Bahadur Shah Zafar’s Quest for Divine Love: A Sufi Perspective

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 25 October 2024 Bahadur Shah Zafar, Was The Last Mughal Emperor Yet A Great Sufi Figure Revered By One And All. His Spiritual Journey And Poetic Expressions Intertwined With Sufi Mysticism Reflected Profound Understanding Of Faith And Culture. This Article Is An Exploration Into The Sufi Beliefs And Practices Of Zafar And Their Impact On Life And Reign. Main Points: 1. Bahadur Shah Zafar fostered a multicultural court, promoting coexistence between Hinduism and Islam through his Sufi beliefs. 2. His ghazals reflected deep spiritual insights and longing for the divine, encapsulating the essence of Sufi mysticism. 3. Zafar became a symbol of resistance during India’s First War of Independence, rallying revolutionaries against British colonialism. 4. As a Sufi Pir, Zafar emphasized love and unity, guiding followers toward enlightenment and understanding. 5. His life and works continue to influence India’s cultural and spiritual landscape, blending governance with deep faith and compassion. ---- (Bahadur Shah Zafar/ Photo: Files) ------ Introduction He succeeded his father Emperor Akbar Shah II and ascended the Mughal throne on July 14, 1837, at Red Fort in Central Delhi at the age of 62. His reign in a way covered a turbulent period with the decline of the fortunes of Mughal power but British colonial power gaining to dominate the arena. Although he is remembered as the last Mughal emperor, he has also become the most prominent symbol of India's First War of Independence in 1857 as a reaction to the general frustration against British rule. Political Context and the Indian Rebellion In the First War of Independence, the Red Fort and Zafar together became hubs for revolutionaries, who came to Delhi, gathering to resist colonial tyranny. After the British captured the Red Fort on September 19, 1857, he was taken prisoner. He was kept in the house of Zeenat Mahal in Lal Kuan, and the British refused to treat him like a king for they feared his influence. After charges of rebellion, treason, and murder were brought against him, he was exiled to Rangoon to spend the rest of his days in misery until his death on November 7, 1862. Sufi Beliefs and Practices Zafar's life was based on the principles of Sufism. Being a Pir, people expected him to be a guru and seek enlightenment from him. Many of his poems had some Sufi themes; they were generally love, unification, and seeking the truth of God. Zafar considered all religions-including Islam and Hinduism- to be on the same platform and motivating in the spiritual atmosphere around the court. His religious practices included various practices, where he would try to attain the grace of Sufi saints, pray with the masses, and engage in works of charity. Cultural Tolerance and Influence Believing in Sufism, he was tolerant to everyone coming into his court. He was respectful of the different festivals: Hindu festivals and Islamic festivals, fostering the belief in coexistence between cultures and traditions. His court became a veritable melting pot of varieties of cultures and religions. Scholars, poets, and Sufi mystics came to gather in his court, conjuring an environment of intellectual and spiritual exchange. As a Sufi leader, Zafar's message of love and oneness goes straight to the hearts of his followers. He presented an idea about religious inclusiveness when he famously said that Hinduism and Islam share their very essence. This attitude not only was revolutionary for his times but also narrowed the gulf between the communities. Literary Contributions Zafar's verse displayed his Sufi influences, reflecting on the nature of love and the divine. His ghazals often expressed deep mystical insights wherein one could sense the pain of separation from the divine and the yearning for spiritual fulfilment. One of his poignant couplets does encapsulate a tragic fate: "Kitnā Hai Bad-Nasīb 'Zafar' Dafn Ke Liye Do Gaz Zamīn Bhī Na Milī Kū-E-Yār Meñ" Translation: "How unlucky you are, Zafar! Not even two yards of land could be found for your burial in the lane of your beloved." This stanza sums up the intense grief and yearning for his home that pervades Zafar's soul, opening up to the darker irony of being an erstwhile emperor who is now bereft of even a place to rest back in his homeland. Another poem significant to the memory of Zafar speaks about his respect and regard for the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam: "Na Durveshoñ Kā Ḳhirqa Chāhiye Na Tāj-e-Shāhānā Mujhe To Hosh De Itnā Rahūñ Maiñ Tujh Pe Dīvānā" Translation: "I don't want the robes of the saints, nor the king's crown; grant me just enough sense of mind to be utterly lovesick." That is the couplet that best typifies Zafar's deep longing for the soul and his devotion to the Prophet. He has a desire for the insight from the soul rather than being provided with material power. That is his idealism as a Sufi in which love for the divine supersedes worldly ambitions. His collection, Kulliyyat-i-Zafar, is a testament to his poetic brilliance and spiritual intensity. While the pursuit of Sufi philosophy imbued his literature with individuality and universalism, his verses became a powerful mode for articulating the spiritual struggles and aspirations of this poet, bringing solace to contemporaries as well as those to come. Legacy and Last Days After being imprisoned in Rangoon Jail, Zafar and his family spent the miserable remaining days of their lives there from September 1857 onwards. Expressing the pain of his fate he pathetically expressed, "Woe is you Zafar. Pray, do not get me exhumed when some people at least get enough land of two yards in their motherland for a grave." It was on 7 November 1862 when his life came to an end but as a Sufi leader and poet, he lived to be remembered in India's cultural memory. Conclusion The legacy of Bahadur Shah Zafar as a Sufi leader is as important as his being the last Mughal emperor. His deep faith, cultural tolerance, and poetic expressions of Sufi mysticism yield an extraordinary integration of governance and spirituality. Zafar's life reminds all in the power of faith and the capacity to love and come together amidst all kinds of political storms, which leaves an indelible mark on India's spiritual and cultural legacy. ----- Syed Amjad Hussain is an Author and Independent Research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is currently working on a book on the History of Sufism in Bihar. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/bahadur-shah-zafar-divine-love-sufi/d/133544 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism