Sunday, February 10, 2008

HAZRAT SACHAL SARMAST ( RAHMATULLAH ALAYEH )

Sachal Sarmast (1739-1829) (Sindhi: سچلُ سرمستُ ) (Urdu: سچل سرمست ) was a renowned SindhiSufi poet during the Kalhora era. Abdul Wahab was his real name and "Sachal" was the name he used in his own poetry. Sachu means truth in Sindhi and Sachalu means truthful. Sarmast means mystic in Sindhi and Urdu. Suchal Sarmast literally means 'truthful mystic'. Sachal Sarmast was an ardent follower of Wahdat-ul-Wujood, an Islamic Philosophy synonymous with Hamah Oost.

Poetry of Sachal Sarmast


The brave speak the truth

Let others like it or not;

For the talk of false friendship we care not.

"Sarmast" (pronounced Sarimastu in Sindhi, meaning leader of the 'intoxicated' or 'mad') is the title often used by his followers. The title, given to him first by Agha Sufi, a compiler of his Risalo (collection of poems), refers to the fact that Sachal was intoxicated by love.

Sachal Sarmast was an ardent follower of Wahdat-ul-Wujood (unity of existence), an Islamic Philosophy synonymous with Hamah Oost (all from One), and Advaita Vedanta philosophy. The concept of Hamah Oost (all from One) is similar to that found in Advaita Vedanta philosophy. Sachal says (translation by Gul Agha):

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.

Like other sufis of Sindh, Sachal made no distinctions based on religion, but regarded love as the path to spirituality:

'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.

Rather, Sachal advocated self-realization as the path to liberation. Sachal says (translation by Jethmal Parsram Gulrajani):

O friend! this is the only way to learn

the secrets of the path:

Follow not the road of another, however

virtuous he may be.

Rend the veil over thee,

Searcher expose thy being.

Books on Sachal


  • Study of Mysticism in Darazi:

School of Sufi Thought:

Author: Dr.Sakhi Qabool Muhammad Faruqi: -Sajjada Nashin.: Publisher: Darazi Publications:

  • Priceless Pearls Picked from Wonderous Waters of Wisdom:

Author: Dr.Sakhi Qabool Muhammad Faruqi - Sajjada Nashin.:

  • SachalSarmast:

Edited by:Tanveer Abbasi: Publisher: Sachal Chair:

  • SachalJo Kalam urf Aashiqi Ilham (Sindhi):

Publisher: Sachal Chair:

  • Muntakhab alam Sachal Sarmast (Urdu):

Publisher: Sachal Chair:

  • Sachal Sarmast (Sindh):

Author - Jethmal Parsram : Publisher-Sachal Chair: (7)Sarmast(Sindhi) Arrangedby: Muhammad Ali Hadaad Publisher: Sachal Sarmast Yadgar Committee.

  • Sachal Sarmast Ja Talib (Sindhi):

Author - Dr.Nawaz Ali Shauq: Publisher-Sachal Chair:


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