"If I interpret love for all time, A hundred resurrections will pass; And yet my commentary will not end" - Sachal Sarmast

Abdul Wahab, fondly known by his disciples as Sachal Sarmast, (intoxicated man of god and truth) was born in 1739 in a village called Daraza in Khairpur. He spread the message of divine love through his poetry, which embodied the principles of mysticism and according to him was 'divine' inspiration.

He was fond of ‘sama’ (music) and would always be found absorbed in meditation. He wrote his poetry in seven languages, including Sindhi, Seraiki and Persian, and earned titles from his devotees like Haft-i-Zuban Shair (the poet of seven languages) and Sartaj-us-Shuara. There are nine compilations of his Persian poetry, notably the Diwan-i-Ashkar and Dard Nama, which consist of mainly philosophical verses. However, it is his Sindhi and Seraiki work that is celebrated the most.

He was an ascetic and lived to the age of 90 years. He passed away on Ramazan 1829 AD and his belongings were buried alongside the graves of his father, grandfather, uncle and cousins in the mausoleum later on built by Mir Rustam Khan Talpur, the ruler of Khairpur.

"Where crowds are, there I am not", said Sachal Sarmast. Each year in Ramazan, though, thousands of people gather at his shrine in Daraza for his Urs.

Opinion

Editorial

War & deception
09 Mar, 2026

War & deception

AS Sun Tzu, the master Chinese strategist of antiquity put it, “all warfare is based on deception”. Propaganda...
The witness box
09 Mar, 2026

The witness box

IT is often the fear of the courtroom and what may transpire therein that drives many victims of crime, especially...
Asylum applications
09 Mar, 2026

Asylum applications

BRITAIN’S tough immigration posture has again drawn attention to the sharp rise in asylum claims by Pakistani...
Petrol shock
Updated 08 Mar, 2026

Petrol shock

With oil markets bracing for more volatility, more price shocks are inevitable in the coming weeks.
Women’s Day
08 Mar, 2026

Women’s Day

IT is a simple truth: societies progress when women are able to shape them. Yet the struggle for equality has never...
Rescuing hockey
08 Mar, 2026

Rescuing hockey

PAKISTAN hockey is back to where it should be. Years of misses came to an end on Friday with a long-awaited...