Hafiz-e-Alpuri a well known Pushto poet of Shangla

Photo of Mazar of Hafiz-e-Alpuri

Photo of Mazar of Hafiz-e-Alpuri

Shangla is a land of evergreen trees, pastures, cold and sweet springs, singing birds, beautiful waterfalls, waving fields, murmuring streams, snow covered and green mountains, coloured flowers, fragrant air, brave Yousafzai phatans and historical stories which gave birth to great religious scholars, poets, politicians and famous personalities, who raised the heads of Pushtoons with pride in the whole world. Among them one of the famous name is Hafiz-e- Alpuri who as a poet served the Pushto literature a lot.

According to “Tawarikh-e-Rahmat Khwani” of Roshan Khan his real name was Abdul Samad. He opened his eyes in a beautiful valley of Ghwarband, Alpuri in Shangla. He belonged to the famous Mandan Yousafzai tribe of Pushtoon. He migrated here from Utmanzi Charsadda and settled here in Shangla.

He was a great poet of Pushto as well as a great religious scholar, a pious person and Hafiz-e- Quran. He was known as Hafiz-e- Alpuri because he had learnt the holy Quran by heart and belonged to village Alpuri. He traveled to Peshawar, Mardan, Buner, Swat and other surrounding areas for getting religious education. He received his early education at Khwaza Khela which was a great centre of Islamic education at that time.

When he was born, there was un Islamic customs in Shangla, Swat, Buner, dir, and other surrounding areas. He teach the people to lead their lives according to Islam and expressed his revolutionary thoughts through his poetry to eradicate the un Islamic customs and to enlighten the life of people with Islamic ways of life.

He added a new chapter in Pushto literature by completing a collection of his poetry called Dewan-e- Hafiz-e- Alpuri. Dewan-e- Hafiz-e-Alpuri was published after his death for the first time 1927, and for the second time in 1932. His poetry is classified into five chapters on the basis of composition. Chapter one contains oneness of God and Prophet hood, second real love with God, third code and conduct of life and fifth counsels and advices.

He used Persian and Arabic words very beautifully in his poetry, He is well known poet of Pushto. Those who have aesthetic sense for poetry and literature know his verses by heart.

He was a staunch, pious and a punctual Muslim scholar. The purpose of his poetry teaches to do the right and condemn the wrong.

He loved Islam whole heartedly. His love for All mighty Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is proved by his poetry.He was the poet of reality, though his poetry also contains verses about worldly things like beloved, wine etc. His real and spiritual poetry enlightened the mind of people and the love for All Mighty Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is increased.

He was an egoist, content and monotheist poet. His poetry reflects the real love for All Mighty Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and the real code and conduct of Islamic way of life. There are a lot of stories about his saintliness and his miracles.

Hafiz-e- Alpuri passed away at the age of 67 years in 1225 Hijhra. He was buried in Alpuri on Khwaza Khela Besham road among lush green mountains near the Ghwarban River.

Some of the verses of the Hafiz-e- Alpuri are stated here.


1. “Sal zala ka oki da Ka’abe na tawafoona,”“Khar da Masiha ba da Hajiano qareen na she”
Translation; - If the donkey of hazrat Esa (PBUH) walks around Ka’aba a hundred times, He can’t reach the degrees of pilgrims.

2. “Pa daro ka da neizay zakham raghegi”“Rogh ban a she pa daro zakham da jabay”
Translation;- The wounds of spear can be treated but the wounds of tongue can’t be treated.

3. “Bia mond darweshano khwand da khawro pa kandool ki”“Hich latafat na ka da shahano jam zareen ta “
Translation;- Saints have tasted such a pleasure in the cup of mud that they never look at the golden cup of the kings.

4. “Dunia sarab da nadanan ye oba yakhey ganri”“Mahroom tre droomi tashna lab qata’a la aba”
Translation; - This world is mirage and fools mistake it for cold spring of water. But they lose hope when they leave the world with thrust and deprivation.

5. “Pa sro shondo ki wor day hoom oba de”“Dwarha zest ka pa yaw zai ke be jadala”
Translation; - Fire and water dwell at the same time in red lips without any fighting.

6. “Ta che pa Ghwarband ke shanakht qemat ghwarhi Hafiza”“Bovid a mushk ghwari da dabgaro pa dukan ke”
Translation; - O, Hafiz! You want identity and value in Ghwarband (Alpuri area). It is as if you want to buy scents in the shop of hides (skins).

SULTAN ROMEADVOCATE HIGH COURT
SHANGLA LAW CHAMBER
SHANGLA DISTRICT BAR ASSOCIATIONAT
AL PURI, DISTRICT SHANGLA,
NWFP PAKISTAN
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