Wasif Ali Wasif - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Wasif Ali Wasif was a teacher, writer, poet and sufi intellectual

Intellectual

An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...

from Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. He was famous for his unique literary style. He used to write short pieces of prose

Prose

Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...

on topics like love, life, fortune, fear, hope, expectation, promise, prayer, happiness, sorrow and so on. He was the regular columnist

Columnist

A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....

of Pakistani Urdu

Urdu

Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...

newspaper Daily

Daily

Daily is a short noun for a newspaper appearing each day or each weekday.Daily or The Daily may also refer to:* The Daily, a US-based iPad newspaper from News Corporation...

Nawa-i-Waqt

Nawa-i-Waqt is an Urdu daily newspaper in Pakistan. Nawa-i-Waqt started its publishing on March 23, 1940 under the leadership of Hameed Nizami. The tradition is continued by his brother Majid Nizami. Nawa-i-Waqt is one of the largest circulating newspapers in the country...

. His 1st column named "Muhabbat". In his life most of his columns were combined to form books with his own selected title. He did poetry

Poetry

Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...

in Urdu

Urdu

and Punjabi

Punjabi language

Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...

languages. Probably no contemporary Urdu

Urdu

writer is more cited in quotations than he is. Later years he used to answer questions in specially arranged gatherings at Lahore

Lahore

Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...

attended by the notable community. Some of these sessions were recorded in audio and were later published as Guftgoo (talk) series. His mehfils never had a set subject nor did he lecture on chosen topics. His way was to ask people if they had questions and then he responded to these in his highly original style. His thought was more on mysticism

Mysticism

Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...

, spirituality

Spirituality

Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...

and humanity

Humanity

Humanity may refer to:* The human species**The total world population* Human nature, psychological characteristics that all normal humans have in common**Compassion**Empathy**Altruism**Aggression**Fear...

. There are about 40 books to his credit including “Shab Chiragh”, “Kiran Kiran Sooraj”, and “Dil Darya Samundar”. It is self-evident that his books as well as recordings of talks are a treasure trove of wisdom.

Early life

Wasif Ali Wasif was born on 15 January 1929 at District

District

Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...

Khushab

Khushab is a city of Khushab District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city serves as the headquarters of Khushab Tehsil an administrative subdivision of the district....

. At that time Khusab used to be a tehsil

Tehsil

A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....

and the district was Shahpur

Shahpur (Punjab)

Shahpur is a city located in the west of Punjab province, Pakistan. It lies on the Jhelum River. Its old name was Rampur and it had a majority Hindu population until the 17th century...

. He belonged to a very prestigious cast Awan

Awan (Pakistan)

Awan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...

. His father Malik Muhammed Arif was a teacher. He received his religious education

Religious education

In secular usage, religious education is the teaching of a particular religion and its varied aspects —its beliefs, doctrines, rituals, customs, rites, and personal roles...

under the supervision of his father. He got primary education

Primary education

A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...

in a local school in Khushab. He passed Matriculation

Matriculation

Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...

examination from Govt. High School Khushab in 1944. His maternal grandfather, a skilled educationist, was appointed as Headmaster at a Govt. school in Jang

Jang

Jang may refer to:*Jang , part of Maloelap Atoll, in the Marshall Islands*Jang, Nepal* Jang, the Tibetan name for Naxi, a county-level district of Luzhou city, Sichuan Province, China....

. Therefore, he was sent to his maternal. He did F.Sc from Govt. Inter college Jhang and graduation

Graduation

Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...

from Govt. Degree College Jhang. He was a hardworking student who passed every examination by obtaining first division. Then he moved to Lahore

Lahore

; here he did M.Sc in Mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...

from Government Islamia College

Islamia College

Islamia College may refer to:*Islamia College , Lahore, Pakistan*Amiruddaula Islamia Degree College, Lucknow, India*Islamia College , Peshawar, Pakistan*Islamia Science College , Karachi, Pakistan...

Civil Lines, Lahore and M.A.

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

in English

English studies

English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...

from Government College

Government College

Government College refers to various colleges.* Government College University, Lahore, is probably the most frequent college referred to by this name. It may also refer to:* Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, India* Darjeeling Government College...

, Lahore. He was a nice fellow and an excellent player of hockey for which he was awarded a colour. He started writing for college magazine "Ravian" when he was a student. He used to write in Urdu as well as in English.

Shrine

Wasif Ali Wasif died on January 18, 1993. Being famous for Sufism

Sufism

Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...

and respected by many people, he is usually referred to as Hazrat Wasif Ali Wasif. His shrine

Shrine

A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....

is located in Lahore

Lahore

at 25 Bahawalpur Road, near Chowk Chauburji. His Urs

Urs

Urs is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint in South Asia, usually held at the saint's dargah . South Asian Sufis being mainly Chishtiyya, refer to their saints as lovers and God as beloved...

(Religious Festival) is celebrated every year from 22nd to 24th of the month of Rajab

Rajab

Rajab is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of Rajaba is "to respect", of which Rajab is a derivative.This month is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam in which battles are prohibited...

As a Teacher

Wasif Ali Wasif passed PCS

PCS

- Medicine :* Post-concussion syndrome, a set of symptoms that a person may experience for weeks, months, or even years after a concussion* Postcholecystectomy syndrome, the presence of abdominal symptoms after surgery to remove the gallbladder...

exam in 1954 but did not join it because of his nature and started his career as a teacher. At first he taught in some private institutions for sometime, but then he founded Lahore College for English later 'Lahore English college' in 1958. In a short span of time his fame as a very able, benign, competent and dutiful teacher spread around. It was due to ever increasing number of students he started teaching students in two shifts.

As a Writer

Wasif Ali Wasif was so much given to silence. He spent most part of the day in this tranquillity, but when he spoke there was nothing that was not quotable. His written and spoken words are quotable for their content as well as their construction. Master of aphorism

Aphorism

An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...

, he has almost a miraculous ability to capture a rainbow of meaning in a few dewdrops of well chosen words. Of this it were writings in newspaper that secured him a permanent place in the gallery of stylist prose writers. Though his main claim to fame is his writings, a select circle knows that he was an equally great conversationalist. Ashfaq Ahmed

Ashfaq Ahmed

For disambiguation also see Ashfaq Ahmad, Ishfaq Ahmed and Ishfaq AhmadAshfaq Ahmed, PP, SI was a distinguished writer, playwright, broadcaster, intellectual and spiritualist from Pakistan. His prime qualities of heart and hand earned appreciations across the world...

, the conversationalist par excellence of our time has said, “The sentences we concoct are our piece of craft, Wasif’s lines came from somewhere else.” His prose is simpler, using figures of speech less frequently and thus sounds more natural but it has distinctive qualities of fine poetry. Renowned politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

and connoisseur of art

Art

Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....

and literature

Literature

Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...

, Hanif Ramay

Hanif Ramay

Muhammad Hanif Ramay was an internationally renowned intellectual, journalist and former Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab, and he was among the founding fathers of the Pakistan Peoples Party .He was also speaker of Punjab Assembly from October 1993 to November 1996.-Early life and...

is of the view “Wasif’s prose influences like the poetry of Iqbal. Another interesting aspect of his literary masterpieces is that these originally appeared as columns in an Urdu daily defying the strongly held belief that journalism

Journalism

Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...

cannot produce pure literature which can have a long life. Siraj Muneer, a well-read scholar and critic

Critic

A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...

, has written, “We took them as columns but they were another aalam (world).” A discussion of his peculiar style would be incomplete without mentioning that all his writings have a lot between the lines too. He believed that a thought can never be expressed fully in words, a reader should be alive to this fact and should try comprehending the portion that was impossible to be carried in words. The leading critic and scholar Professor

Professor

A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...

Gilani Kamran comments on his book 'Dil Darya Samundar' that Wasif Ali Wasif’s collection of essays has a pleasant rhythm of an emotionally sustained prose. The sentence moves with grace and the words have the ring of sensation. These features are only rarely found in modern Urdu prose. But whether or not one succeeds in discovering himself, or in entering the field of a higher experience, the rhythm of Wasif‘s prose certainly compensates for any loss of achievement. With this one book, it can be said with some assurance, our culture

Culture

Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...

is seen to be moving out of a closed world and entering an age of self discovery where single individual becomes the object of new orientation and also the locus of a new destiny." Wasif Ali Wasif has a diverse following ranging from high judiciary

Judiciary

The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...

to vendors. One of his followers, Government College University

Government College University

Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...

Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed, titled him Saadi

Saadi

Saadi or Sadi may refer to:geography:* Sədi, village in Azerbaijan*Sadi, Nepalfamily name:* Saadi dynasty, a dynasty of Morocco* Saadi , medieval Persian Sufi poet* Dheyaa al-Saadi, Iraqi lawyer...

of present times. He said, "Wasif’s writings were eye-opening but his conversations were even more deeply thought out."

The following is a rough translation of Wasif Ali Wasif’s essay called Firaq o Wisal (Separation and Union), ” As long as man was in the moolight he desired to reach the moon…there was bliss in the moonlight but the moon itself was distant. Moonlight was near but man longed for the moon…man reached the moon but there he was without the moonlight. If one reaches the moon one does not find moonlight any longer and if one is in moonlight one does not find the moon. It is a strange fact that one is only because of the other…one is a sign of the other yet both are forever separate. If the Beloved is the Moon, moonlight is His remembrance. When the Beloved is present His remembrance is not and when His remembrance is present the Beloved is not. Proximity to one is distance from the other, Union with one is separation from the other. Thus union is hidden in every separation and separation in every union."

Few original thinkers have expressed so lofty thoughts in so simple a style. He is as such a common man’s philosopher.

WASIF ALI WASIF (RA) bY ALLAMAH MUHAMMAD YOUSUF GABRIEL
It was the year 1968 or so, and I used to walk from my residence in Shahdarrah Lahore where I resided, to the Shah Chiragh Building in Lahore where I worked in the Department of Auqaf West Pakistan as Research Investigator; and then used to walk back to Shahdarrah daily. On my way back from Shah Chiragh Building stood the Lahore English College whose founder Principle was Wasif Ali Wasif. I do not remember how but one day I found myself with Wasif Ali Wasif. Thereafter it became my daily routine to visit Lahore English College on my return from Shah Chiragh Building. There I would find a small literary company generally engaged in some literary discussion. I had composed some poetry in Urdu comprising about three thousand verses, about-which Dr. Javaid Iqbal the son of famous Allamah Iqbal expressing his critical review had said:-

"The style of thought is exactly like that of Allamah Iqbal. In a way it appears to be the echo of Allamah Iqbal. I pray to Allah that the possibilities for the achievement of the purpose which the poet has aimed at while expressing his views may appear".
The purpose I aimed at in my poetry was the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world, and world's escape from the dreadful hazards and the consequent ills of this materialistic and unspiritual civilization. And peace, prosperity and contentment everywhere. There in Lahore English College I was generally asked to recite some of my poetry, and whenever I recited my Poetry, Wasif was deeply moved. The pattern of my poetry may be viewed in the following stanzas:
Loosely rendered into English these will read as follows:-
(1) The clouds of material worship gather. See the winds of worldly freedom blow. Lightenings of atheism and shadows of heresy appear. Woes are that appear in the guise of blessings. Witches you mistake for fairies. Crows and vultures are that you take for the lovely partridge.
(2) The deception of the simulating Anti-Christ is at its height in the world. Mankind is proud of the worldly abundance of this age, and is dancing with joy at the great prevalence of knowledge. Yet the heavenly judge does scorn their folly. Lightening is restless to consume this world, in order to annihilate the existence of mankind".
The mind of Wasif was affected by my poetry and my talks, and his genius took fire. I left Lahore. Wasif had found a line and a purpose in my discussions. Soon a storm of intellect rather supernatural intellect burst upon his mind and I received a very long poem composed and published by Wasif in Urdu. Wasif had completely followed my views. Four books in Urdu Prose followed in succession. A wonderful product of Wasif's mind, but the pattern of his views was the exact replica, a real picture of my views. There is no wonder if the views of Wasif and mine have assumed identity. The storm which had burst upon my mind and had become the cause of the appearance of fourteen volumes in English and an equal number in Urdu had in turn burst upon the mind of Wasif, and had caused this appearance of his very valuable four volumes in Urdu and some good poetry. Writings very much needed by the people of this age in distress. Wasif had enough academic education but I had without a teacher or a school learned both the ancient and the modern knowledge, that is four languages, and their literatures, Urdu, Persian, Arabic , English , to the highest standard, the books of Divine Revelation, namely, the Quran, the Books of the old Testament, the books called Apocrypha, and the Books of the New Testament, Histories, philosophies, and most of the branches of modern science, and at last as the product of all that struggle appeared all the hitherto unpublished volumes that are meant to save this world from the hazards of this modern culture of atomism, to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, before the appearance of atomic war, and to eradicate the possibility of atomic war. My ordeal lasted for forty years, and all-these years I spent in a state almost like that of a man possessed. It was a very painful ordeal and still is. The writings of Wasif may rightly be regarded as the echo of my views, just as the son of Iqbal had called my Urdu poetry as the echo of Iqbal's voice. My Urdu poetry only. No wonder if Wasif had produced the works which may well be considered as miraculous. Among the writers in this world whose writings will cause the universal revolution to liberate the mankind from the calamities of the modern materialistic, one sided culture, surely the Name of Wasif will deserve respect and reverence. No doubt in a state of mind produced by a sort of a celestial storm, Waif produced writings which do appear as the product of some supernatural intellect. A line, however, has been established between my writing and those of Wasif, and my views and those of Wasif.
A link has been established between the works of Wasif and those of mine, namely that under my influence Wasif became inspired and consequently a celestial storm of intellect burst upon his mind and he produced the works that cast a spell on the reader. Wasif has heartily acknowledged such influence. He has devoted the preface of his book "Kiran Kiran Suraj" to his acknowledgment of the favour of "Sahiban-e-Haal" and the description of the Sahiban-e-Haal. Sahiban-e-Haal is a term that means loosely the persons that may be called as the Muslim saints or walis. About his book, writers Wasif:-
"These are a few petals of the spiritual rapture, that are picked from the garden of mysticism, and by these the achievement of the reform of the thought is possible. “It is all due to the favour of someones glance (attention)". It is not my claim but is only the expression of faith in those Sahiban-e-Haal by whose nearness the word of desire (request) becomes the word of content. What is Sahib-e-Haal? It is very difficult to explain".
Yet Wasif tries to explain Sahib-e-Hall. And devotes three pages to the explanation of the characteristics etc. of the Sahib-e-Hall. He tells that the nearness of Sahib-e-Hall produces the quality of Haal (the state of reverie and ecstasy) just as the nearness of fire produces the quality of fire in a piece of iron. And this was exactly the case between me and Wasif. No doubt the explanation of the Sahib-e-Hall by Waif is admirable and full of valuable information. Regarding his faith in the Sahiban-e-Hall he writes:-
“I am presenting this book as the expression of my faith in the Sahiban-e-Hall. The virtue therein is their's, the Flaw is due to my human infirmity".
The preface of his another book, "Dil Darya Samundar" Wasif has devoted to the universal scenes that are seen by the discerning eye.
"In the seed of mustard" writes he, "may be seen the scenes of the entire universe".
The preface, all of it is very interesting and very instructive. About the relation of the disciple and the master, Wasif in his book "Kiran Kiran Suraj" on page 99 writes:-
"It is the sincerity of the faith of the disciple that carries him to his destination. If he is fortunate to reach his destination, then what is the doubt in the perfection of his Master. If on the other hand, the disciple would not reach the destination, then what is the necessity of mentioning the Master's perfection or imperfection? The Fortunate disciple always remains grateful to his Master, but the unfortunate disciple always puts the blame on his master for his own infirmity".
In my gruesome endeavour and unabounding zeal to save this world from the dreadful end in the flames of atomic hell, I myself fell in hell since decades when I began my mission, though I never left the patience and never complained. In that state of my mind I saw one day, Wasif himself standing before me. He had come from Lahore to see me. You cannot imagine the state of my inward feelings at that meeting. Joy and sadness joined together, though I was much pleased to see Wasif. In Wasif's face could be seen the signs of extreme. Sadness but a peculiar kind of sadness. He spoke very little. All the time he remained with me, he lay on a bed gazing continually towards the roof. Then he departed never to be seen again. Soon after that he died. I read the news of his death in the Newspapers. The news made me extremely sad. Alas then. Wasif had come to pay his last visit to me before his departure. There was in his eyes a tinge of Some request, some desire, some expectation, which I could not understand during our meeting. But when I heard the news of his death, the fact was exposed to me. He had wanted my blessings like a disciple who has done his work, and expected the blessings of his Master. And I blessed him. And also after I heard the news of his death, and I recalled to my mind the features of his face, the mode of his talking and something clandestine in his eyes, when he met with me during his visit, I realized, that all that was due to the inward premonition about his approaching death, and the feeling of sadness for leaving me which prevailed upon his mind. May Allah bless you and your work, my dear Wasif. May Allah accept your labour and grant you a favourable place in heaven.
Wasif as I found him was, sincere, and friendly. He was simple, though had a deep sense of self respect. He was honest, truthful, pure, shining. Nature had bestowed him with great excellence of mind and had granted him very keen intellect. It was difficult to judge from his elegant appearance that a Dervish sat within him. I saw in him a paragon of humanity. Things like rancour, enmity, jealously, slander had no place in his heart. He was pure gold, and well deserved the place he was ordained in the world of mystic writings and humanity.
Mankind today is in great distress inspite of plenty of facilities provided by the scientific material progress. There is no contentment. Selfishness prevails in an atmosphere of mutual mistrust and distrust and hatred. Blood relation has lost its meanings, and faith has lost its strength in human mind. Moral and spiritual values are regarded as the things of the past and unnecessary. Dismay, depression, fear, sense of no personal safety have reached the mark of psychological ailment. Maddening greed and the necessity of wealth have changed the men into animals. Man today considers the life as a course of torture and punishment, and finds no way out of it. The fear of the painful atomic hazards are besides. And despite all these hellish troubles man of today does not know the causes that have produced such a braying, burning hell for the mankind. Corruption and crime are reaching the highest point, and man does not know how to stop all this, and how to find peace and peace of mind.
Wasif has written four books, namely, Kiran Kiran Suraj and Dil Darya Samundar and Qatra Qatra Qulzam and Harf Harf Haqiqat. In these books He has given writings in which may be found the remedies for the maladies of the present-day mankind as are given above. These marvelous works which Wasif has written with the blood of his heart and with supernatural skill are specially suited to the mankind of this modern age, and are effective, and may well be included in the list of the great books of Islamic mysticism written by great Islamic sages of the past ages. Wasif will gradually rise as a great benefactor of humanity.
And now at last let us sing a very prescient and popular song of the past age with Wasif, which Wasif has quoted, in his Dil Darya Samudar page 239, namely:-
That is :-
“Come friends let us go together to pick the peeloon (a wild seasonal fruit, which is generally picked in teams). They all came to pick the peeloon, and eventually became like Freedun dazed. Leaving rest, quiet and stability come friends, let us go to pick together pee-loon".

Allama Yousuf Gabriel,
Idara Tasnifate Gabriel QA St. Nawababad Wah Cantt Distt Rawalpind Paksitan.
Yousuf_gabriel@yahoo.com
www.oqasa.org
www.awans.com.pk

As a Sufi

Wasif Ali Wasif was indeed a dervish

Dervish

A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...

and sufi and in the final part of his life acted as a murshid

Murshid

Murshid is Arabic for "guide" or "teacher". Particularly in Sufism it refers to a Sufi teacher. The term is used by other branches of Islam as well, e.g. by the Nizaris, the main school of Ismā‘īlī Shiites....

to many. He was a person in possession of great knowledge

Knowledge

Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...

and wisdom

Wisdom

Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and...

. He considered himself as a continuation of the great Sufi tradition, imparting useful knowledge, strong faith, hope and love to the ailing hearts. Qudratullah Shahab, Ashfaq Ahmed

Ashfaq Ahmed

and Hanif Ramay

Hanif Ramay

attended lectures of Wasif Ali Wasif. It was in the last writing of Qudratullah Shahab which appeared in the Urdu

Urdu

newspaper Daily Jang

Daily Jang

The Daily Jang is an Urdu newspaper based in Pakistan. It is the oldest newspaper of Pakistan in continuous publication since its foundation in 1939. Its current Group Chief Executive & Editor-in-Chief is Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman....

describing that if a person reaches a crossroads of his life, he can find a right path through Wasif Ali Wasif.

Quotes

His messages are easy to understand and simple to act upon. A brief selection of his famous quotes is presented below:

Belief in God, without belief in the Prophet (SAWW), would still be unbelief.
When the eye becomes the heart, the heart becomes the eye.
The world is ancient, but it has not lost its newness.
A man is happy who is happy with his Naseeb.
Do not destroy anybody's peace. You will find peace.
Democracy is the name of the period between two martial laws.
Remove the conflict between your desires and your duties, peace will come.
When the child is ill, the mother will know how to pray.
Investigation after declaration of submission leads astray.
Death is the protector of life and life is the process of death.
Life is not only Newton, it is also Milton.
He who has no light in his heart, what will he gain from the festival of lamps.
A more fearful thing than death is the fear of death.
Students are the real inheritors of country.
The period before the dawn of knowledge is called the age of darkness.
Man neither loses nor gains in this world. He just comes here and departs.
When Allah accepts repentance for sin, He wipes out the very memory of sin.
One who has no beloved in the country can never love the country.
He who is drowned in sin, is devoid of faith in prayer.

Though translation from the original Urdu text certainly reduces the literary beauty and flow of the words quoted above but still they show in their terseness the quality of his thought and diction.

Works

Shab Chiragh (Urdu Poetry) 1978
Kiran Kiran Sooraj (Aphorism) 1983
The Beaming Soul (English Version of Kiran Kiran Sooraj) 198?
Dil Darya Samundar (Essays) 1987
Qatra Qatra Qulzum (Essays) 1989
Ocean in Drop (English version Of Qatra Qatra Qulzam) 19??
Harf Harf Haqeeqat (Essays) 1994
Bharay Bharolay (Punjabi Poetry) 1994
Shab Raaz (Urdu Poetry) 1994
Baat Say Baat (Aphorism) 1995
Gumnam Adeeb (Letters) 19??
Mukalama (Dialogue,Speeches & Interview) 19??
Ziker-e-Habeeb (SAWW) (Na'tia Poetry) 2004
Dareechay (Aphorism) 2004
Guftgoo (Questions & Answers Series - 26 volumes)

External links

Listen to "Qatra Qatra Qulzam" by Wasif Ali Wasif
http://www.wasifaliwasif.pk Dedicated sites with works
Wasif Ali Wasif, from wasifaliwasif.org
Works of Wasif Ali Wasif (read online), from wasifaliwasif.org

Articles

Seminar to commemorate Wasif Ali Wasif, from Daily Times
Do we choose our own destiny or are we merely characters in a play?, from The Muslim council of Britain

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