An Analytical Study of the Structural and Intellectual Dimension of Sachal Sarmast's Sindhi Kafi

Abstract

Sufi saints and spiritual reformers who advocated for love, tolerance, and togetherness have long resided in Sindh. As a pioneering Sufi poet, Sachal Sarmast is a notable figure among them. His Sindhi Kafis are an exquisite blend of artistic brilliance and mystical philosophy. This study highlights the literary inventiveness and spiritual depth of Sachal Sarmast's Sindhi Kafi poetry by critically examining its structural (artistic) and intellectual (philosophical) qualities.

What are the main artistic elements and structural patterns of Sachal Sarmast’s Sindhi Kafis?
In what ways does his poetical thinking embody the principle of Wahdat al-Wujud (Unity of Being)?
What connection is there between Kafi’s mystical philosophy and creative structure?

The main aim of this study is to examine Sachal Kafis's structural composition, poetry forms, rhythm, internal rhyme, and stylistic techniques. Additionally, it seeks to examine the philosophical underpinnings of his poetry, namely his mystical ideas of self-awareness, annihilation (Fana), permanence (Baqa), and the rejection of duality.

The qualitative research methodology used in this study is based on textual and analytical techniques. Thematic analysis and close reading are used to analyze a few of Sachal Sarmast's Sindhi Kafis. The philosophical interpretation of Sufi ideas, particularly the theory of Unity of Being, is examined with the artistic features, poetic meters, and structural patterns.

The investigation comes to the conclusion that the Sindhi Kafis by Sachal Sarmast represent a harmonious fusion of profound mystical knowledge and creative excellence. In terms of structure, he included ghazal-like features, internal rhymes, and a variety of Kafi forms and stanzaic patterns. His poetry highlights the spiritual journey from Fana to Baqa, the collapse of duality, and the discovery of divine unity from an intellectual standpoint. His audacious articulation of global humanism and “Ana al-Haq” demonstrates both intellectual clarity and spiritual bravery. Thus, by bringing Sindhi Kafi poetry to a higher level of artistic sophistication and intellectual profundity, Sachal Sarmast greatly enhanced it.