Shah Niaz (1743-1834 CE) was born in Sirhind, in the Punjab, and moved at an early age to Delhi with his family. He inherited a spiritual orientation from his family, particularly from his mother who was respected as a Buzurg (‘venerable soul’), and he subsequently took initiation on the Sufi path. His poems are still loved and are often sung in qawwali gatherings all over India and Pakistan.

The Face of Beauty

The face of each beauty is the reflection of His face;
The fragrance and colour of each garden are His.

In every heart and soul, the search for Him alone;
Every tongue and every mind, His thought adorns.

The goal of every creed and religion is His abode;
He is the ultimate aim of every sect and nation.

In the Kaaba, in the church and in the temple,
The worshippers are entranced by His eyes.

Tr. Mahmood Jamal