***BULLEH SHAH: SELECTED POEMS***Translation & Introduction by Paul SmithBulleh Shah (1680-1758) was a Sufi poet who composed in Punjabi and settled in Kasur, now in Pakistan. His Spiritual Master was Shah Inayat. The poetic form Bulleh Shah is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. His poetry and philosophy strongly criticizes the Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day. His time was marked with communal strife between Muslims and Sikhs. But in that age Bulleh Shah was a beacon of hope and peace for the citizens of the Punjab. Several of his songs or kafis are still regarded as an integral part of the traditional repertoire of qawwali, the musical genre that represents the devotional music of the Sufis. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these poems. 141 pages.COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'.“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all.” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. “Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart.“I was very impressed with the beauty of these books.” Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. “Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz.” Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author of poems inspired by Hafiz). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages, including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Jahan Khatun and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays.www.newhumanitybooksbookheaven.com

BULLEH SHAH: PUNJABI SUFI POET Selected Poems (Large Print & Large Format Edition) Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was a Sufi poet who composed in Punjabi and settled in Kasur, now in Pakistan. His Spiritual Master was Shah Inayat. The poetic form Bulleh Shah is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. His poetry and philosophy strongly criticizes the Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day. His time was marked with communal strife between Muslims and Sikhs. But in that age Bulleh Shah was a beacon of hope and peace for the citizens of the Punjab. Several of his songs or kafis are still regarded as an integral part of the traditional repertoire of qawwali, the musical genre that represents the devotional music of the Sufis. Here is also a large selection of his dohas, single couplet rhyming poems. Introduction on his Life, Times & Poems & Influence and on Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry, Selected Bibliography. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these powerful, spiritual poems. Large Print (18pt), Large Format (8" x 10") Edition. 198 pages. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages, including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Jahan Khatun, Iqbal, Ghalib, Seemab, Jigar, Urfi and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays.

THE BOOK OF BULLEH SHAH Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was a Sufi poet who composed in Punjabi and settled in Kasur, now in Pakistan. His Spiritual Master was Shah Inayat. The poetic form Bulleh Shah is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. His poetry and philosophy strongly criticizes the Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day. His time was marked with communal strife between Muslims and Sikhs. But in that age Bulleh Shah was a beacon of hope and peace for the citizens of the Punjab. Several of his songs or kafis are still regarded as an integral part of the traditional repertoire of qawwali, the musical genre that represents the devotional music of the Sufis. Introduction on his Life, Times & Poems & on Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry, Selected Bibliography, Two Appendixes on his Life & Poetry & Influence.The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these poems. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 193 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author of Hafiz). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages, including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Jahan Khatun, Iqbal, Ghalib, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com

SEVEN 'SHAHS' OF SUFI POETRY Selected Poems Mas'ud Shah, Shah Ni'mat'ullah, Shah Da'i, Qutub Shah, Shah Latif, Bulleh Shah & Nur 'Ali Shah Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Mas'ud Shah (1048-1122) originally came from Hamadan. In the beginning he was at the court of the prince of Ghazneh and governor of India Sayfu'-daula Mahmud and quickly progressed in wealth and honour. When he was forty he was thrown into prison after being wrongfully accused along with his patron of treachery by Sultan Ibrahim. He became a 'Servant of God' or a Sufi and a bit of a hermit. His famous Habsiyyat, (prison-songs) are among the most interesting poems in the Persian language. Shah Ni'mat'ullah (1330-1431) was the founder of an order of Sufis that is today the largest in Iran. As well as a Sufi Master he was a poet who at times used 'Sayyid' as his takhallus or pen-name. He was influenced by Ibn 'Arabi and Hafiz.. He composed many prose works on Sufism and his Divan contains over 13,000 couplets, mostly ghazals and ruba'is. Shah Da'i (1406-1464) was born and passed away in Shiraz. He was initiated into Sufism by Abu Ishaq Bahrami known as 'The Shaikh of Four Books', a leader or representative of Shah Ni'mat'ullah. Among Shah Dai's works are a number of risalahs (Essays) including interpretations of Koranic verses, a translation of a short work of Ibn 'Arabi. Qutub Shah (1565-1611) was the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golconda in South India. He founded the city of Hyderabad. Qutub Shah was a scholar of Arabic and Persian. He wrote poetry in Urdu and Persian. Qutub Shah had the distinction of being the first Urdu poet and is credited with introducing a new sensibility into prevailing genres of Persian/Urdu poetry. He was also a mystic or Sufi poet. Shah Latif (1689-1752) was a Sufi Master and is considered by many to be the greatest poet of the Sindhi language. His book of poetry is called the Risalo. His shrine is located in Bhit and attracts hundreds of pilgrims every day. He is the most famous Sindhi poet and Sufi. Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was a Sufi poet who composed in Punjabi and settled in Kasur, now in Pakistan. His Spiritual Master was Shah Inayat. The poetic form Bulleh Shah used is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. Nur 'Ali Shah (1760-1796). The 36th Qutub or Perfect Master or 'Pole' of the Ni'matullah Sufi Order was born in Isfahan. The Ulama of Kirmansh 'Ali Bihbahani who was nick-named 'the Sufi killer' saw the Sufi Poet Nur 'Ali Shah as a threat and he was poisoned. The correct rhyme-structure for the first time has been achieved in all poems. Biographies of all poets and essays on Sufi Poetry & its Forms, Selected Bibliographies. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Iqbal, Ghalib, Makhfi, Lalla Ded, Nazir, Iqbal, Seemab, Jigar and many others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books. memoir and a dozen screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa

DIVAN OF BULLEH SHAH Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Bulleh Shah (1680-1758) was a Sufi poet who composed in Punjabi and settled in Kasur, now in Pakistan. His Spiritual Master was Shah Inayat. The poetic form Bulleh Shah is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. His poetry and philosophy strongly criticizes the Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day. His time was marked with communal strife between Muslims and Sikhs. But in that age Bulleh Shah was a beacon of hope and peace for the citizens of the Punjab. Several of his songs or kafis are still regarded as an integral part of the traditional repertoire of qawwali, the musical genre that represents the devotional music of the Sufis. Here is also a large selection of his dohas, single couplet rhyming poems. Introduction on his Life, Times & Poems & Influence and on Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry, Selected Bibliography. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these powerful, spiritual poems. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 190 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author of Hafiz). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages, including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Jahan Khatun, Iqbal, Ghalib, Seemab, Jigar, Dard, Zahir, Urfi and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com

"First published in 1982 by Vanguard Publications Ltd. Lahore"--Title page verso.

Written from the ninth to the twentieth century, these poems represent the peak of Islamic Mystical writing, from Rabia Basri to Mian Mohammad Baksh. Reflecting both private devotional love and the attempt to attain union with God and become absorbed into the Divine, many poems in this edition are imbued with the symbols and metaphors that develop many of the central ideas of Sufism: the Lover, the Beloved, the Wine, and the Tavern; while others are more personal and echo the poet's battle to leave earthly love behind. These translations capture the passion of the original poetry and are accompanied by an introduction on Sufism and the common themes apparent in the works. This edition also includes suggested further reading.

THE FOUR 'BABAS' OF SUFI POETRY Baba Tahir, Baba Azfal, Baba Farid & Rahman Baba SELECTED POEMS Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Baba Tahir, or Oryan ('The Naked') of Hamadan... approx. 990-1065, was a great God-intoxicated, or God-mad soul (mast) and possibly a Qutub (Perfect Master) who composed about 120 known ruba'i in a simpler metre than the usual 'hazaj' metre. His simple, mystical poems that he would sing while wandering naked throughout the land had a profound influence on Sufis and dervishes and other ruba'i composers, especially Abu Sa'id, Ibn Sina and Omar Khayyam. Included in the Introduction... the life of Baba Tahir, an essay on the ruba'i and on Sufi Poetry. Bibliography. Baba Afzal (1186-1256) came from Maraq near Kashan. He is the author of many Persian works on philosophical and metaphysical subjects and translated the Arabic version of Aristotle's 'The Book of the Soul' into Persian. He was a Sufi and the author of about 500 mystical and at times controversial ruba'is . He is one of the greatest poets among the philosophers of Islam and one of the greatest of this form. Introduction includes: The Life, Times & Work of Baba Afzal, The father of Punjabi poetry Baba Farid (1173-1266) was born in the Punjab. Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki was Baba Farid's Spiritual Master. Kaki met Mu'in ud-din Chishti at Baghdad and became his disciple. Farid, the Sufi Master poet laureate from Punjab is famous for his wise and spiritual couplets (slokas)... 112 of them are in the bible of the Sikhs. Hospitals and factories and even a town named after him. Introduction on The Life, Times and Poetry of Baba Farid. Rahman Baba (1652 to 1711) is considered the greatest Sufi Pashtun poet to compose poems, mainly ghazals, in the Pashtu language. Born in Mohmand region of Afghanistan near Peshawar he was called 'The Nightingale of Peshawar'. This was a time of struggle and hardship and in the midst of the turmoil he was an excellent student with a natural gift for poetry. His Divan is 343 poems... ghazals and a few qasidas and mukhammas. Introduction is on his Life & Times & Poetry and the Forms in which he wrote. The correct rhyme-structure is kept as well as the meaning of these beautiful, enlightened poems by all four great Sufi poets. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" Pages 498. Paul Smith (b.1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Sa'di, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mu'in, Abu Nuwas, Ibn al-Farid, Seemab, Jigar, Lalla Ded, Hali, Baba Farid and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, children's books, biographies and a dozen screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com

A modern translation of verses by Bullhe Shah, the iconic eighteenth-century Sufi poet, treasured by readers worldwide to this day. Bullhe Shah’s work is among the glories of Panjabi literature, and the iconic eighteenth-century poet is widely regarded as a master of mystical Sufi poetry. His verses, famous for their vivid style and outspoken denunciation of artificial religious divisions, have long been beloved and continue to win audiences around the world. This striking new translation is the most authoritative and engaging introduction to an enduring South Asian classic.