Shah Hussain

Shah Hussain
Shah Hussain
Born	1538; Lahore, Mughal Empire, now Punjab, Pakistan
Died	January 1600 (aged 62); Baghbanpura, Lahore, Mughal Empire, now Punjab, Pakistan
Occupation	Sufi poet

Shah Hussain (1538– January 1599) was a Punjabi Sufi poet who is regarded as a Sufi saint. He was the son of Sheikh Usman, , and belonged to the Dhudhi clan of Rajputs. He was born in Lahore India). He is considered to be a pioneer of the Kafi form of Punjabi poetry. Shah Hussain is also often known as Shah Hussain Faqir - Faqir meaning Beggar person in English and Shah means King. So due to his extremely humble Sufi personality, people called him The Beggar King, a person who was a King and a Beggar at the same time.

Shah Hussain's love for a Brahmin boy called "Madho" or "Madho Lal" is famous, and they are often referred to as a single person with the composite name of "Madho Lal Hussain". Madho's tomb lies next to Hussain's in the shrine.^[1]

His tomb and shrine is located at the Baghbanpura precincts, adjacent to the Shalimar Gardens Lahore, Pakistan. His Urs (annual death anniversary) is celebrated at his shrine every year during the "Mela Chiraghan" ("Festival of Lights").^[2]

Kafis of Shah Hussain

Hussain's poetry consists entirely of short poems known as Kafis.^[3] A typical 'Hussain Kafi' contains a refrain and some rhymed lines. The number of rhymed lines is usually between four and ten. Only occasionally is a longer form adopted. Hussain's Kafis are also composed for, and the singing of them have been set to music based on Punjabi folk music. Many of his Kafis are part of the traditional Qawwali repertoire. His poems have been performed as songs by Kaavish, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Ghulam Ali, Hamid Ali Bela, Amjad Parvez, Junoon (band) and Noor Jehan, among others.^[4] "It may be asserted that poetry is often written to be sung. And all poetry carries, through manipulation of sound effects, some suggestion of music".^[5]

Here are three examples, which draw on the love story of Heer Ranjha:

Ni Mai menoon Khedeyan di gal naa aakh
Ranjhan mera, main Ranjhan di,
Khedeyan noon koodi jhak
Lok janey Heer kamli hoi,
Heeray da var chak

Do not talk of the Khedas to me, mother.
I belong to Ranjha and he belongs to me.
And the Khedas dream idle dreams.
Let the people say, "Heer is crazy;
she has given herself to a cowherd."

Another Kafi:

Sajjan bin raatan hoiyan whadiyaan Ranjha jogi, main jogiani, kamli kar kar sadiyaan Maas jhurey jhur pinjer hoya, kadken lagiyaan haddiyaan Main ayani niyoonh ki janan, birhon tannawan gadiyaan Kahe Husain faqeer sain da, larr tere main lagiyaan

Main vi jaanaan jhok Ranjhan di, naal mere koi challey Pairan paindi, mintaan kardi, jaanaan tan peya ukkaley Neen vi dhoonghi, tilla purana, sheehan ney pattan malley Ranjhan yaar tabeeb sadhendha, main tan dard awalley Kahe Hussain faqeer namana, sain sunedha ghalley

The nights are long without my beloved.
Since Ranjha became a jogi, I have scarcely been my old self; people everywhere call me crazy.
My young flesh is all wrinkled, my bones are a creaking skeleton.
I was too young to understand love; and now as the nights swell and merge into each other,
I play host to that unkind guest – separation.

I have to go to Ranjha's hut, will someone go with me?
I have begged many to accompany me, but I had to set out alone.
The river is deep, and the shaky bridge creaks.
I am tortured by my wounds, but Ranjha my beloved is the doctor who can cure them.
Only my beloved can bring me comfort.

Two Kafis that are addressed to his converted Hindu disciple Madho Lal Hussain^[6] need a special mention:

Madho Lal! Piyaare ki parwaasa dam da? Udeyaa bhor theyaa pardesi aggey raah agam da! Jinhaan saada shauh rijhaaya tinha nu bhow jam da? Aakhey Hussain faqeer nimaana chhaddiye sareer bhasam da!

Ve Madho! Main wadda theyaa badnaam! Raati pi ke dukh da piyaala tureyaa suwairon shaam! Ki aakhaan main ki si peeti? Loki dassan haraam! Kaafar aakhan saarey mainoon laawan sabh ilzaam! Mukh fairan sabh maidey wallon naal kaddan dushnaam! Rowey Hussain maidey Saain nu Madho chheti pej salaam!

Madho Lal! My dear what is this trust on life?
You fly out in the morning and become a stranger, to take on an unknown road!
Those that have pleased our Master in this life do they have to fear death which is the hereafter?
Says Hussain the pride less mendicant, cast off this body of ashes!

O Madho! I have been greatly defamed!
After drinking last night from my cup of sorrows, I have wandered from morning till evening.
What can I say that I had drunk of? People say it was the forbidden wine!
All here call me an infidel and accuse me of transgression!
They turn back their faces from me and abuse me!
Wails Hussain O Madho fast send my prayer to my Master!

Nyoon La Liya – نیوں لا لیا – I’ve Given My Heart (With Translation)

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں
(دل)
nyoon
Heart

نیوں لا لیا – ہائے
(دل دے دیا– ہائے)
nyoon la liya – haaye
I’ve given my heart – alas!

نیوں
(دل)
nyoon
Heart

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

بے پرواہ دے نال
(اک بے پروا کو)
be-parwaah de naal
To an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

اوس دین دنی دے شاہ دے نال
(اس دین و دنیا کے شاہ کو)
os deen duni de shaah de naal
To the sovereign of both this world and the next

دین دنی دے شاہ دے نال
(دین و دنیا کے شاہ کو)
deen duni de shaah de naal
To the sovereign of both this world and the next

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

ندیوں پار رانجھن دا تھاںا
(ندیوں پار رانجھا کا ٹھکانا)
nadyon paar raanjhan da thaana
Far across the river is where my Ranjha lives

ندیوں پار رانجھن دا تھاںا
(ندیوں پار رانجھا کا ٹھکانا)
nadyon paar raanjhan da thaana
Far across the river is where my Ranjha lives

کیتا قول ضروری جاںا
(وعدہ کیا ہے، ضروری ہے جانا)
keeta kaul zaroori jaana
I made a pledge and must go to him

کیتا قول ضروری جاںا
(وعدہ کیا ہے، ضروری ہے جانا)
keeta kaul zaroori jaana
I made a pledge and must go to him

منتاں کراں ملاح دے نال
(منتیں کروں ملاح سے میں)
mintaan karaan mallaah de naal
I beg the boatman to take me there

منتاں کراں ملاح دے نال
(منتیں کروں ملاح سے میں)
mintaan karaan mallaah de naal
I beg the boatman to take me there

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

اوس دین دنی دے شاہ دے نال
(اس دین و دنیا کے شاہ کو)
os deen duni de shaah de naal
To the sovereign of both this world and the next

دین دنی دے شاہ دے نال
(دین و دنیا کے شاہ کو)
deen duni de shaah de naal
To the sovereign of both this world and the next

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

کہے حسین فقیر نماںا
(حسین، جو محض اک حقیر سا فقیر ہے، کہتا ہے)
kahe husain faqeer nimaana
Shah Husain, the lowly beggar, says

کہے حسین فقیر نماںا
(حسین، جو محض اک حقیر سا فقیر ہے، کہتا ہے)
kahe husain faqeer nimaana
Shah Husain, the lowly beggar, says

دنیا چھوڑ آخر مر جاںا
(دنیا چھوڑ کے آخر مر جانا ہوتا ہے)
dunya chhoṛ aakhar mar jaana
This world is temporary, we must die and leave it ultimately

دنیا چھوڑ آخر مر جاںا
(دنیا چھوڑ کے آخر مر جانا ہوتا ہے)
dunya chhoṛ aakhar mar jaana
This world is temporary, we must die and leave it ultimately

اوڑک کم اللہ دے نال
(آخر کار، ہمیں صرف الله سے کام ہوتا ہے)
auṛak kam allaah de naal
In the end, we are concerned with God alone

اوڑک کم اللہ دے نال
(آخر کار، ہمیں صرف الله سے کام ہوتا ہے)
auṛak kam allaah de naal
In the end, we are concerned with God alone

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا – ہائے
(دل دے دیا– ہائے)
nyoon la liya – haaye
I’ve given my heart – alas!

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا – ہائے
(دل دے دیا– ہائے)
nyoon la liya – haaye
I’ve given my heart – alas!

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah
…my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا
(دل دے دیا)
nyoon la liya
I’ve given my heart

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

اوس دین دنی دے شاہ دے نال
(اس دین و دنیا کے شاہ کو)
os deen duni de shaah de naal
To the sovereign of both this world and the next

دین دنی دے شاہ دے نال
(دین و دنیا کے شاہ کو)
deen duni de shaah de naal
To the sovereign of both this world and the next

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

نیوں لا لیا بے پرواہ دے نال
(دل دے دیا اک بے پروا کو)
nyoon la liya be-parwaah de naal
I’ve given my heart to an uncaring beloved

References

^ Lal, Mohan. (2006) Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. Vol. 5, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi, p. 3940. ISBN 81-260-1221-8
^ http://www.dawn.com/news/1248883, Annual Mela Chiraghan (Festival of Lights) in Lahore on Dawn newspaper, Published 4 April 2016, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016
^ Hussain, Shah (1987). Kafiyan Shah Hussain: Kalaam Aur Urdu Tarjumah.
^ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1eo69s_hamid-ali-bela-maaye-ni-main-kino-aakhan-kalam-shah-hussain_music, Hamid Ali Bela sings Shah Hussain poem on dailymotion.com website, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016
^ http://www.travel-culture.com/punjabi-poetry/shah-hussain.shtml, Profile of Shah Hussain on travel-culture.com website, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016
^ Amin Naqshbandy, Sheikh Parvaiz (2001). Hazrat Maadho Laal Hussain. the University of Michigan: Umar Publications. p. 120.

External links

http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/shah/shfront.html Complete works of Shah Hussain in Punjabi (Shahmukhi) language, Academy of the Punjab in North America (APNA) website, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016
http://www.the-south-asian.com/April2001/Sufis-wisdom%20against%20violence4.htm Sufis – Wisdom against Violence – Madho Lal Hussain

[EIL-1] Lal, Mohan. (2006) Encyclopaedia of Indian literature. Vol. 5, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi, p. 3940. ISBN 81-260-1221-8

[2] ttp://www.dawn.com/news/1248883, Annual Mela Chiraghan (Festival of Lights) in Lahore on Dawn newspaper, Published 4 April 2016, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016

[Kafiyan_Shah_Hussain:_Kalaam_Aur_Urdu_Tarjumah-3] Hussain, Shah (1987). Kafiyan Shah Hussain: Kalaam Aur Urdu Tarjumah.

[4] ttp://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1eo69s_hamid-ali-bela-maaye-ni-main-kino-aakhan-kalam-shah-hussain_music, Hamid Ali Bela sings Shah Hussain poem on dailymotion.com website, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016

[5] ttp://www.travel-culture.com/punjabi-poetry/shah-hussain.shtml, Profile of Shah Hussain on travel-culture.com website, Retrieved 19 Aug 2016

[Hazrat_Maadho_Laal_Hussain-6] Amin Naqshbandy, Sheikh Parvaiz (2001). Hazrat Maadho Laal Hussain. the University of Michigan: Umar Publications. p. 120.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat
National	Germany United States France BnF data Australia
People	Trove
Other	IdRef

Shah Hussain

Kafis of Shah Hussain

See also

References

Further reading

External links