Waris Shah

[faqir]

as-salamu 'alaikum

I am interested in finding out more about Waris Shah - the author of the Indian Romeo and Juliet - 'Heer Ranjha'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waris_Shah

[a film - probably made by some Hindus is due to be released where the Bhangra musician Gurdas Maan plays Waris Shah]

the Hindus call him the 'first secular poet of Punjab who sang full-throatedly about Punjab and Punjabiat and left a writing which is the soulful passionate expression of the Punjabi psyche, culture and aspirations. '

also, if anyone knows about Pir Makhdum of Kasur could they please share their knowledge.




Awal hamad khuda da vird keeje
Ishq kita su jag da mool mian
Pehlan aap hi rabb ne ishq kita
Te mashooq he nabi rasool mian...

"First of all let us acknowledge God (who is self-evident),
who has made love the worth of the world Sir,
It was God Himself that first loved,
and the prophet (Muhammad (SW)) is His beloved Sir"

[naqshbandijamaati]

He is a great wali of Allah who wrote beautiful punjabi naats and manqabats and much sufi poetry. he also versified the story of Heer Ranjha as a metaphor for Divine Love for the salik on the Path.


He is popular in both Pakistani and Indian Punjab although in Indian punjab the sikhs emphasise the sensual aspects of his sufi poetry more than the spiritual; vice-versa in Pakistan.

[Wadood]

Sayyiduna Shaykh Warith Shah is an immense personality, an immense wali of Allah I cannot imagine

His sufi poetry narrated to me in translation is so beautiful, that it reminds of of Sayyiduna Imam JalaludDin Rumi

[Wadood]

Kasur had been a Muslim Khanate during the Sikh rule of Punjab. Kasur is the place of immense Awliya Allah.

One of whom is Sayyiduna Bulley Shah

His poetry in praise of Islam is even more popular among the common sunni Muslims of the villages whose lives revolve around the Mausoleums of Awliya Allah in Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh.

Sayyiduna Warith Shah is in Sheikhupura to the west of Lahore a city Shaykh Nuh visits so often

[faqir]

as-salamu 'alaikum

jazakallah khairan

who is Pir Makhdum? also, have you seen any scholarly praise for Warith Shah and if so could you share?

has anyone read heer ranjha?

[naqshbandijamaati]

Sidi Faqir,
I have read bits of Heer in the original and a complete abridged English translation. Sadly the translation by an Orientalist removed most of the references to Islam and spiriituality.

In the text Ranjha asks the 'Five Pirs' [panj pir] for help [istiaanat and Istimdaad] and they appear to him spiritually and advise him. I've always wondered who these 5 are? I think one of them was Sayyidina Ghawth al Azam

Also, the Panjabi original has entire initial sections devoted to hamd, naat, manqabats of the Khulafa e Rashideen, Ahlul Bayt, etc before the actual story of Heer and Ranjha begins...

You can read it online in Urdu script [though the language is panjabi]
here:
http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/heercomp/

An accurate synopsis can be found on wiki:

Plot summary

Heer is an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy Jatt family of the Sayyal clan. Ranjha (whose first name is Dheedo; Ranjha is the surname), also a Jatt, is the youngest of four brothers and lives in the village 'Takht Hazara' by the river Chenab. Being his father's favorite son, unlike his brothers who had to toil in the lands, he led a life of ease playing the flute ('Wanjhli'/'Bansuri'). After a quarrel with his brothers over land, Ranjha leaves home. In Waris Shah's version of the epic, it is said that Ranjha left his home because his brothers' wives refused to give him food. Eventually he arrives in Heer's village and falls in love with her. Heer offers Ranjha a job as caretaker of her father's cattle. She becomes mesmerised by the way Ranjha plays his flute and eventually falls in love with him. They meet each other secretly for many years until they are caught by Heer's jealous uncle, Kaido, and her parents Chuchak and Malki. Heer is forced by her family and the local priest or 'mullah' to marry another man called Saida Khera.

Ranjha is heartbroken. He is left to walk the quiet villages on his own until eventually he meets a 'Jogi' (ascetic). After meeting Baba Gorakhnath, the founder of the "Kanphata"(pierced ear) sect of ascetics('Jogis'), at 'Tilla Jogian' (the 'Hill of Ascetics', located 50 miles north of the historic town of Bhera, Sargodha District, Punjab (Pakistan)), Ranjha voluntarily becomes a Jogi, piercing his ears and renouncing the material world. Reciting the name of the Lord, "Alakh Niranjan", on his travels around the Punjab, he eventually finds the village where he is reunited with Heer.

The two return to Heer's village, where Heer's parents agree to their marriage. However, on the wedding day, Heer's jealous uncle Kaido poisons her food so that the wedding will not take place. Hearing this news, Ranjha rushes to aid Heer, but he is too late, as she has already eaten the poison and died. Brokenhearted once again, Ranjha takes the poisoned Laddu (sweet) which Heer has eaten and dies by her side.

Heer and Ranjha are buried in a Punjabi town in Pakistan called Jhang, Punjab. Lovers and others often pay visits to their mausoleum.

[naqshbandijamaati]

Here is my first attempt at translating the opening verse of Sayyid Waris Shah's Heer Ranjha:

1. Avval hamd Khuda da vird kejiye, ‘ishq keeta sau jad da mol miyan
Pehle aap hii Rabb ne ishq keeta, ma’shooq hai Nabi Rasool miyan
Ishq pir faqir da martaba hai, mard ishq da bhala ranjool miyan
Khulay tanhaa naday baagh qaloob andar, jinhaan keeta hai ishq qabool miyan

First chant the praise of God, who made Love the price of the world, Sir.
It was God Himself who first loved; the Prophet was His beloved, Sir.
Love is the station of the saints, the man of love is outwardly sad, Sir
Inside alone in their hearts are streams, gardens; those who have accepted Love, Sir.

note that the word translated as Love is 'ishq in the original--a word which means ardent, passionate love. I think this quatrain has a myriad of deep sufi meanings which can be discussed...

[faqir]

love it

[Khaadim al-Mustafa]

Do you know any Islamic Punjabi resources online? All Punjabi material I've found is made by Sikhs who use Gurmukhi script. I'm now studying Arabic, Turkish and Urdu in Helsinki university and I'd like to learn Urdu and Punjabi well. I especially like naats and other Islamic poetry.

[naqshbandijamaati]

Wow! Helsinki University has Urdu Studies?!!
BTW what is Helsinki like to live in? It is supposed to be a 'cool' city.

apnaorg.com has panjabi sufi kalam in urdu script.