Baba siyar, Khuda Dost

Arshad Irfan

A mystical Sufi poet and epical historian born in the land of Peristan in the north of Pakistan Circa 1770 CE. His father named him Khuda Dost, which means (The friend of the lord). Like his name, he became the only mystical Sufi poet of his time of Mulk-e- Chitral. Most people know him as Siyar, Baba Siyar, or Mah Siyar. However, people still remember him as Mirza Siyar; his father, Dost Muhammad, was Muhammad Baig’s grandson (1705. d).

He received his early education from his father and later came to the lower part of Chitral village named Chumurkhon and studied Persian and poetry from Mulah Habib Chumukhuni. He compiled two books in his life, Shah Nama Siyar (1810. C) and Diwan Siyar (1812 C). Shah Nama Siyar is an epic poem to praise his contemporary ruler Muhtaram Shah II. This book is known to be the first book on the history of Chitral, but the original manuscript was damaged centuries ago.

The only book which can be found in its original form is his Diwan Siyar the completion date on this book is 1227 Hijri which is 1812 CE. This book is a poetic masterpiece of all time in the mountains of the Hindu Kush written in the Persian language. Mirza Siyar was influenced by Shams Uddin Muhammad Hafiz of Shiraz, and most of the places he resembled his poetry to Nasir Ali Sarhindi (1697.d). Miza Siyar considered Nasir Ali Sarhindi as his spiritual teacher.

Siyar’s poetry clarifies how to get the most out of our lives, and it embraces a purposeful life, transcendence and actualisation of different dimensions and capacities of human beings. His poetry teaches sanctification (Tazkiya nafs ), and the core of spirituality is based on Tazkiya nafs, which means purification of self. This refers to transforming the nafs (carnal self or desires) from its deplorable state of self-centrality through various spiritual forms towards the level of purity. This level of purity triumphs through autonomy, submission to God’s will, meditation and modesty.

نمی باشد صفائی در شبستان وجود من

یکن روشن دلم را ازکرم چوں شمع محفل ہا

“The complexity of my existence cannot be pure by its own. Oh God with your clemency please enlighten the darkness of my heart”

مکن سیر بہ بلندی بگاہ از پستی

کہ آخر این فلک بے مدار لرزد وریزد

“o Siyar don’t gaze to the sky from downwardness, this unhinged sky will perish one day (but your modesty will remain forever)”

یافتم در ظلمت شب این دل بیدار را

درمیان گرد پنہان گوہر نایاب بود

دیدہ وا کردم در دل بستہ دیدم اے سیر

چشم پوشیدن بروے خویش فتح الباب بود

“I found my heart awaken in between the darkness of nights like a precious pearl hidden in a dust.

Oh Siyar by opening your eyes you found the doors of your heart closed, by closing your eyes (meditation) is the opening of the doors”