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Sufi Thought and the Poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai

Abstract

Sufism and Mysticism are nearly synonymous terms. Sufism is defined as a practice of a group of Muslims who try to become united with God directly, particularly by praying, contemplating and living a very simple, strict life (Sufi, 2015) and Mysticism is a religious practice based on the belief that knowledge of God and of real or spiritual truth can be found by prayer and meditation rather than through reason and the senses (Mysticism, 2015). Both these practices relate to the belief that personal communication or union with the divine is achieved through intuition, faith, ecstasy or sudden insight rather than through reason (Encarta WED, 2009). Sufi ideas have been part of Sindhi society for centuries. To propagate the conceptual light of mysticism, Sufi poets have played a very vital role. By the time these ideas came down to the age of Shah Latif they had ripened enough to impress him so much that he passed on the torch of Sufism ever more glowing. This research article presents the textual analysis of the selected verses of Shah Latif focusing his Sufi philosophy.

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