Haji Waris Ali Shah (Urdu: حاجی وارث علی شاہ, Hindi: हाजी वारिस अली शाह) or Sarkar Waris Pak (Urdu: سرکار وارث پاک, Hindi: सरकार वारिस पाक) was a Sufi saint from Dewa, Barabanki, India. Sarkar Waris Pak was the successor to the Qadriyya -Razzakiyya Silsila. He was born in the 26th generation of Hazrat Imam Hussain. The date of his birth is disputed, varying from 1233 A.H. to 1238 A.H. In Maarif Warisya, the date of his birth is written as 1234 A.H. corresponding to 1809 of the Christian era . His father, Syed Qurban Ali Shah, belonged to a landlord class and completed his education in Baghdad.
Sarkar Waris Pak accepted millions of people belonging to all faiths into the Warsi Silsila. During that period, Firangi Mahal was the famous religious centre for North Indian Muslims, and they too were "Qadiri people" and respected Waris Pak. Religious Scholars of Firangi Mahal regarded him as a "Kamilieen".
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The following are quotes by Haji Waris Ali Shah, from 200 years ago:
| “ | To spend sleepless nights and to lead a recluse's life are the attributes of mystics. These two attributes are connected with love and are distinctive features of love. Due to love a lover relinquishes worldly affairs. | ” |
| “ | The easiest way to reach the beloved is conception of the Beloved's face. Concentrate on one face. The same will be with you in this world at the time of death and on the day of resurrection. Its regular practice makes seekers of truth turn in to complete and chaste human beings. | ” |
| “ | Love is positively monotheism and monotheism is positively love. | ” |
| “ | When the day of Resurrection everyone will appear with their deeds and misdeeds in hand. I too will be present, clutching the portrait of my beloved. The Day of Judgment for them is better than the night of meeting the beloved and in the plane of Resurrection they embraced their object of imagination. | ” |
| “ | The strange dignity of love is that any attribute of a mystic is based on love. | ” |
| “ | Islam is one thing, and faith is another. | ” |
He further elaborated on this by stating that that all people who had embraced Islam by birth or by conversion just blindly followed the outward injunctions of Islam, but their hearts were like stone. He said they were proud of their prayers and that it was well known that the moment pride enters, humility is lost. Prophet Mohammad declared, "The man who loves me more than his family, property and wealth, he has faith", which is presumably why Waris Pak said, "Islam is one thing and faith is another".
| “ | The food of a mendicant is that which he gets without asking, "Do not ask anything, be satisfied and patient whatever you get without asking. | ” |
| “ | A real person is one who distributes his income to others while a coward is one who takes advantage of others property | ” |
| “ | Pious people do not think of hearth and grinding stone. | ” |
| “ | Women, land, and wealth are the source of worldly wrangles." To remain free one should avoid them. | ” |
| “ | Our way of life is love. There is no arrangement and one always bows down to the will of God." And patience is the fruit of love. | ” |
| “ | The correct and conspicuous dignity is resignation to the will of God. | ” |
| “ | One who is ruined in love becomes prosperous. | ” |
| “ | In love Satan also becomes a friend. | ” |
| “ | What you ever want, temporal spiritual do not forget the love of God. | ” |
| “ | Love is the step to reach the highest truth. Angels were given partial love and human beings full love. | ” |
| “ | Trust in God is all prophets' tradition. Make God your counsel. | ” |
| “ | Be patient even if you are starving. | ” |
Maulana Abdul Bari Firangi Mahali said that he heard his grandfather praising Waris Pak. Maulana Gaffar and Maulana Abdurrauf Firangi mahali claimed that Waris Pak had performed miracles.
Maulana Fazlurrahman Ganj Moradabadi rejected Sheikh Hadi Hasan's request of becoming his disciple allegedly because Hasan hadn't respected Waris Pak.
Syed Gafur ShahHasami Al Warsi wrote a instance of Maulvi Ahmed Husain's brother in his book. When he met Waris Pak before going on Haj .Sarkar told him to convey his greetings to Haji Imdadullah. also told that once he was with him now he is in Makkah Sharif. the brother of Maulvi Husain said that conveying Sarkar's Salam affected him very much and his tears came out of his eyes .He replied by saying that,'Pray for my welfare to the Indian Sun because my end is about to start'.
When I( Maulvi Ahmed Husain's brother) told this instance to Sarkar he replied that,' Haji Imadullah sb. is himself Wali and he did not need Dua ? '
Hazrat Mian Mohammed Sher described him as Great Human Great and Pure Aulia and He himself did not like to see the face of a Person who is against Sarkar .
Sufis of Marehra Sharif, Zahoori Mian, the brother of Noori Mian said, "Khasane Khuda na bashad /lekin je khuda juda na bashadthe" (Translation: "The beloved ones of Allah will not be separated from Him. Haji Baba is the greatest and best Buzurg of time, and we have heard his Praise from our Brother Noori Mian that a saint like him will not take birth until the last day.").
Hazrat Maulana Shah Syed Au Muhammed Ali Hasan Ashrafi Al Geelani wrote that Waris Pak was a saint of great stature and regarded him as "Arif Billah Maqamat-e-Aulia".
Maulana Shah Mohamed Akmal Afandi of Baghdad said: "Haji Saheb has no equal in this age. The degree of gnosis attained by him is unsurpassed. I have seen a number of Darweshes and Shaikhs and have travelled much, but I have not come across any one who could approach him."
It is believed by some that Waris Pak healed the sick. Once on his way to Bahraich, he wanted to cross the river Ghaghra in floods, but no boat was available at the ferry. He decided to swim across the river with his companions. They were in the state of terrible fright and reluctant to follow him, but to their astonishment, the water was found to be only knee-deep, when they got in and simply waded through it. His feet never showed any sign of dirt though he remained bare-footed, nor did they leave any mark on the carpet when he stepped in the room.
Some Hindus held him in high esteem and regarded him as a perfect Sufi and a follower of Vedant. To the Hindus he said 'Believe Brahma. Do not worship idols and be honest'. Thousands of Hindus, including Sadhus and Fakirs of different Panthas paid homage to him and entered his order . He allegedly told the, 'You and I are the same'. He did not ask non-Muslims to abjure their religion on the contrary he advised them to follow it with greater zeal and sincerity.
Hazrat Waris Ali Shah was as popular with the English educated youth as with the people of the old generations, English knowing men flocked to him in hundreds and sat at his feet. He was the first Sufi Darvesh to have crossed the Seas and visited Europe and was also the first to have attracted the English knowing Class. A Spanish Noble by the name of Count Galaraza came all the way from Spain to visit him and had an interview with him at Dewa.
Waris Ali Shah died on April 7, 1905, after a brief illness. He was buried at the spot where he died, and this place is marked by a monument erected in his memory by some of his devoted followers.
The mausoleum of Haji Waris Ali Shah is a monument of communal amity, constructed on a pattern, blending the Hindu-Iranian styles of architecture. The tomb, the shrines and the latticed outer apartment girdling the inner shrine for 'Parikrama' (Tawaf) are indicative of the Hindu style of architecture while the towers and minarets present the Persian architecture.[2]
The following are listed as disciples of Waris Ali Shah:
and dervish advised him to go to seek. The words produced a deep impression upon the Hakim and began an earnest search. He visited various Dervishes, but his restlessness did not cease. He reached masauli (Barabanki) where Waris Pak had journeyed at the time. When he met Waris Pak the latter said, “Well, you are come at last. There is no duality in the spiritual world, “then he was admitted into the mission and was granted a mantle. He attained high perfection in spiritualism.
Among other Hindus given to the service of Waris Pak may be mentioned the following:
Among Christians may be mentioned the following:
One of the very advanced disciples of Waris Pak came from the far western land of Spain. This was Count Glazara of Santa Calara. He was an earnest soul, hankering for truth. During his sojourn in London this gentleman came in contact with certain Indian Mohammedans then studying in London. There was one among them, Mr. Habib Ahmad, who knew the art of foretelling, and attracted considerable notice by the demonstration of his power. The Count took him for a spiritualist. There upon Habib Ahmad told him frankly that there was nothing spiritual about him, but asked if the Count would really see Waris Pak, of whom he himself was a disciple. The Count at once felt a strong inclination to see Waris Pak. He requested Mr. Ehtesham Ali Khan (Bar at Law) of Sasaram, who was then studying in London, to commend him to Waris Pak's permission if he (the Count) could come and pay his respects to Waris Pak at Dewa. By the time he returned to India, Ehtesham Ali Khan had forgotten all about this request, when he next visited Waris Pak at Dewa. Waris Pak, at his own instance, enquired if he had brought any message for him from London.
Mr. Ehtesham then recollected all about the Count and delivered the message. Waris Pak granted the permission solicited and asked Mr. Ehtesham Ali Khan to communicate the same to the Count. The Count arrived in India and was given a good reception by the Indian and the local government. He left his retinue at Barabanki and proceeded to see Waris Pak at Dewa, with only one interpreter. The conversation took place in Arabic. The interview lasted one night only; the count took the pledge and became one of the most earnest disciples of Waris Pak.
With Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the first interview between Waris Pak and Sir Syed took place at Aligarh. Sir Syed came to pay his respects to Waris Pak and was very graciously received. Waris Pak remarked he had no prejudice against English education, that love, sincerity and spiritual realization were the only things required; any other kind of knowledge acquired was wholly immaterial. Sir Syed complained that people called him "infidel". Waris Pak consoled him that a Syed could never be infidel and asked him to proceed with the duties he had taken upon himself.[3]