The role of Sufis in the development of Urdu language
Sufi Scholars’ Significant Contributions to the Formation of Urdu language, prose and poetry
By GHULAM RASOOL DEHLVI published September 27, 2024
The linguistic services of the Sufis in the early formative period of the Urdu language cannot be overestimated. When Muslim mystics and dervishes arrived in different parts of India, they started teaching, exhorting and delivering their Sufi discourses to the people in a local language and dialect. Most Sufi saints of India used Urdu language to convey the light of their inner side and create a sense of closeness and proximity.
The literary services rendered by such Sufis in the early development of Urdu are historically remarkable. To name a few, Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gesu Daraz (d. 1422), Sheikh Abdul Quddus Gangohi (d. 1538 AD), Sheikh Burhanuddin Janam (d. 1582 AD), Sheikh Khub Muhammad Chishti (d. 1614 AD), Shah Hussain (d. 1599 AD), Abdul Rahim Khan e Khanan (d. 1626 AD), Sultan Bahu (d. 1690 AD), Bulhe Shah (d. 1787 AD), and Waris Ali Shah (d. 1905 AD) deserve a special mention. All these great Sufi saints spread Urdu as a language and medium of their spiritual communication in almost all corners of the country and brought the people so close to Urdu that it has become a dialectal language today. This requires a great deal of research and a rigorous intellectual inquiry to ascertain the exact amount of work and literary contributions that Sufia-e-Kiram and Muslim mystics have rendered in the larger ambit of Urdu language and its wider dissemination. Significantly, many Urdu linguists and philologists like Baba e Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haque have tried to wrap up this account in their books and research findings. However, in academic and literary Urdu circles, the work and role of Indian Sufi saints are still not duly recognized and celebrated. Despite the momentousness of their gigantic accomplishments, Urdu literary critics have downplayed or curiously overlooked their important contributions in the early formation and development of Urdu prose and poetry.
As a matter of fact, Indian Sufis and Dervishes, especially of Central Asian and Persian origins, have been proactive in one form or another for the development of Urdu and Persian languages from the 11th to the 19th century AD. The role of these Central Asian and Persian Sufis and other Muslim sages of India, particularly in the formative period of the language, must be mentioned in detail and with precision in scholarly and literary accounts of various Urdu academies today. Among them, Shah Ali Rifai Geogam Dhani (d. 1565 AD) also prominently figures in this list. He started writing devotional poems in Urdu in a local genre from his spiritual courtyard in Gujarat. Baba-e-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haqq, in his remarkable book, has specially mentioned these Sufis with in-depth research. In fact, Maulvi Sahib has reviewed the literary work and services of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti to Baba Shah Hussaini, more famous as Peer Badshah. This is a rare topic that highlights the role of Sufi sages in the promotion and development of Urdu. The father of Urdu, Maulvi Abdul Haq, dedicated his life to the development of Urdu. There was no moment in his life that was free from the thought of promoting Urdu. Therefore, his acknowledgment of the Sufi saints’ services and notable contributions for Urdu is highly significant. Hazrat Syed Shah Ali Muhammad, popularly known as Shah Ali Jiugao Dhani Rifai (died in 973 AH, 1565 AD), is among those who served the Urdu language in Gujarat in the 14th century. He was also one of the most important figures of the Rifa'i family. He was a famous Sufi poet and also a cause of honor for the people of Gujarat.
- Excerpts from the book written by Baba-E-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haqq*:
Among those who served the Urdu language in Gujarat in the 14th century is also one of the most important figures of the Rifa'i family; Hazrat Syed Shah Ali Muhammad popularly known as Shah Ali Jiugao Dhani Rifai (died in 973 AH, 1565 AD). He was a famous Sufi poet and also a cause of honour for the people of Gujarat.
Father's name and genealogy:
Hazrat Syed Shah Ibrahim Rifai bin Hazrat Syed Shah Umar Jaishullah Hussaini Rifai bin Hazrat Syed Raziuddin Ibrahim Rifai bin Hazrat Syed Muhammad Madan Asrarullah Rifai bin Hazrat Syed Ahmad Kabir Rifai
From the father's side, his lineage goes back to the founder of the Rifa'i family, Syed Ahmed Kabir Rifai, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and from his mother’s side, Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. His motto was "Allah Baqi Muhammad Saqi". This image was engraved in the shape of a tabanul leaf. The trees that were given to the martyrs were stamped with it. Shah Ali Jiugao Dhani Rifai was convinced of Wahdat-ul-Wujud. Sufi saints and spiritual elders who came to Gujarat from outside used to stay here. When Sheikh Bahauddin Barnawi came to Gujarat, he was warmly welcomed as the guest of Shah Ali Rifai. When Shah Ali Rifai R.A recited his Hindi kalam to him, Sheikh liked it very much. The collection of poems by Hazrat Shah Ali Jiugao Dhani Rifai, may Allah be pleased with him, is titled as "Jawahir Asrarullah", which was edited as " A Critical Annotation of Jawahir Asrarullah" under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Rafia Sultana, former president of the Department of Urdu, Osmania University, Hyderabad. It was undertaken by Mr. Muhammad Siraj Al Hasan Sahib, as he obtained his PhD in 1989 and 1990. Mr. Mirza Muhammad Hasan alias Beh Ali Muhammad Khan Bahadur, the author of Miraat e Ahmadi, has considered it to be equal to "Diwan e Maghrib" in terms of thought and depth of meaning. His words were compiled by one of his mureeds, Abul Hassan Fateh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Rahim Qureshi Ahmad, initially with a Persian preface and a hymn of twelve verses, and later by his grandson Syed Shah Ibrahim Rifai, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, at the insistence of his predecessors and elders. A comprehensive preface was written and re-edited. It mentions that the first order includes a praise (madhiya) poem and has a preface in Arabic and then a preface in Persian. His speech is full of secrets and divine mysteries of Tawheed and Wahdat-ul-Wujud. Remarkably, it has a great passion in it, evoking thoughts and emotions in an Indian way. While some poems also have Persian subjects, Milad-ul-Nabi, Madh (praise) of Syed Ahmad Kabir Rifai, and excellent poetry under the title of “Afreen”. There are more poems, a tri-syllable in the style of Barah Masa as well.
Baba-e-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq Sahib writes in "Sufiya e Kiram's work in the early development of Urdu":
Shah Ali Jeogam Dhani Rifai (RA) was born and raised in Gujarat. He is one of the perfect Sufi sages and dervishes of Gujarat. Notably, his teachings and spiritual guidance had a great and deep impact on the people of Gujarat. He died in the year 1515 / 973 AH. A collection of his sayings known as "Jawahir Asrarullah" was compiled by Sheikh Habibullah, a mureed and disciple of his grandfather and a great admirer and follower of his own. The second version of the same speech was compiled by his grandson Syed Ibrahim Rifai.
Shah Ali Geo Rifai was a great poet. His speech is full of substance about tawheed-related subjects and especially Unity of the Existence (Wahdatul Wajud). Notably, although he explains the issue of “unity of existence” in plain and simple parables, the theme of love seems to beautifully dominate in his words and statements. It seems in his poetry that he is a deep and true lover and God is the beloved and thus he expresses his love in different poetical ways. The style of his verses is that of the Hindi poets and he addresses himself as a woman. His language is simple but since old and unfamiliar words have often been used, therefore, it is sometimes difficult to understand his poetry. Here are a few simple examples: تم ری پیا کو دیکھو جیسا
ہورجیوں پر تھوسائیں ایسا
سوے تمھیں ہو ناں وہ ایسا
ایک سمندسات کہا دے دھونوس بادل میہ برسادے وہی سمند ہو بوند دکھالے
ندیاں نالے ہوکر چالے
پیو ملاگل رہی جے سکھ منہ ( میں ) دکھ کی بات نہ کیجئے
جے ہے سوے نہیں نہیں چھٹ ایک وہی ہے سہو کہیں کہیں
سومجنوں ہوبر لاوے کہیں سو لیلی ہوے دکھا دے کہیں سو خسرو شاہ کہادے کہیں سو شیریں ہوکر آوے
ادھر پنوالی چک رتنالی بینی باسک ہورتل کا لی
ایہ جیومانگیں بہویں دمالی
آپیں کھیلوں آپ کھلاوں آپیں آپس لے گل لاوں
بھیس بندوں کے کر سو بندگی اوبھاہو نماز گزاروں
ہوں حاجی ہوں کعبہ آہوں آپس اوپرداروں
کھبیں سوہوے اندھیاری راتا
سانج بتی کرلاوے دھاتا ہوکر دیوار راتیں ساری لاکر جوت دکھاوے ساری
کہیں سو عاشق ہوکر راوں کہیں عارف ہوے بحچھچانوں کہیں موحد کہیں محقق کہیں سوجانوں نجانوں
جو جیوڑا پیوسوں لاگا
ہیے جس نیہ کی آگا
منھوں کا لوجہ سب بھا گا
(The Contributions of the Sufis in the early development of Urdu, 65, 66, 67)