Undoubtedly, Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah is the “King of Sufi poetry”.

A
humanist, Sufi poet, philosopher, teacher, rebel, and internationalist,
Baba Bulleh Shah was truly a legend .. His Full Name Was Syed Abdul
Shah Qadari ..
Bulleh Shah was born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bahawalpur,
Pakistan. His ancestors had migrated from Bukhara in modern
Uzbekistan. He relocated to Malakwal with his parents at a very early
age. Bulleh Shah received his early education from Pandoke and later
moved to Kasur for higher education. Maulana Mohiyuddin was his
teacher. Eminent Sufi saint, Shah Inayat Qadiri was his spiritual
teacher and he played a vital role in developing his love for Sufism.
Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah and his family descend directly from the
Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.).
Bulleh Shah lived during the same period as of Sindhi Sufi poet Shah
Abdul Latif Bhittai. His lifetime also extended with the Punjabi poet
Waris Shah of Heer Ranjha fame, and the Sindhi Sufi poet Sachal
Sarmast.

Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufism of Punjabi poetry

established by poets like Shah Hussain, Sultan Bahu, and Shah Sharaf.
Verses narrated by Bulleh Shah are popularly known as “Kafi”. This
kind of poetry is popular in Siraiki and Sindhi poetry.

Baba Bulleh Shah’s work represented him as a humanist who wants to

give workable solution to the social problems of his surroundings.
Bulleh Shah’s poetry highlights his mystical spiritual voyage through
the four stages of Sufism: Shariat, Tariqat, Haqiqat, and Marfat. Bulleh
Shah’s poetry is in simple language that has been able to address the
complex fundamental issues of life and humanity. Islamic orthodoxy is
being criticized by Bulleh Shah’s poetry & philosophy.
In modern times, Bulleh Shah’s Kafi is modified to be used to music.
Every genre of singer like street- singers, to legends like Abida
Parveen, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sain Zahoor, and Waddali Brothers,
UK based Asian artists, and Pakistani rock band Junoon, has sung
Bulleh Shah’s Kafi in a beautiful manner.

Baba Bulleh Shah wrote and narrated many poetic verses. Some of
the most renowned ones are: Makkeh Gaya, Gal Mukdee Naheen,
Bulleya Ki Jana Main Kaun, Verhe Aa Varh Mere, Main Jana Jogi De
Naal, Aa Mil Yaar, Uth Gaye Gawandon Yaar, Bas Karjee Hun Bas
Karjee, Tere Ishq Nachaya, Ishq De Naween Naween Bahar, to name a
few .. He Died on 1757 in Kasur ..
After the death of Baba Bulleh Shah, the Government and Muslim
Ulmas used their force strongly to destroy the Kalam (poetry) and
reputation of Baba ji. Qawals (Asian classical singers) were strictly
prohibited to sing the Kalam of Baba ji publicly. In British India, for
about 100 years his Kalam was not allowed to be published. It was
after the ‘partition of 1947’ that Baba ji’s Kalam was published for the
first time, when some Sikhs and Hindus disclosed some remnants of
Baba ji’s Kalam. No doubt, a lot of his verses have been disappeared
from the world but still we’ve his many beautiful verses which are
famous all over the world and people of all castes and religions love
and admire this remarkable poet of history ..