It runs in our veins with blood. It’s difficult from a righteous and one with morals to keep himself away from the love for his motherland. Whether it’s a war or a world cup semi-final match, whenever it’s regarding our country, it unconsciously grasps our attention. This love and devotion for our country lies in the deep inside us. By one or another way, we all try to express our feelings and emotions. Green and white flags on the balconies and roofs, stickers on the arms and cheeks, paintings, songs, adorning the city with flags and symbols, trying to catch every blissful moment in which our love to the country is expressed – these are all the ways and methods we use to express our love and feelings for our country.
Poetry has remained always admiring and motivating in every age to several kind of people. Patriotic poetry has played an important role in the history. Pakistan has been blessed by Allah with the patriotic poets who with their intellect have written such poetry which has become the base for the beginning of the great national movements. Still the poems of Iqbal arise the feelings in our hearts and make us proud of our country no matter how challenging situations we feel today.
It is related to heart and deep feelings within that we love our country so much. These feelings of heart are deeply defined by Sufis. They explore the deep secrets of our heart and soul. When it comes to Sufism, patriotic poetry becomes much delicate when Sufis express their love for the country in their own special and unique way. We will be discussing the patriotic feelings of one of the greatest Sufi poets of Pakistan - Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
Although his love for his own country is reflected in several chapters of Shah Jo Risalo, it has also an entire separate chapter Sur Marui in which Latif sings the songs of love and affection of Marui for his motherland. Marui was kidnapped from her hometown and taken to the King Umar’s fort where Umar forced her to agree to marry her. He offered her all his wealth but she denied.
I'll burn these houses...Mansions tall
that shorn of loved-ones are
”All things return to their origin”
that's my longing's call;
May I walk home, away from all
and see my land 'malir'.
(Chapter II, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
Third Line is quoted from the Holy Quran. Latif is trying to focus on person’s origin in this verse. He says our homeland our country is our origin. No matter wherever we go our origin remains with us. We should not be starving towards the glitters of the world and must remember our country and our people and should turn back to serve them. As Holy Prophet explains that ‘be honest to your family (people) first of all’, we should also take start from our homeland in order to server humanity.
Sometimes our struggle for the welfare of our homeland does not seem fruitful to us or we do not receive appreciation from our people. This leads some of us to frustration and others to think why care about those who don’t care about us. True lovers do not need love in return. They just love.
O God, do send the messenger
who will my message bear-
I do belong to them, although
to own me they don't care...
(Chapter II, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai explains the condition of Marui when she is forcefully kept in mansion and is not allowed to back to her motherland.
Fair Marui does not wash her hair,
She does not smile or eat,
On Omar's justice relies she
who robbed her freedom sweet;-
"The havoc you have wrought, you'll meet
at your arrival 'there'."
(Chapter III, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
No matter, wherever the people go, they have their country and their origin in their hearts. Although they are away from their own country nevertheless they can feel their homeland within themselves. They always try to find or create something which reflects their motherland. Most of Pakistanis living in abroad make organizations there to represent themselves and their country. In this
To Maru needle joined my breath,
a needle, oh so fine,
My heart is there, my earthy flesh
must here to force resign;
My breath is in the thatch divine
my body's to mansions bound.
(Chapter III, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
Nations which have understanding of the importance of their past always endeavor to preserve it. All the historical places, historical remains and also our cultural symbols should be of high importance to us. These old things with our culture represent our country and give us our identity. A true patriot is one who understands the importance of these things and struggle to protect them.
Threads Maru round my wrists tied...gold
fine gold they are for me;
Omar, don't offer silks to rustic
maid, they leave me cold-
Because much dearer I do hold
my worn ancestral shawl.
(Chapter III, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
To patriots, dust and soil of their country is like gold. They always long to touch it and smell the sweet fragrance of it when it is wet by the rain-water. Marui also has this impatience to get buried in that soil when she dies. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai explains her emotions in the following lines.
Were I to breathe my last, looking
to my home longingly-
My body don't imprison here
in bondage and unfree-
A stranger from her love away
not bury separately;
The cool earth of the desert let
the dead one's cover be;
When last breath comes, O carry me
to Malir, I implore.
(Chapter III, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
Marui’s love for her country is so immense that having buried in her motherland’s soil is like life in death for her. She thinks once again she will live if she is buried in Malir.
If looking to my native land
with longing I expire;
My body carry home, that I
may rest in desert-stand;
My bones if Malir reach, at end,
though dead, I'll live again.
(Chapter III, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai has expressed his love for country in a special way and also teaches us many lessons to help us to devote our lives for the service of our country. We are created to serve the humanity. So let’s start from our country, our dear homeland. We should not consider what we get in return. That’s the true love. Serve your country even from within closed doors. Don’t run after fame even if you die unknown and your services remains hidden for a long time. Believe, they will reveal to the world some day. Love means sacrifice. That’s all what Sufis believe in.
Destiny brought me here...reside
I do unhappy here;
My body's here-my heart is there
where Maru doth abide;
May God now turn this sorrow's tide
and let me meet my love.-
(Chapter III, Marui XXVIII, Elsa Qazi)
(All the verses are translated by Elsa Qazi and are taken from http://www.sindhpk.com/files/Shahjorisalo(English).pdf)