Baba Bullhe Shah

He was born in 1680 A.D., in a village "Uch Gillaniyan" District Bhawalpur, Punjab (Pakistan). His birth-name was Syed Abdullah. His father's name was Syed Sakhi Shah Mohammad, and was an Islamic Scholar. Baba Bullhe Shah was a descendent of the Holy Prophet. Also his family chain reaches to Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani after 14 ancestral connections in between. Bullhe Shah's family moved to "Malakwal" & lived some years there, and then moved to "Panduke".

Baba Bullhe Shah got his primary education from his own father, and then his father sent him in "Kasur" city for higher education. There he studied in the madrasa (religious school) of Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza, where he studied Arabic, Farsi, Sanskrit & Islamic education. Baba Bullhe Shah wasn't satisfied from his education, he felt as he is missing something. One night a dervish appeared in his dream & said: "Go to Lahore, there is a Sufi "Shah Inayat Qadri", you should meet him." Bullhe Shah told his father about the dream & asked permission to go to Lahore, which he granted him.

Baba Bullhe Shah met Shah Inayat Qadri in Lahore. Shah Inayat was khalifa (spiritual hier) in Qadriya & Shatariya Sufi Orders, so Bullhe Shah entered into both of the Sufi Orders after taking Bay't from him. After becoming disciple of Shah Inayat Qadri, Bullhe Shah was told by him to go to Jhang city for Chillakashi (Spiritual contemplations). After reaching Jhang city, Bullhe Shah stayed near river Chanab, there he built a closet to live. He performed very tough spiritual contemplations for long time, by fasting every day, sleeping less & living alone. He lived there for six years alone, by performing tough spiritual contemplations. Shah Inayat Qadri called him after six years, to finish his Chillakashi (spiritual contemplations) and come back to Lahore. So he left Jhang city for Lahore. Bullhe Shah was very much changed after living six years in very much tough conditions, he often was thrown into Jazb (ecstasy). And also during that period, he felt a great devotion for the Holy Prophet. When he reached to Lahore, first he went to the tomb of Ali Hajveri & stood before Ali Hajveri's grave respectfully, there he was thrown into Jazb (ecstacy), and started reciting devoted poetry for the Holy Prophet. Baba Bullhe Shah's couplets were so effective, that all of the visitors' eyes turned wet from tears.

Then, from there, Baba Bullhe Shah went to his teacher Shah Inayat Qadri, who embraced him with love. And asked about his spiritual condition. Bullhe Shah replied that he is restless to meet the Holy Prophet, and he asked permission from Shah Inayat to go to Madina & visit the tomb of the Holy Prophet. Shah Inayat replied: "Abdullah! You'll get answer after three days". On third night, The Holy Prophet came into the dream of Bullhe Shah & met him. In the morning, Bullhe Shah went to Shah Inayat, he smiled to see him as he knows what Bulleh Shah seen in the dream. Bullhe Shah fell on the feet of Shah Inayat, and he hugged him with love. Then Shah Inayat told him to go to his parents in "Panduke", as they are restless to see him for so many years. Bullhe Shah then left Lahore & went to his parents.

Soon his father died & then his mother. Bullhe Shah & his elder sister were the only family members left. Later, Baba Bullhe Shah planned to build his Khanqah (Spiritual Convent) there, and for this purpose he hired some labourers on daily wages basis. The villagers of "Panduke" as well as the landlords were against Baba Bullhe Shah, as they weren't familiar to Sufism, and believed that Bullhe Shah is living his life against Islamic Law. So people started to harrass him by using different methods, but Bullhe Shah tolerated them peacefully.

The villagers jested over Bullhe Shah, when he planned to build Khanqah (Spiritual Convent). People believed that Bullhe Shah is a poor person & could not pay to the labourers, but Bullhe Shah ignored them. Soon the work started on Bullhe Shah's project. The labourers were used to work during the day time, and then after finishing the work in the evening, they used to go to Bullhe Shah's room to collect their wages. And Bullhe Shah used to pay them one by one, by taking his hand under the praying rug, on which he would be sitting at that time. Some of the labourers believed that there could be a big amount of money under the praying rug of Bullhe Shah, as he daily pays them by taking money from there. So after few days, two labourers planned to steal the money from there, and they waited for the proper time.

One night, both of the them went to Bullhe Shah's room when he wasn't there. And pulled out the praying rug to find the money, but they found nothing under, but the floor. They weren't satisfied, and thought that may be some treasure could be buried there, so they started to dig the floor. They dug the floor whole night, but found nothing. Therefore, before Fajr prayer (early dawn prayer), they left disappointedly. In the morning they come along with other labourers at work, so that no one could doubt on them. After working whole day, when they went to Bullhe Shah's room to collect their wages, Bullhe Shah's paid them double by saying: "Others work during the daytime, but you both worked last night too, so I'm paying you double." Both of them felt ashamed, and fell on the feet of Bullhe Shah and apologized, they also became his disciples. Soon after that, Bullhe Shah's fame spread all around the village, many people became devotees of Baba Bullhe Shah.

After the death of the Mughal ruler of India "Aurangzaib Alamgir" in 1707 A.D., Sikhs decided to invade Multan, as Aurangzaib Alamgir was a briliant Mughal ruler & during his lifetime no one dared to attack any of his ruling state. But after his death, many rebels took place. And the Sikh decided to invade Multan. During that time one Sikh was passing by Panduke village to meet some of his relatives, when he reached near Panduke, some employees of the landlords severly beat him, Bullhe Shah came to save him, but they also misbehaved with Bullhe Shah. Later that Sikh went back & told the commander of Sikh soldiers who were going to invade Multan, that people of Panduke tried to kill him. Sikhs were enraged & attacked Panduke. They massacred almost all of the villagers. But before that incident, Bullhe Shah left the village with his sister & disciples. He was a Sufi Saint, and knew that how a great mistake the landlords' employees were making, so he tried to prevent them to make that mistake, but in stead they misbehaved with him. And after Bullhe Shah's leaving of Panduke, Sikhs attacked that village & massacred all of the villagers, including the landlords.

Bullhe Shah then arrived in Lahore & went to Shah Inayat Qadri's Khanqah (Spiritual Convent). He lived there for some period & continued his spiritual journey. Then according to Shah Inayat's command, he went to "Kasur" city. At that time, the ratio of crimes was very high in Kasur. So after reaching there, Bullhe Shah understood that why Shah Inayat sent him to Kasur. Baba Bullhe Shah built his Khanqah (Spiritual Convent) there & started to preach tassawuf (Sufism), and soon people started to visit his Convent in large numbers, and the crime rate started to fall down. Many of the criminals became righteous by the spiritual preaching of Baba Bullhe Shah.

Bullhe Shah was fond of Sama' (Sufi music), Sufi musicians daily played music in his Khanqah (Spiritual Convent), and he was often thrown into Jazb (ecstasy) by listening to the sufi music, and started to recite couplets. Some people were against Bullhe Shah as well, because they thought that listening to music is an Un-Islamic act, that's why they complained the Islamic Scholars of Kasur about him. At that time Kasur was ruled by Afghans, and they were also opponents of Bullhe Shah. So one day, the Afghans came to the Khanqah (Spiritual Convent) of Bullhe Shah, when Bullhe Shah was listening to the Sufi music with his disciples. The Afghans were fully armed, they attacked the disciples of Bullhe Shah by beating them. Bullhe Shah was in the state of Jazb (ecstasy) at that time, and when he came to his senses, he warned the Afghans to fear from God's revange, but they replied that music is an Un-Islamic act, so they aren't afraid to go against it. The disciples left the place after being beaten by the Afghans, and were afraid to visit the Khanqah any more.

Soon after that incident, some armed forces invaded Kasur & killed the Afghan rulers, took away all of their treasures, and then left. But till today it wasn't known that who were they & from where did they come! Till today it's a mystery.

After that incident Bullhe Shah continued his job, and his disciples started to visit his Khanqah (Spiritual Convent) to listen to the Sufi music.

Ghulam Murtaza, who was an Islamic Scholar, and former teacher of Bullhe Shah, once visited Bullhe Shah's Khanqah (Spiritual Convent), and said: "It was my wish that you would become a Scholar, but you've chosen to become a Sufi!!! I've come today to you, to listen to your couplets, as I've come to know that you are a great poet". Baba Bullhe Shah downed his head & recited a couplet:

"Alif", with Allah, my heart recites

I don't know anything about "Bay"

(Meaning: "Alif" is the first Alphabet in Arabic, Farsi & Urdu etc., and "Bay" is the second, so in that couplet Bullhe Shah says that he is lost in the One-ness of God, and nothing else is in his heart besides God)

After that, Ghulam Murtaza started to visit Bullhe Shah's Khanqah (Spiritual Convent) punctually.

Once Shah Inayat Qadri's close relative arrived Kasur, and wanted to visited Bullhe Shah. But on the same day there was wedding of Ghulam Murtaza's daughter, so Bullhe Shah went to attend the wedding, and Shah Inayat's relative misunderstood him. And after reaching back to Lahore, he told Shah Inayat that Bullhe Shah completely ignored him. After knowing that, Shah Inayat turned angry & took away all Spiritual powers & abilities of Bullhe Shah. Bullhe Shah knew about it, and became sad. He left Kasur to go to Lahore, and went to meet Shah Inayat, but he refused to meet him. Bullhe Shah became insane, as he loved his spiritual teacher so much, but he was ignoring Bullhe Shah.

Then Bullhe Shah left Lahore & went to India, as Shah Inayat's Murshid (Spiritual teacher) was Shaikh Mohammad Ghaus Gwalior, whose tomb is in Gwalior (India). Bullhe Shah knew that Shah Inayat loves his spiritual teacher as much as Bullhe Shah himself loves Shah Inayat, so he went to Shaikh Ghaus Gwalior's tomb for seeking his spiritual help to convince Shah Inayat to be friendly & loving to him as before. Also the Urs (death anniversary celebration) of Ghaus Gwalior was near, and Shah Inayat used to attend that celebration every year. So when the celebration started, Shah Inayat came there. Bullhe Shah was already there, and he disguised himself as a female Sufi Musician by wearing female's cloths & covering his face by scarf, so that Shah Inayat couldn't recognize him. So when Shah Inayat arrived at the tomb, Bullhe Shah started to sing his famous Sufi Poetry:

Tere Ishq Nachaya Kar Ke Thayya Thayya

Cheti A'vi We Tabiba Nai Te Main Mar Gayyan

Translation of complete poetry:

O Physician, come back! my life is ebbing away.
Compelled by love, I dance, I dance.

This love has set up camp inside me.
It is I, who filled the cup with this poison and drank it.
Come back right away, else, I will surely die.
Compelled by love, I dance, I dance.

The sun has set, its glow remains.
Grant me a sight of you again! I would die for it!
What a mistake I made, not going with you.
Compelled by love I dance, I dance.

Mother do not bar me from this love.
Whoever turns back unloaded boats that have left?
How foolish I was, not going with the boatman.
Compelled by love I dance, I dance.

Peacocks sing in the groves of love.
My beautiful beloved is my Ka'ba, my Qibla.
He injured me, then turned away.
Compelled by love I dance, I dance.

Bullhe Shah, I sit at Inayat’s door,
He clothed me in robes of green and red.
When I stamped my heel, I found him.
Compelled by love I dance, I dance.

When Bullhe Shah finished his singing, Shah Inayat stood before him & said: "I know that you are my Bullha!" Bullhe Shah fell on his feet. Shah Inayat got him up & embraced him with love. After that Bullhe Shah regained all of his Spiritual Powers & Abilities, even more than earlier, and his spiritual journey touched to the highest levels.

It was routine in Shah Inayat's Khanqah (Spiritual Convent) that every day the Langar (meal) was distributed among the poor & needy people. And Shah Inayat used to distribute the Langar (meal) to them by himself. One day Shah Inayat asked Bullhe Shah to distribute the Langar (food). Bullhe Shah asked: "Should I distribute the meal in the method of God or in the method of the Holy Prophet?" Shah Inayat replied: "Distribute the meal in God's method". So Bullhe Shah distributed all the meal, gave some people in excess, some people got very little quantity, and some of them got nothing at all. Shah Inayat was surprisingly looking at Bullhe Shah, when the distribution was completed, Shah Inayat asked Bullhe Shah: "What kind of distribution that was?" Bullhe Shah replied: "You told me to distribute the meal on God's method, and I did so. Because God also gives some people too much, and some people get very little from Him, and some of them get nothing." Shah Inayat smiled after listening to Bullhe Shah's explanation.

After Shah Inayat's death, Bullhe Shah lived permanently in Kasur.

Baba Bullhe Shah died on 1758 A.D. His tomb is in Qasur city of Punjab (Pakistan).

 

Some Selected Couplets of Baba Bullhe Shah:

 

Hold tight to this point, forget your calculations
Leave the miserable state of unbelief,
Do not torment yourself with the fear of death and hell,
For these are imaginary fears.
Only into such a house will the truth enter.
At this one point, all talk ends.