By Emanuel Sarfraz

Date:22-09-05

Source: The Nation

We live in turbulent times. People today live in better environment than ever before in the history of mankind but at the same time many suffer for no fault of their own. Coming in of new technologies and gadgets has made life comfortable and changed the lifestyles of people. The benefits of science and development, however, have not trickled down to all sections of society. The unloved and estranged in the world society due to the poverty, deprivation and exploitation far outnumber the rest of the people. This has led to increased reversion to ideologies in the last three decades and given rise to extremism - whether of ethnic origin or based on any religion - of high dimensions. To counter this rising trend there is need to propagate the message of love that all the religions of world teach. Punjabi Sufi poets are the torchbearers of this message of love and tolerance but unfortunately their works remain unknown to our young generation.

Suicide bombings, suicidal tendencies in the face of economic deprivation and the spread of religious and social prejudices all point to the turbulence in the minds of human beings caused by the changed circumstances. The extremism is not among the religious fanatics alone but also among the ultra liberals in the West. Humanity is at cross roads and many find it difficult to find the right path. Loving God means loving humanity - an element that is fast eroding among the people. People lie at will all the time whether they are talking on their handy phones or engaged in light conversation. This sin has become a fad among the young people. There is a race to become wealthy. Feelings of sharing and love are evaporating from the society. Immorality is spreading. Should we dismiss it all as the price for the transition of society to a higher plane? Writer Professor Saeed Ahmad of Rawalpindi does not think so.

He says the hundreds of years old poetry of Sufi poets is as relevant today as it was at the time when it was written. This poetry does not take the individual away from religion but teaches the lesson of love, sharing and humanism. It does criticise those who exploit others in the name of religion. But at the same time it urges people to be virtuous and mould their lives for God.

Around the world there is trend of presenting the excerpts of legendary writers' books in easy language to facilitate the modern man, who does not have time to read hundreds of pages. The young people may have read and appreciated the knowledge of Shakespeare, Wordsworth or Yeats in their school or college textbooks but remain ignorant about the wisdom and vision of the poets of Punjab. Prof Saeed, who has to his credit a number of books, has taken up the task of spreading the message of Punjabi Sufi poets in simple English. His Great Sufi Wisdom series on Sufi poets is a hit. These books have been translated into French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish and Chinese. He selects the excerpts from the poetry of Sufis and after translating them in English, he also explains the verses. After presenting books on Baba Farid, Shah Hussain, Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Buksh, Waris Shah and Kh Ghulam Farid, the professor's book on Sultan Bahu has finally hit the stands.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu is acknowledged as one of the most prominent Sufi poets of Punjab. He belonged to the Qadri order of Sufis. He was born in 1629 in Shorkot. He was the author of over a 100 books. All of them were in the Persian language except one 'Abiyaat-e-Bahu' which says Prof Saeed is the most popular one in Punjabi language. Talking to The Nation Plus on Wednesday, Prof Saeed said that he has tried his best to convey the true meaning of the great thoughts of Sultan Bahu. "The young people of the land have to be brought back to their roots. They have been kept in ignorance about the rich heritage of Sufi poetry. It can inculcate in them the spirit of tolerance and love for others. "It is high time the Sufi poetry and articles about the Sufi poets are included in the syllabus of students in schools and colleges.

"True message of faith must be shared with the world. Our faith teaches us tolerance and respect for others' faiths. We should respect the values of West. In turn it should also respect our values and traditions. Every person has equal rights. "Sufis poetry if properly propagated in the world can do wonders in the lives of millions of people. There is too much materialism and commercialism in the West and Sufi poetry can change the lives of people. It brings a human being towards humanity," he said.

Mrs Christine White reviewed Prof Saeed's English translation and explanation printed in the book. She says she found a lot of truth in this book - about life today - the need for truth and honesty, sharing, caring, peace and tranquility. "The Sufis gained the knowledge of truth, which is the basic need of each and every person's soul.

"The sufi path also alerts human beings to remain observant, vigilant, and watchful at times. Their main focus is on performing good deeds. Staying away from any sorts of misdeeds or the company of those mischievous persons who wish to harm humanity," she explains.