Precious Sufi Teachings

By Saadia Khalid, "Promotion of Sufis’ messages urged to suppress extremism" - The News International - Karachi, Pakistan
Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Islamabad: The speakers at a seminar stressed the need to preach, practice and promote the massages of Sufis in order to suppress the violence, extremism and terrorism in the society.

The seminar was held Monday in connection with the launch of poetic collection ‘Na’ara-e-Haq’ comprised poetry of renowned Sufi poet Hazrat Budhal Faqir, organised by Shahanshah Hazrat Budhal Society in collaboration with Daira-e-Islamabad. The book is translated by Ghulam Nabi Sadhayo.

The participants of the seminar said that Budhal was a celebrated figure and an epitome of intellect, reflection and self-actualisation.Talking on the occasion Federal Minister for Health Mir Ijaz Hussain Jhakrani said that the current extremism and sectarianism was because of our ignorance of precious Sufi teachings.

“We never bother to take a chance to read and understand the meaningful poetry of our great Sufi poets who devoted their whole life for the promotion of religion Islam,” he said.

He said that there were two opinions regarding the promotion of Islam in the subcontinent as the one group was of the opinion that Islam was promoted by the rulers of that time and the second said that it was because of the dedication of Sufis. “According to me it was the Sufis who promoted Islam through their selfless dedication and their excellent way of teaching,” he said.

Jhakrani said that the poetic collection should also be translated into English in order to spread the massage of peace universally. “It is also necessary in order to make the people around the world know that we are peaceful people and not terrorists as they think of us,” he said.

Federal Minister for Railway Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that the Sufis in their particular way of teaching inspire people to accept the peaceful religion of Islam. “There was not a single contradiction between their saying and practicing as whatever they said, they also practiced it putting themselves as a positive example in front of others,” he said.

The minister said that there would have been no sectarianism or extremism, had we followed the teachings of Sufis. “The teachings of Sufis are full of guidance as they guide us the ways of truth and modesty and stops us from the things that are prohibited in Islam,” he said.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Allama Hamid Saeed Kazmi said that it was inevitable in present circumstances to popularise the massages of Sufis. “It is the need of the time to make people aware of their writings and poetry which not only shows the right path but also explain the significance of following it,” he said.

The minister said that the poetry of Budhal was not only a beautiful amalgamation of flowery words but also carries very deep messages in it. “The messages of Budhal are effective because he first implemented on himself and than taught to others,” he said.

A renowned scholar, Hashim Abro, said that Budhal was an advocate of people’s pain and pathos and ever spoke of people’s right.

“His poetry comprises the messages of peace, prosperity, progress, reconciliation, recognition, realisation and reforms in its truer sense,” he said. Abro said that the poetry of Budhal not only speaks of a particular area of country but of humanity at large.

Hazrat Budhal Faqir committee president Sain Khair Mohammad Sathar said that the idea behind the translation was to familiarize people about the precious messages hidden in Budhal poetry.

“We want people belonging to all parts of the world to know that Islam was the religion of peace and teaches to behave nicely even to non-Muslims,” he said.