Message of Peace and Love in Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s Poetry – December 13, 2011
Pakistan is blessed with a rich heritage of Sufism that promotes the message of peace, tolerance and harmony. In today’s world the ideals of peace and harmony could not be achieved until we reflect and internalize the message of Sufis who promoted this message since centuries.
(SPO)Strengthening Participatory Organization from its forum Civic Café in Islamabad, referred to the message and poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689-1752).Shah Latif generally known as Bhittai vehemently condemned the act of aggression, which is the main cause of turmoil on this earth.
Ms. Fahmida Riaz, a well known writer, poet, and feminist gave the lecture on Shah Latif Bhittai’s message of love and Peace through Sufism. She said, his poetry is elaboration of spiritual quest.
While talking about his life and Sufism, she said Shah Latif has Sufi family background and was also interested in Molana Romi poetry, which resulted people called him direct animation of Molana Romi and sometimes compared with him. Although Sufi’s does not believe on competition, she added.
She said Shah Bhittai was creator of Music; some of his Sur were created in musical nodes, followers are singing his famous Sur Kalyan for two hundred and fifty years. While talking about his message, she said, he was believer of spiritualism, and used to say that ritualism is not enough.
She said, Shah’ s poetry is unique , even now after two hundred and fifty years ,his ideas of peace and love for humanity are thought provoking and mile stone as it creates magic of love for all. Ms. Fahmida Riaz while praising his glory said, he not only love Hazrat Mohammad (PBUH), but also praised Joggi’ s as they are also searching for God, and believed that this is the only possibility to love all human beings.
Shah Latif’s giving his message of Peace to Mankind in his sur Kalyan,
Patience, humanity adopt,
For anger is disease-
Forbearance bringeth joy and ‘peace’,
If you would understand.
(Sur Kalyan; Peace)
Peace and Harmony is one of the basic components of SPO’s program, which is based on building social harmony among diverse groups to share and understand each other’s point of view and respect differences. It aims to build capacity and empower civil society networks and communities around social harmony and peace with a focus on restoring social harmony and building a culture of peace and participation, and partnering with all local stakeholders in the development process.
Civic Café has an objective of providing a space for all to discuss contemporary issues. The basic idea behind the Civic Café is to strengthen the role of civil society through dialogue, and to provide space for discussion on various topics, building new relationships, and strengthening old ones. The participants of this forum do not represent any particular group, class or school of thought, rather they hail from different walks of life.