Haji Waris Ali Shah was a popular Sufi saint in the 19th century. Preaching love and peace, he used to advocate Hindu-Muslim unity. His dargah in Dewa continued to be a lighthouse of harmony where both communities celebrated their festivals together, upholding his words that humanity is bigger than faith. His legacy continues to inspire unity within India.
By Sahil Razvi
It was during the early 19th century that the soil of Dewa in Uttar Pradesh became the spiritual abode of one of the most revered Sufi saints of India-Haji Waris Ali Shah, fondly known as Waris Pak. His teachings transcended the boundaries of religion, bringing together people from diverse faiths, particularly Hindus and Muslims, in a bond of spiritual unity. The message of love, peace, and harmony in religion that Haji Waris Ali Shah promulgates continues to reverberate in the hearts of millions, showing a world where humanity stands above religious differences.
A Symbol for Unity: ‘Jo Rab Hai, Wahi Ram Hai’
The life and teachings of Haji Waris Ali Shah were guided by the belief in the oneness of God-a concept associated with the very core of Islam and Hinduism. His statement, “Jo Rab hai, wahi Ram hai” (The God of Muslims is the same as that of the Hindus), beautifully captures the essence of his philosophy. He showed them that all ways of spirituality end at the same divine truth, which may be addressed with different names by every religion. This message of unity attracted both Hindus and Muslims and helped in creating an atmosphere of communal harmony and mutual respect.
His shrine in Deva continues to stand tall as a strong symbol of that unity, where people come, irrespective of their religions, in search of his blessings. Even today, his teachings draw large crowds of devotees-the timeless relevance of his message of oneness. Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
Haji Waris Ali Shah was born in the early 1800s and was destined for spiritual greatness. He is also fondly called ‘Mitthan Miyan’. As a child, he was gifted and had memorized the Holy Quran at a very tender age. His lineage could be traced back through Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, thus having a rich spiritual heritage.
His parents having died when he was very young, Haji Waris Ali Shah was orphaned and was brought up by relatives. They implanted a lot of spirituality and religious knowledge in him. Under the guidance of his brother-in-law, Hazrat Haji Khadim Ali Shah, he got initiated into Sufism and spiritual orders in Qadriya, Chishtiya, and Alia before he was 11 years old. This rapid spiritual growth underlined his phenomenal capabilities, setting the stage for the transformative role he was destined to play in the advancement of communal harmony.
Sufi Teachings and Cross-Religious Appeal
The spiritual sojourn of Haji Waris Ali Shah extended far beyond the precincts of India. The sublime love and brotherhood he preached allured not only the commoners but also various leading figures of the entire world. He went on the pilgrimage of Hajj 17 times, a testament to his devotion to Islam; yet, his message of unity resonated universally. His influence was such that he had been invited to the international leaders’ respective courts, including German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Russian Princess Jufa, and Queen Victoria of England, in recognition of his teachings containing wisdom.
Yet, it was in India that the message of unity preached by Haji Waris Ali Shah found the most profound impact. Preaching the unity of God and the interrelationship between all paths leading to the Almighty, he attracted both Hindus and Muslims as his followers. His presence thus served as a bridge between two major religions in India-reinforcing the belief that love and spirituality transcend religious differences.
Dargah of Dewa: A Living Example of Communal Harmony
The shrine of Hazrat Haji Waris Ali Shah in Dewa is as much a place of pilgrimage for Muslims alone as it is a unifying factor for everyone. One of the most outstanding features of his dargah is the annual celebration of Holi, a noisily colorful Hindu festival of colors. Every year, Hindus and Muslims join in to celebrate Holi at the shrine-a tradition begun during the lifetime of the saint and continued to this day as living testimony to Hindu-Muslim unity.
I spoke to a few people who visited the shrine of Hazrat Waris Ali Shah in Dewa Sharif. Mohammad Adil from Moradabad recounted: “One experiences spiritual peace at the shrine. I found the number of people from the Hindu community almost equated the number of Muslims there. It was my maiden visit to Dewa, and found the shrine to be immensely popular.
Another Hindu devotee, Pradeep Upadhyay, said, “I often visit the shrine of Hazrat Waris Piya. My mother told me about him, saying a very great personality rests in Dewa. Since then, a desire stirred in my heart to visit Hazrat. I went to Dewa Sharif for the first time in 2018.”
This is further solidified by the very fact that the dargah was built by Haji Waris Ali Shah’s very close Hindu friend Raja Pancham Singh. As a consequence, the celebrations of Holi here are colorful and boisterous, as far as communal harmony is concerned. The people of all hues come together to play colors with one another, a true mish-mash of different faiths all merged into one.
This tradition questions the exclusivist view that religious festivals are one group’s or another’s. The Holi celebrations at dargah prove a real reminder that love, spirituality, and brotherhood do not stop at religious borders. People of all religions come together to share in the joy of the festival, heaping a lot of credence upon the tenet of unity preached by Haji Waris Ali Shah throughout his life.
Legacy of Peace and Brotherhood
Haji Waris Ali Shah died in 1905, but his memory still lives on with the annual Urs, which is celebrated in his dargah. The Urs draws devotees from across the world and remains a reminder of the message of the saint for peace, love, and brotherhood.
In a world that often gets fragmented on religious lines, the preachings of Haji Waris Ali Shah flash as a lighthouse of hope. His life itself was a grim testimony that humanity and love are greater than any religious divide. His message of the essence of all religions being founded on love, peace, and unity is still relevant to this day, more so in India, where religious diversity has always been a hallmark of the nation’s fabric.
The legacy of Haji Waris Ali Shah had been a lesson for unity. His life and lessons taught people that the essence of religion is not to divide but to come together, join hearts. His dargah remains a place where Hindus and Muslims come together through love and brotherhood. It is a powerful example of communal harmony in India.
What Haji Waris Ali Shah preached about oneness, love, and communal harmony is as relevant in these times as it was during his times. To a world that is often fragile, where religious differences prevail, this message clearly shows a way ahead: that at the heart of every spiritual tradition lies a common commitment toward love, peace, and unity.
Sahil Razvi is an author and research scholar specialising in Sufism and history. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. For inquiries, you can email him at sahilrazvii@outlook.com.