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Sachal Sarmast | |
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سچل سرمست | |
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| Title |
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| Personal life | |
| Born | Abdul Wahab Farooqi c. 1739CE |
| Died | 1825(1825-00-00) (aged 85–86) |
| Flourished | Talpur period |
| Parent |
|
| Notable work(s) | "Sachal jo Kalam, Diwan-i-Ashkar, Masnavi-Namas, Diwan-i-Khudai, Nukta-i-Tasawwuf"[2] |
| Other names | Sacho Sarmast, Shah Daraz, Ishq jo Otar, Sultan ul-Arifeen |
| Pen name | Sachal |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam[3][4] |
| Denomination | Sunni[5][6] |
| Order | Shah Darazi (Silsilah ofQadiriyyah) |
| Philosophy | Sufism |
| Lineage | Farooqui[7] |
| Initiation | into Shah Darazi Tariqa (Branch ofQadiriyyah) by Khwaja Abdul Haq Farooqui[8] |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Khwaja Abdul Haq Farooqui[9] |
| Disciple of | Khwaja Abdul Haq Farooqui |
Sachal Sarmast orSacho Sarmast (Sindhi:سچو سرمست;c. 1739 – 1827), was an 18th and 19th centurySindhiSufi poet,mystic andphilosopher fromDaraza (present-daySindh,Pakistan), regarded as an important figure in theSindhi-language literature. He is revered throughoutPakistan.
Sachal Sarmast was a descendant ofUmar and wrote poetry in seven languages:Sindhi,Siraiki,Persian,Urdu,Balochi,Punjabi andArabic.[11] He lived during the Kalhoro/Talpur era. He was born in 1152 H (AD 1739) inDaraza, nearRanipur.[12]
He was named Abdul Wahab, after his great-grandfather. His truthful nature received him the names Sacho, or Sachal which means, "The truth-speaker." He was also named Sachedino, which means "Gifted by The True One."[13][14]
He was also called "HafizDarazi", because of his memorization ofQuran and love for his home of Daraza. His famous name of Sachal Sarmast means, "Truth-speaker intoxicated in Allah's love".[15]
His native home of Shah Daraza was originally an estate for rulers of the state, but later became a prominent Sufi base due to the mysticism of the Farooqui mystics. It was known as "Dar-i-Raaz" or "Gate of Sufi Mysteries."[16]
Sachal was six years old during the time his father Khwaja Salahuddin Farooqui died, and his grandfather Khwaja Muhammad Hafiz Farooqui then took care of him, then his uncle Khwaja Abdul Haq I, who later became hisMurshid and father-in-law began taking care of him. Khwaja Abdul Haq I appointed Hafiz Abdullah, one of hisMurids, as Sachal's tutor. He taught him theQuran and theology. At the age of 12, he demonstrated a lot of knowledge of theology.[17]He liked solitude. He liked to be alone often like aDervish.[18]
He was around the age of seven when the famous poet and Sufi,Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai came to Daraza and prophecised of Sachal unveiling Sufi mysteries when he is older, in the following words:"This boy shalt take off the lid I have put on the pot."[19][20]
Sachal's height was average, he had a wide forehead with a "enlightened" face. His eyes were dewy and his face always seemed in somberness or grief.[23] He dressed humbly, he wore a White shirt. He also wore blue trousers. He wore a green turban and wore wooden sandals, he would go barefoot on long strolls sometimes.[24]
Khwaja Abdul Haq I got him married to his daughter, Sachal's cousin who lived two years after the marriage and died childless. He did not marry again after this.[25]
The second Sufi master of the Faruqis ofDaraza was Khwaja Mian Abdul Haq Farooqui who was theMurshid and Guide of Sachal Sarmast.[26] Sachal has said about his Murshid Khwaja Abdul Haq in his following lines:
"If vou wish to be aware of the Devine Secrets, come with a sincere heart to Shah Daraza. Here is theMurshid Abdul Haq who knows all mysteries, and has shown me the path love and will also reveal it to you."[27]
He was a strict man when it came to religion. He adhered to all religious rites and prayers, and he urged others to do the same, he said to others to offer their prayers five times daily in the mosque, to not miss the Friday prayer, to fast in the month ofRamadan and to be pious; as well as to recite theQur'an or hear it from others.[28]
His whole life was quite simple. He did not hunt animals. He did not take any intoxicants or alcohol, and he believed that the greatest intoxicant was Allah's love which he has described in his poetry as a "Jaam" or "Wine".[29]
Sachal was an enthusiast of Sufi poetry and music. Hearing Sufi poems would cause him to go into a state ofWajd and dance, tears would also come from his eyes. The Khwaja of Daraza put 2 men to write down his poetry whenever he went intoWajd and sang, if they missed anything and asked him to repeat his lines, Sachal would say, "I did not sing; He Himself sang.".[30]
He expresses the idea of Allah being the ultimate oneness and only in some of his poems such as:"He is, You are not, Lose yourself,And jump into the Sea of Unity."[31]
He was a complete lover and devotee of theCompanions of the Prophet and has condemned those who curse and disassociate from them in his famous poem, "Mahi Yaar di Gharoli". He expresses this in the following lines:
"Abu Bakr,Shah Umar,Uthman,Ali, pureImams of the believers,Of theliege of the Arabs, I am a servant."[32]
"TheRafidhi can never be aHafiz,Nor can he ever become aWali,My feelings to them are pure poison."[33]
"The one who curses and disassociates (from the companions),The companions are free of what he accuses them,I kiss the dirt of the door of the dear companions."[34]
Sachal talks of hisTariqah's silsilah's origin being Pir Ubaidallah Shah Jilani who is also mentioned in theirSilsilah:
"Shah Ubaidallah Jilani!He gave us the honor of spiritual guidance,I am born of the city of Daraza!"[35]
Sachal also praises the revered Islamic and Sufi figure,Abdul Qadir Jilani who is also the origin of hisTariqah:
"Pir of Pirs,Hazrat Miraan!Upon whose name, chains break!Perfect Murshid, his name I repeat!"[36]
He was healthy in his life because of a simple diet and fasting. In the last three days of his life he was in his room. Only the sounds of music and dance were heard by attendants. He died on the 14th of Ramadan 1242 A. H., 1825 AD.[37]
The currentSajjada Nashin of Sachal Sarmast's shrine is Khwaja Abdul Haq III Farooqui.[38][39]
An annual three-dayurs, or festival commemorating the death anniversary of Sachal Sarmast is held atDaraza Sharif, beginning on the 13th day ofRamazan,[40][41][42] including a literary conference and musical concerts based on his poetry.[43]
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