Written by: Kulsoom Malik
Posted on: April 15, 2021 | 
| 中文
Sachal Sarmast's Shrine (photo credits to Shameen Khan)
The land of Sindh is considered to be the land of Sufi saints and mystics who spread the message of peace and brotherhood during times of great political and social unrest. Among these great saints is Sachal Sarmast, a poet and mystic who occupies an important place amongst his contemporaries. He has inspired a generation of followers and poets to seek a path to the Divine using his command of language and unique perspective of the Sufi tradition.
Sachal Sarmast was born Abdul Wahab Farouqi in a village named Daraza in Khairpur around 1739 CE, during an era that marked the rivalry between the Kalhoro and Talpur dynasties. Sachal’s own family traced their roots to a sacred lineage that went back to the Second Caliph of Islam, Umar ibn al-Khattab (Farouq), a family that had been in Sindh since Muhammad bin Qasim’s arrival in the 10th Century. After the death of his father, Sachal was raised by his uncle, who became his spiritual teacher. He was given the nickname ‘Sachal’ (‘the truthful’) and Sarmast (‘the ecstatic’) due to his spiritual inclinations which arose from an early age. Legend even said that as a young boy he visited Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, the other great mystic of Sindh, who revealed that Sachal “would take the lid off the cauldron I have set to boil.”
A Painting of Sachal Sarmast
A Sufi by heart and an ascetic by disposition, Sachal preached the teachings of ‘Wahdat-ul-Wujud’ (The Unity of Existence). He considered the matters of the sacred and secular as deeply intertwined, and believed that his love of the Divine was intrinsically tied to his empathy for the struggles of his fellow human beings.
Din (religion) and kufr (irreligion) are a snare for the heart,
Brown them all into the wave of Divinity;
Then, O Sachal! Will your sway be everywhere?
The Shrine Ceiling
In addition, he was not immune to the political circumstances of his time, and warned his followers of an imminent British conquest of India 25 years before the British formally took over Sindh. He frequently warned his followers that division and infighting would prove disastrous for Sindh’s future in the face of changing times.
A Photograph of the Shrine During the British Era
In his life, Sachal was a great lover of music and poetry and was a master of the oral tradition, frequently speaking in verses that his followers would note down. While he is commonly associated with Sindh and Sindhi culture, Sarmast was an expert of seven languages: Sindhi, Siraiki, Urdu, Arabic, Balochi, Punjabi and Persian. While there are nine compilations of his Persian poetry, his most celebrated works are in Sindhi and Seraiki. The generations of his followers took on his teachings, but never with the same intensity as Sachal, whose intense yearning and love for the Divine gave his poetry an almost magical quality.
Devotees at the Shrine Door
Drink the Divine wine of Love
And be Ecstatic intoxicated forever
God is Present, Always Present and Everywhere Present
Sachal’s poetry raised the standard for Sindhi literature and Sufi poetry in general. He was not just responsible for popularizing the Kafi and Ghazal in Sindhi literature, but also introduced vivid metaphors and images into his oral tradition that would inspire many Sindhi literary figures. His poetry stressed Divine love above all else, and a rejection of social structures like caste, race, gender and any kind of distinction which would hamper one’s connection to the Divine Being.
Break the bonds of all customs and ceremonies;
Banish from your mind all thoughts of slavery;
Be a hero and wear a royal turban of splendor.
After living the life of a humble ascetic, Sachal passed away at the age of 90 in 1829 CE, and was buried next to his father and uncle. His shrine was built after his death by Mir Rustam Khan Talpur, the ruler of Khairpur at the time. However, it was renovated at the end of the 1800s by Sakhi Qabool Muhammad II. The Talpur rulers greatly revered Sufi saints, and had many shrines built for Sachal’s disciples all across the province.
The Shrine Courtyard
In particular, Sachal’s shrine in Daraza Sharif is a dazzling display of vibrant tile work and geometric patterns. Entering the shrine, the first thing one hears are the Sufi singers reciting Sachal’s verses, and joining together to celebrate his life and work. His shrine is a place of interfaith harmony, as many Hindus and Christians of the area also come to pay their respects. Similarly, members of the Sikh community also hold him in high regard due to his respect for Guru Nanak, and his frequent exchanges with the Guru’s followers.
Musicians at the Shrine (photo credits to Shameen Khan)
Sachal’s urs (death anniversary and celebration of his reunion with the Divine) usually takes place on the 13th day of Ramadan, alongside a literary conference and musical concert in his honor by the Sachal Sarmast Memorial Committee. It is a festival of prayer, celebration and literary thought that brings together people to reflect Sachal’s teachings in light of present circumstances.
While the Sindh Government has banned entry into shrines due to the new wave of Coronavirus, Sachal Sarmast’s contributions to language and religious thought far exceed the perimeters of his shrine. His place within Sindhi literature and the Sufi tradition is unparalleled in its breadth and the importance it gives to the journey to God.
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