Waris Shah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waris Shah
Depiction of Waris Shah, Lahore, ca.1859
Native name	وارث شاہ
Born	1722 (1722) Jandiala Sher Khan, Sheikhupura, Punjab, Mughal Empire (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Died	1799 (aged 76–77) Jandiala Sher Khan, Pakpattan, Punjab, Durrani Empire (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Genre	Sufi poetry
Notable works	Heer Ranjha- by Waris Shah - A Classic Book on their love story

Waris Shah (Punjabi: وارث شاہ (Shahmukhi); ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ (Gurmukhi); 1722–1798) was a Punjabi Sufi poet of the Chishti order, known for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He is primarily known as the author of Heer Ranjha ہیر رانجھا.

Background

20th century portrait painting of Waris Shah

Syed Mohammad Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab, present-day Pakistan into a reputed Sayyid family and was a descendant of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki through his son Sayyid Badruddin. His father's name was Gulsher Shah and mother's name was Kamal Banu. Waris's parents are said to have died when he was young. Waris spent years in search of the perfect spiritual guide. Waris Shah acknowledged himself to be a disciple of an ustad from Kasur, namely Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza from whom he received his education. After completing his education, Waris moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometres north of Pakpattan. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic mosque now called Masjid Waris Shah, until his death. Other poets later added their own verses in Qissa Waris Shah throughout the history. It is estimated that there are 11069 forged verses in the commonly available Qissa Waris Shah. One of the oldest and most accurate copy of Qissa Waris Shah published by Kripa Ram in 1916 is available in the Punjab Public Library in Lahore.

Works

Shrine of Waris Shah at Jandiala Sher Khan, Pakistan

Examples

Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used in Punjab in a moral context, for instance:

• Naa adataan jaandiyan ne, Bhavein katiye poriyan poriyan ji

نہ عادتاں جاندیاں نے، بھاویں کٹئے پوریاں پوریاں جے

(A man never abandons his habits, even if he is hacked to pieces)

• Waris rann, faqir, talwar, ghora; Chare thok eh kisse de yar nahin (Waris says that woman, beggar, sword and horse, these four are never anyone's friends)
• Waris Shah faqir di aqal kithe; eh pattian ishq padhiyan hun

وارث شاہ فقیر دی عقل کتھے، ایہ پٹیاں عشق پڑھیاں ھن

(It is beyond the wisdom of faqeer Waris Shah (to write this verse), (But) these lessons are taught by Love)

• Eh rooh qalboot da zikr sara nal aqal de mel bulaya ee (This entire reference is about Soul meeting with the Divine, Beloved which has been contrived with great wisdom)

The renowned Punjabi writer and poet Amrita Pritam is best remembered for her famous work Ajj Aakhaan Waris Shah Nu (lit: "Today I Invoke Waris Shah") about the horrors of the partition of the Punjab during the Partition of India.

• Ajj Akan Waris shah nu, k tu Qabran vichon bol

اج آکھاں وارث شاہ نوں، کتھوں قبراں وچوں بول

(Today, I call upon Waris Shah, to rise from the grave and speak)

• Te Ajj kitaab e ishq da, koi Agla warka phol

تے اج کتابِ عشق دا کوئی اگلا ورقہ پَھول

(And plead with him to open another page in the book of love)

Portrayal in media

Waris Shah's life has been fictionalised in Punjabi-language films. A 1964 Pakistani film titled Waris Shah featured Inayat Hussain Bhatti in the title role. Another film on the life of Shah, Sayyed Waris Shah, was released in India in 1980; followed by Waris Shah: Ishq Daa Waaris in 2006 which had Gurdas Maan in the role of Waris Shah.

See also

• List of Punjabi language poets