Wasifuddin Dagar
It is difficult to describe Sufism. It is even more difficult to describe the teachings of Sufi masters. It is an experience to be absorbed, followed, and internalized. Sufism to me is something pure, serene, clear, opaque, spontaneous, subdued, sustainable, meant for a lifetime. It is a way of life to be understood deeply as one gets familiar with one’s inner life’s journey.
Hazrat Amir Abdullah Khan, popularly known as Mastaan Baba, was my friend philosopher and guide. My beloved Sheikh! When I met him for the first time, I was not able to fathom him. After some meetings, when one was allowed to enter his aura, the transformation was inevitable.
“Let it” was Baba’s adorable way of responding to situations. Just leave it. Just let it be. It became the learning of my life. The acceptance of things, people, and life. To move on.
Baba had a unique way to practice and preach Al-Haq (truthfulness), Al–Wadud (unconditional love), and AlKarim (generosity) – the keys to come closer to Almighty Allah. On one hand, he would stress upon learning the verses of the Holy Quran. Then suddenly, the focus would be to understand the words of the verse. Then all of a sudden you were asked to be in sync with the alphabet, followed by the attention to be given to the drawn line in the alphabet. That too diminished, vanished, and got erased so that you reached a state of nothingness or entered a silent zone.
Baba lived a very simple life. He was actually a recluse. He was very aware of things around, but had an amazing ability to “un-see”. He would avoid the wrongdoing until the person realized where he went wrong. He lived in an amazing state between awareness and unawareness. He was extremely generous – indeed the true sign of a gentle soul who practiced unconditional love.
Baba was a great admirer of poetry and Qawwali. He also admired classical music, dhrupad. It is Baba who got me interested in Urdu poetry. His repertoire included thousands of Urdu/Persian couplets, including Naat, Hamd, Ghazals and such that he remembered by heart. He could go on for hours without repeating himself. He had beautiful explanations for all that confounded us. He would explain things to us in a simple manner, talking about bees and lions, soil and mountains, the deeps of the oceans and the high skies.
It is believed that an individual’s name impacts his life in every way, and especially his health. I was initially named Aftab, meaning the sun. Perhaps the name was too strong for me. I would frequently fall ill. Cool breeze or hot winds, everything affected my health. Then I was named Asif, the forgiver. Finally, Baba gave me the name Wasif, the possessor of good qualities. In a typically playful manner, he asked my father to add one alphabet before Asif.
Baba would call to ask about my wellbeing, wherever I was in the world. He is no more with us physically, but I feel that I am under his protection at all times. There are so many aspects to his life, his relationship with Allah, and with people like me. I could go on endlessly.
Baba had a cryptic way of answering questions. For lesser mortals like us, it was a challenge to understand the nuances of his replies. The answer would be straightforward from his side. It seemed disconnected and out of sync to me. Later, when better understanding prevailed, I would understand why and what he said.
Maybe this was his way of training me to face difficulties seen and unseen, known and unknown. To deal with challenges in a tranquil, intelligent, composed manner. With his intense and constant connection with the Almighty, he was in a rarified magnetic field, in an aura at all times.
I lost my father and my uncle at an early age. They were my mentors. The beginning of my specific role in the family and professional career was fraught with several challenges. My mother’s support kept me steady. And now when I look back, I see one luminous light in the darkness. That was my Baba.
I remember a time of desperation and crisis when I and some fellow artists needed immediate help.
We had to meet the President of India. I was young and unsure. Baba insisted that I take the step with conviction and faith. The kind of total, unshakable faith that he had in Allah Almighty.
Suffused with the confidence that he gave me, I led the group. We managed to emerge from a very difficult situation. His prayers, faith, and love brought out the best in me not through force but inner strength. His blessings enabled me to tread the right path of peace from within that which reveals itself through one’s actions and interactions, one’s way of living.
There are innumerable instances of his grace, and I received them with a sense of awe. His love made me feel that I was and am the chosen one.
Poetry and calligraphy helped me to express myself as I understand myself, my music, my life. So much so that I now enjoy doing calligraphy while I do my daily vocal riyaaz (practice). I share this poetry dedicated to Baba:
Zindagi ka falsafa woh mujhko samjha gaye
Ishq ibaadat bhi, woh mujhko samjha gaye
Ghir ke mushkilon se ubharna, Aur na hatna baar-e-haq,
Kaise kaise apne andaz, woh mujhko samjha gaye.
