Shah Inayat Qadiri

Shah Inayat Qadiri Shatari (Punjabi: شاه عنایت قادري , also called Enayat Shah) was a Sufi saint of the Qadiri-Shatari lineage (silsila) who lived in Qasur, in the Punjab region of present-day Pakistan. Shah Inayat Qadiri is famous as the spiritual guide of the Punjabi poet Bulleh Shah.

Shah Inayat belonged to the Arain community and earned a living through agriculture or gardening. He also lived in Kasur for some time but, due to the animosity of the ruler of Kasur, moved to Lahore and remained there until the end of his life. His mausoleum is situated near Lahore.

Poetic references

In the "Song of the Saints of India" (Bang-i-Auliya-i-Hind) occurs the following reference;

"From the tribe of gardeners was brother Shah Inayat,

He received honor from Shah Raza Wali Allah.

He earned his living in the small town of Qasur Pathana.

The ruler Husein Khan of this town was his arch enemy.

From there Inayat Shah came to the city of Lahore;

Two miles to the south of the city he made his habitation.

It is at this place that we find his tomb.

In 1141 he departed from this world."

Bulleh Shah says about his beloved teacher Enayat Shah:

“Bullah has fallen in love with the Lord. He has given his life and body as earnest. His Lord and Master is Shah Inayat who has captivated his heart.”

Shah Inayat wrote "Dasdtur al-Amal" in which he describes various methods Hindus employed for attainment of salvation in ancient times. According to him, this knowledge was acquired and carried by the Greeks after Alexander's invasion of India, from where it was borrowed by ancient Iranians and subsequently adopted by the mystics of Islamic countries.

References

• Great Sufi Poets of The Punjab", by R. M. Chopra, Iran Society, Calcutta, 1999.

(("Great Sufi Poets of The Punjab" by R.M. Chopra, Iran Society, Calcutta, 1999.