This story is about a majestic Saint and Sufi poet, Abdul Qadar, who was later called Bulleh Shah.
Intricate Love
A family lived in the a hamlet of Multan, whose pious nature was commendable. They (later mother and father of Abdul) always rejoiced in all scenarios of finance, and complaints never dwindled their minds. One day, after evening prayers, he was lying down on his bed. He was not asleep, he was sitting all night. He was aware about the prayers at dawn, but suddenly he felt bit drowsy between three to four in morning. He woke up suddenly and spread his praying mat, and bowed before Lord. As he rose from the sajdah, he felt that Allah had whispered to him a grand event, that a saint was to be born in their home. This announcement brought tears in his eyes, and the mat was soaked in tears. His wife asked him about the cause of grief, and he consoled her that a joyful news was unveiled to him in prayers. She was happy as well, and thanked Lord. Soon, a celestial baby boy was born. The mere sight of the boy brought happiness in the minds of the villagers. People felt very blissful in his presence. Celebrations unfurled in the hamlet like a forest fire. His father had named him Abdul Qadar Jillani, but his lips granted him a sweet name of Bullah by his mother, which meant, one with thickened lips. He grew up with the name of Bulleh Shah.
He always felt some thing extraordinary, during his life time. He was not frank to his father but told everything to his mother. One day, he told his mother about the heavenly experience. He told her that he felt the celestial stars, moon, sun and even Holy Qaba were prostrating before him. His mother told him not to tell to anyone and asked him to stop pondering in airy imaginations. But, the experiences were not ordinary, rather true ones. He tried his best to convince his mother, but in vain. He ran to his father, and told him about the experiences with fear. His father took him in his arms and listened to the narrations keenly, and at the end of the last word, he recollected the announcement to him, in prayers. He kissed the boy and prayed to Lord for protecting him, from magic spells.
He was growing up. His father was a teacher, and he even taught Abdul Ji. He learned the verses of the Quran, at the tender age of eleven. He even began teaching his little friends, the verses of the Quran. One day, he asked his parents for permission, to go to Lahore. He revealed his next heavenly experience to his father. He told that Inayat Hussain Shah, an inhabitant of Lahore was waiting for him keenly. His father told him that he might be his Ustad (Guru) and then told him to take permission from his mother, but he was devoid of that courage to ask his mother. So, he slipped from the house silently at night, to Lahore.
He reached Lahore. He had to search him without enunciating his name, as he was his Guru, who should not be named. He prayed and went randomly on the streets. Rains flourished and the paddy fields were ready to be re-planted. He suddenly saw a man, sowing the seeds in the field and the Divine brightness conveyed Abdul Ji that he was his Ustad. He didn’t notice Abdul as he was busy in his job. He was scared about the manners of greeting the Ustad. He sat underneath a mango tree, with little mango fruits hanging off the branches. He began praying to Allah, and suddenly the fruits began falling in water puddles rhythmically, which created splashing sounds. The sounds made his Ustad approach him. He asked Abdul about if he had thrown the pebbles to obtain fruits. The boy opened his eyes, and nodded randomly in fear. He denied that he didn’t even pluck a grass. His Ustad said the boy was a burglar as well as clever. He continued that Abdul Ji prayed to Lord for helping him obtain some mangoes, for some rhythmic noises, and Abdul Ji was not ready to accept the act. Abdul Ji bowed before him and asked him to give his spiritual instruction for the path to Allah. His Ustad asked him to uproot the saplings and replant them in another row. The boy understood the deep interpretation of the notion. He perceived that his Ustad was asking him to take his mind off the materialistic filth and fix it on Allah. He even understood that he had received initiation from his Ustad, and then he prostrated before him, and pleaded to him as he wished to live with him. The Ustad agreed and told him about the hermitage. The Ustad was a low class member and Abdul was a upper class member in the caste system. They were unaware about the caste where-abouts. But, Bulleh Shah Ji’s family members became aware about the diverse castes living together, the in-laws of Abdul’s sisters began torturing them. Abdul’s mother and father accepted the notion readily. But, the sisters came running to their parents and asked them for a solution. They all crowded together and went to Bulleh Shah. They all tried to convince him to go back home. But, he in turn tried to convince him with his poetry, which meant, “O Allah! May Thy understanding descend unto them, and May they ascend from the noxious chains of castes.” He didn’t return back. The sisters were left hopeless, and the domestic pressures forced them to renounce the relationship with their brother. When the younger brother was to be married, the to-be-in-laws denied for the marriage because of the caste issues. The issues made his Ustad tell him that he should go back home and convince them that he had renounced his Ustad. Bulleh Shah Ji returned back home, under the commands of his Ustad and tried to mend the matter. Before leaving his Ustad, Bulleh Shah Ji had asked him to send his representative in the marriage ceremony of his younger brother, and Ustad agreed. The responsibilities of serving the guests in the ceremony was his father’s. Bulleh Shah Ji was always trying to maintain a distance from his Ustad’s representative, as it could generate the issues again. The ceremony progressed and ended smoothly. Ustad’s representative returned back, and recounted about the ceremony to the Ustad. He even told about the Bulleh Shah Ji’s conducts, about he was maintaining a distance from him. After the matters were settled in the family, Bulleh Shah Ji returned back to his Ustad. He paid respects to him, but he didn’t respond. Several speechless days passed by. Bulleh Shah Ji was unaware about the cause and was in deep grief. One day, Ustad told him that he should have treated his representative as he would have treated his Ustad, he didn’t even greet his representative in the ceremony. And, Ustad told to leave Lahore immediately. He was very obedient. He left and reached Gwalior. In that city, he joined a Sufi Qawwali group. He used to sing the praises of hymns for his Ustad, and called him Ranjha. His love and the aspirations resonated to find his Ustad, the Sufism was in the state of a rising sun. That went on for four years, and after that, he was very restless and left for Lahore. He was passing through the same streets which outlined his Ustad’s fields. His appearance was ragged, torn clothes and matted hair adorned him. As his Ustad saw him, he came running to him and embraced him. He was appearing as an insane lost in love, but Divine love. Bulleh Shah prostrated before his Ustad and asked for forgiveness. Ustad said that he was already forgiven and told him that the separation was inscribed in his destiny, for he could manifest the love to its infinite verge. And, the ultimate love made him realize the aim.
When his Ustad was in his last breathes, Bulleh Shah Ji served him deeply. And, his Ustad rendered him the grand responsibilities to take people on the path to Allah. In the ascending dawn, at 5.45, he repeated Allah, Allah, thrice and as his last syllable ended, his soul merged with the Infinity. Bulleh Shah Ji performed the last sacraments for his Ustad at that very site and carried out the responsibilities of his Ustad, in Lahore. He performed several miracles in his life, but he always said that he was not responsible for those miracles. He was as innocent in all performances as was while he was sitting underneath the mango tree, and he didn’t plucked the mangoes.
It is is quite easy to sacrifice the life and die in someone’s name, but it is very difficult to render the life for He may drive it according to His Will.