Titles: Sachal, Sachoo / The Truthful
Date of Birth: 1739 CE
Date of Wisaal: 1829 CE
Date of Urs: 14th Ramzan
Resting at: Daraza, Khairpur Mirs, Pakistan
Hazrat Sufi Sachal Sarmast رضي الله عنه , one of the great mystics of Sindh, is known as the second Hazrat Mansoor Hallaj رضي الله عنه because of his poetry and philosophy. Sachidino, Sachoo(the truthful) and Sachal Sarmast were all names given to Hazrat Abdul Haq Farooqi because of the radical sufi pursuits with which he challenged the rigid mindset of the clergy of his times. Also called ‘shair-e-haft zaban’ because he wrote poetry in seven languages – Sindhi, Urdu, Persian, Punjabi and Balochi among them – His time saw the decline of the Kalhora dynasty and the rise of the Talpur rule in Sindh. The clergy held tremendous power over the impoverished masses and the persecution of religious minorities was the order of the day. Sufi Sarmast revolted against the mullah order with his poetry and philosophy, based on the doctrine of An’al Haqq – I am the Truth. Though his verses immortalized him, he was denounced as an infidel and sentenced to death – a decree that was never carried out due to his popularity in the court of Talpur rulers. Hazrat Sufi Sachal Sarmast رضي الله عنه belonged to the sufi sect whose doctrine was martyrdom.
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| Hazrat Sufi Sarmast |
The name Sachal Sarmast can be translated as Mystic of Truth. He is sometimes called Sachoo, The Truthful.
His teachings have often been compared with Hazrat Mansoor Hallaj رضي الله عنه, the Sufi martyr who ecstatically proclaimed, “I am the Truth.”
Rather than blindly following tradition, Sachal urged people to seek the truth directly. And like ibn Arabi and others, Sachal Sarmast taught a vision of Unity called Wahdat al-Wujud, which others have compared to the great nondualist teachings of Advaita Vedanta within Hinduism and Zen/Chan within Buddhism.
Hazrat Sufi Sachal Sarmast رضي الله عنه once said, “He (Allah is everywhere and in each and every phenomenon. He has come here just to witness His own manifestation.”
Hazrat Sufi Sachal Sarmast رضي الله عنه was born Abdul Wahab in the village of Daraza in the Sindh region. His father died when he was a young child, and Abdul Wahab was raised by his uncle, who also became his spiritual master.His soul was deeply moved by music. Listening to music, he was often enraptured, tears pouring down his face. Hazrat Sufi Sachal Sarmast married, but the young woman died two years later. He never remarried.
He took the name Sachal, Truth. Later people added Sarmast, Leader of the Ecstatics, to his name in appreciation of his spiritual poetry.
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| Shrine of Hazrat Sufi Sarmast |
Couplets would pour out from his lips, which his followers or fellow dervishes would immediately inscribe. Sachal is well known for his kalam as well as kafis conveying his spiritual message in haunting melodies. Sachal preferred solitude and silence. He never traveled out from his village Daraza. He was very simple in his attire, lifestyle, and eating habits. Soup and yoghurt were his favorites. He slept on a bare wooden bed. He was a humble man with long soft flowing hair, and penetrating eyes. He wrote mystical poetry in Arabic, Sindhi, Seraiki, Punjabi, Urdu, Farsi (Persian) and Baluchi.
Three days before his death, he retreated in a small enclave where he finally became one with the Truth on the 14th day of Ramadan in 1829 at the age of 90.
He was buried at the same place that was later on made into a beautiful and well-decorated shrine.
Poetry of Sachal Sarmast:
The brave speak the truth Let others like it or not;
For the talk of false friendship we care not.
There is no other Beloved,
There is only what I see everyday!
I was sitting by the roadside,
When the path became clear to me;
In the palace the Beloved I saw,
a glimpse the Beauty gave;
Through the window was the vision,
a glimpse the Beauty saw;
Take care of the ignorant;
Our bond was made for a reason.
I truly recognized the Lord,
My companion He sure became;
‘He is the Creator of all
and intrinsic to all’,
All doubts in this perished;
With happiness shall I carry
Sisters, if your trust I have.
All the journeys, all the manifestations
The Dear One’s own;
Friend ‘Sachal’ know this correctly,
Slumber has created illusions.
‘Tis not in religion I believe
‘Tis love I live in.
When love comes to you.
Say Amen!
‘Tis not with the infidel
that love resides
Nor with the faithful.
Friend, this is the only way
to learn the secret way:
Ignore the paths of others,
even the saints’ steep trails.
Don’t follow.
Don’t journey at all.
Rip the veil from your face.
Neither did I roll rosary, nor did I ponder and pray,
I went to no mosque or temple, nor bow in adoration to any,
Sachal is lucky everyday, love is all around him.
You by yourself, know what is in your form!
Why chant ‘Allah Allah’? Find Allah within you.
You listen, you see, Allah’s word is witness,
There is no doubt, O Sachal! that the Lord is One!
We are, what are we?
We know not, what we are!
For a moment we are blessed
For a moment we are accursed
Some moment we pray and fast
Some moment we are free spirits
Now we declare, ‘Only we exist’
Now we declare, ‘We don’t exist’
For a bit, our heart is calm
In a bit, we weep rivers
Now we say, ‘We are self-realized’
Now we ask, ‘Who are we?’
‘Sachal’ we are only That eternally
What other contracts can we make here?