. LifeTuhfat al-Kiram and Maqalat al-shu'ara, written by Mir Ali Sher Qani Thattvi, a contemporary of Shah Abdul Latif, some fifteen years after the death of the poet, gives some basic details of his life. Other than these, however, few written records exist from the early period and most of what has been reported about his ife was transmitted orally through generations. The oral traditions were collected and documented in the late 19th century by Mirza Qalich Beg and Mir Abd al-Husayn Sangi. Together with Thattwi's works, these form the basis for the outline of the poet's life.[16][17] Bhittai was born in 1689 or 1690 in Hala Haweli near modern-day Hala,[18][19] to Shah Habib, a great-grandson of the Sufi poet Shah Abdul Karim Bulri.[16] His ancestors traced their lineage back to the fourth caliph Ali and Fatima, the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. They had emigrated to Sindh from Herat during the late 14th century.[20] He was born as one of the privileged classes treated with reverence and superstition.[21] Bhittai spent the early years of his childhood in Hala Haweli, but the family then relocated to the nearby town of Kotri Mughal.[18] Local tradition holds that he was illiterate, however his use of Arabic and Persian in his poetry and the evident influence of the Persian poet Rumi on his thought show that he was well educated.[22][23] According to Nabi Bakhsh Baloch, Bhittai was socialized in a religious culture dominated by Sayyid sages and in spaces dotted with graves and tombs of saints.[24] At the age of around 20, he fell in love with Saida Begum, a daughter of an Arghun aristocrat of Kotri Mughal, Mirza Mughal Beg, which landed Bhittai's family in trouble and caused them return to Hala Haweli. Her love, however, had a deep impact on young Bhittai and he left home wandering deserts and embarking on travel through Sindh and adjacent lands.[25][26] However this unorthodox view of Bhittai's life has been challenged by Nabi Bakhsh Baloch who has said that Bhittai did not fall in love but his father had already married from this Arghun clan,[27] this is more in line with the era and Bhittai's sociality. According to Motilal Jotwani, it was perhaps during these travels that his poetic nature came to the fore.[28] He mentions the places he visited in his poems. First he went to Ganjo Hill near what is now Hyderabad, thereafter traveling to Kalachi (modern Karachi) through Thatta and Banbhore. On the journey he met Jogis and accompanied them to Hinglaj in the mountains of southern Balochistan. On his return east, he visited Lahut in Lasbela, and then travelled across to Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagadh, and several other places in the Kutch region. Returning west, he visited Karoonjhar Mountains in Nagarparkar. Parting ways with the Jogis in Thar, he went to Jaisalmer before returning to Thatta and then home. His travels seem to have had a strong influence on his poetry.[29]
 Bhittai returned home after three years.[26] In 1713 Mirza Mughal Beg (son of Mirza Jani Beg),[31] was killed while in pursuit of robbers who had looted his house. After this incident, Bhittai was married to Saida Begum, the woman whom he had been in love with. The marriage did not result in any offspring and Saida Begum died a few years into the marriage. Bhittai did not remarry and remained childless his entire life.[32][26] He now seems to have settled down and devoted to prayer and worship. His piety attracted a large following, which reportedly earned him the hostility of nobles and Noor Mohammad Kalhoro, the ruler of Sindh, who is said to have unsuccessfully tried to assassinate him by poisoning.[33] Some ten years before his death, Bhittai left his home, relocating to a sandhill a few miles from Hala Haweli, which later became known as Bhit Shah (Mound of Shah), hence his title Bhittai (the dweller of Bhit).[34] Bhittai died at Bhit on 21 December 1752 (14 Safar 1166 AH) at the age of 63[16] and was buried there.[35] A tomb was built over his grave by the then ruler of Sindh Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro in 1754,[22] or 1765.[36] AccquaintancesDuring his life, Bhittai visited and frequented many orthodox Sunni theologians such as Muhammad Hashim Thattvi (a Qadri), Khawaja Muhammad Zaman of Luari (a Naqshbandi), and Muhammad Muin Thattvi (a Naqshbandi).[37][38] Muhammad Muin Thattvi was a Murid in the Naqshbandi Tariqa of Mian Abu'l Qasim Naqshbandi. He was a great theologian, scholar and Sufi of his time. Muhammad Muin Thattvi and Bhittai were close friends. Bhittai often relied and trusted on Muin's theological, jurisprudential and Shari'i knowledge.[39] Risalah-i-OwaisiNabi Bakhsh Baloch during his academic career and research on Bhittai reproduced this Persian letter known as "Risalah-i-Owaisi" which Bhittai sent to Muhammad Muin Thattvi asking about jurisprudential matters.[40][41] In the letter, Bhittai asks Muhammad Muin regarding if the Islamic law (Shari'ah) allows the Owaisi type of transmission in silsila without need for the presence of a physical Murshid to receive silsila from. Bhittai presents five questions in the letter. Bhittai starts off by addressing and asking Muhammad Muin about the opinion of the "Ulama-i-Kiram" regarding the word "Owaisi" which appears in some poems of the Sufis. Bhittai asks in the second question if it is logical and allowed by Shari'ah to take one who is already in the Barzakh as a Murshid. In the third question, Bhittai asks if the "Ulama (theologians)" are opposed to the perspectives of Faqr (asceticism) and Sulook (Sufi path) or not. Bhittai in the fourth question asks regarding and providing a example of a great Wali who does miracles (karamat) and has Murids but he is not associated to any major tariqah (Bhittai gives the example of Naqshbandi and Qadri), so he questions if this can be seen as the Wali's weakness and no foundation within Tariqa. In the fifth question, Bhittai concludes by saying that he asks the scholars of the faith who separate falsehood from truth regarding these questions and hopes for a answer. He also states he has written the letter in simple Persian so that common people may benefit from the letter and makes a short prayer of well-being for Muhammad Muin.[42] Muhammad Muin begins his response to Bhittai's letter by sending blessings upon Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Sahabah (companions). He answers the first question by stating that the term "Owaisi" is for those who gain spiritual guidance from souls. His answer to the second question states that it is allowed by logic and Shari'ah to take someone who has passed away as a Murshid and states many great Saints have done such and this is common among Sufis. He states in the third question's answer that opposition of the sayings of theologians to the perspectives of "Faqr" and "Sulook" are meaningless as in the Shari'ah there is a exception for "Faqr" and "Sulook". In the fourth question's answer, he states that many saints have been in history who did not have a notable silsila and states that these "friends of Allah" spent their life in no fame or notability but were saints, he continues and speaks of Imam Ya'fi's book "Rawdh al-Riyaheen" and says that there is much mention of such saints in the book along with their silsilahs, he also states that men like Hafez's Murshids are not well known and cites Jami to say that there is no obligation for a saint or Sufi to have a manifest Murshid and to say that these saint's Turooq are without foundation is blasphemy. In the answer to the fifth question, he states that research in theology is good to clarify matters and ends off his letter response with his name and mention of himself as a unknowledgeable one.[43] Poetry Bhittai's poetry is mainly Sufi in nature and deeply religious. He connects the traditional folk tales with the divine love.[19] The poems, known locally as bayt (pl. abyat) and similar in form to the Indian doha,[16] are lyrical, are intended for a musical performance,[44] and are usually compact.[45]
In addition, he has also used a bit more relaxed format called wa'i.[16]
Bhittai is said to have always kept with him the Qur'an, Karim jo Risalo, and the Mathnawi of Rumi.[46] He seems to have been significantly influenced by the latter;[47] sometimes he reflects his ideas and sometimes translates his verses in his poems.[48][49]
Bhittai has emphasized that the Sufi should stick to Shari'ah and Ma'arifah (gnosis) in his poetry:[51][52]
Abu Sa'id Abu'l-Khayr, a Persian poet and Sufi mystic (967–1049), has expressed similar idea in his verses which is also quite famously attributed to Rumi:[50]
 During Bhittai's lifetime, Sindh transitioned from Delhi-based Mughal rule to the local Kalhora dynasty. During the later part of Bhittai's life, Nadir Shah Afshar sacked Delhi and made Sindh his tributary. Bhittai also witnessed Ahmad Shah Durrani's attack on Delhi and his subjection of Sindh to Afghan rule. Despite all this, his poetry is devoid of any mention of these upheavals or the political landscape of his time in general. H. T. Sorley has attributed this to his interest in "eternal verities" and indifference to "transient phenomena" and "petty wars".[35] RisaloBhittai's poetry was not written down during his lifetime, but was sung and memorized by his disciples during the musical sessions (Rag) that he used to hold.[54] The poems were compiled after his death into a collection called Shah Jo Risalo (the Book of Shah).[55] The Risalo was first published in 1866 by the German philologist Ernest Trumpp. It contains thirty chapters, called Sur, each focusing on a particular musical mode.[56] Each Sur is further divided into sections, dastan (story) or fasl (chapter), which contain similarly themed abyat. Each section ends with one or more wa'is.[16] Some Surs focus on folk tales of Sindh such as Sassui Punhun, Sohni Mehar, Umar Marui, and Lilan Chanesar, whereas others, like Sur Asa and Sur Yaman Kalyan, describe the mystical moods and ideal traditional lover. Sur Sarang is devoted to the praise of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, while Sur Kedaro laments the death of Muhammad's grandson, and Bhittai's ancestor, Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680.[56] Sur Kedaro has been said by some prominent scholars of Shah's poetry such as Nabi Bakhsh Baloch, Din Muhammad Wafai and Ghulam Muhammad Shahwani to have come from a external source rather than Shah himself.[57][58][59][60] Since the first edition of the Risalo, several other editions have been published by various scholars including Mirza Qalich Beg, Hotchand Molchand Gurbakhshani, Ghulam Muhammad Shahvani, Kalyan Advani, and Nabi Bakhsh Baloch. Urdu translations have been published by Shaikh Ayaz, and Ayaz Husayn Qadiri and Sayyid Vaqar Ahmad Rizvi. The first partial English translation of the Risalo was published by H. T. Sorley in 1940, followed by Elsa Kazi, and Ghulam Ali Allana. Complete translations have been published by Muhammad Yakoob Agha, Amena Khamisani, and others. Early manuscripts of the Risalo as well as published editions show considerable differences in the content. The most widely accepted version has some 3,000 abyat and 200 wa'is.[16] Religious beliefsBhittai's poetry gives great indications and explicit words of what he believed in, regarding theological and religious matters. The very first verses of his Risalo in Sur Kalyan state his explicit monotheistic beliefs and belief that this world was made only for the Prophet, a common belief among Sunni Sufis.[61] He states:
It also shows that he believes that none of the early Muslims went astray after accepting Islam directly from the Prophet Muhammad. In another excerpt from Sur Kalyan, he talks about the "4 companions", Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, he states:
In another excerpt from Sur Kalyan, Bhittai talks about true lovers of God solely are Muslims, having been immersed in Allah and declared the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad. He states:
Bhittai in a long verse also expresses his adamant hope in the intercession of Prophet Muhammad and talks about how all shalt be saved by his intercession and given refuge in him. He states:
In a excerpt from Sur Bilawal, Bhittai talks through the perspective of a oppressed and weak man. He calls for Ali Shah to come and behead "the fire-worshipper". He states:
Bhittai also expresses admiration for the bravery and chivalry of Ali in his poems, glorifying his battle-stance and bravery in the battlefield. He states:
In apparent manner (prayer, and beliefs), like his forefathers, he was a Sunni and held respect and consideration for all sects. He revered the Prophet Muhammad immensely, and he revered the companions of him and revered the Imams as well.[74] Bhittai also prayed with his hands on his chest like a Hanafi Sunni.[75] TariqahBhittai gave Bay'ah in the Qadiriyyah Tariqah to his father Shah Habib.[76][77] His Silsilah is as follows:[78][79]
The Qadiri Silsilah of the family of Bhittai began with Shah Abdul Karim Bulri's bay'ah to a Qadiri sage and Saint, "Sultan Ibrahim Shah Bukhari". It becomes clear that after this bay'ah to Sultan Ibrahim Shah Bukhari, the family remained Qadiri onwards.[80][81][82][83] GenealogyBhittai's genealogy goes back to Musa al-Kazim. The Sayyids of Matiari (Sadaat Matiari) descend from Syed Haider Ali whose ancestors migrated from Herat sometime around the Timurid era, Syed Haider Ali initially settled in Hala, Sindh but his descendants migrated to Matiari predominantly, during the period of settlement in Matiari, the Sayyids of Matiari divided into 4 branches (due to rivalry and disputes), namely: Jarar Pota, Baqeel Pota, Moosa Pota, Moeen Pota.[84] Bhittai and his ancestor Shah Abdul Karim Bulri belonged to the Jararpota Branch of the Sayyids of Matiari,[85] this branch also produced many other holy men and Saints.[86] His genealogy is as follows:[87]
LegacyBhittai is regarded as the greatest Sufi poet of the Sindhi language[16][26] and the national poet of Sindh.[88] According to the orientalist Annemarie Schimmel, he is "The most outstanding master of popular Sufi poetry in Pakistan."[89] According to Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Bhittai's Risalo has been compared with Rumi's Mathnawi, and Bhittai represents "direct emanations of Rūmī's spirituality in the Indian world."[47] Every Thursday evening, Bhittai's poetry is sung by traditional musicians and dervishes at the shrine in a typical ecstatic style. The performance is commonly referred to as Shah jo Rag (Shah's music).[16][36] Popular cultureBhittai's poetry is popular among the Sindhi people, including both Muslims and Hindus. Bhittai's own connections with Jogis and Sanyasis may have contributed to this. The folk tales narrated in the Surs of the Risalo are frequently recounted and sung to children.[88] Many anecdotes about Bhittai of a haigographical nature are famous among the locals. One such story holds that when he was being taught the alphabet, he refused to learn anything beyond the letter Alif for it signifies the name of God (Allah) and there is nothing of value beyond it.[35] Another story of this kind asserts that his followers presented him a written copy of the Risalo, which he threw away in the nearby Kirar lake after having read it. When the followers protested, he allowed them to rewrite the entire Risalo by narrating it from his memory.[90] His tomb is a popular pilgrimage site in Sindh.[88] UrsThe Urs, an annual commemoration of his death, occurs on 14 Safar, the second month of the Hijra calendar. The ceremony, which lasts for three days, features prayers, music, exhibitions, literary conferences, and horse races. People visit the shrine from all over the province.[91][92] A 16-foot-high statue of Bhittai was erected in front of the Bhit Shah rest house on the occasion of his 274th Urs in 2017.[93] See alsoNotesReferences
Bibliography
External linksBiographies
Poetry
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