Bhittai's poetry is mainly Sufi in nature and deeply religious. He connects the traditional folk tales with the divine love. The poems, known locally as
bayt (pl.
abyat) and similar in form to the Indian
doha, are
lyrical, are intended for a musical performance, and are usually compact. To signal the rain, flashes of lightning have come like brides in scarlet clothes. My beloved is far away, but the rain has brought me close to him. (
Sur Sarang 1–6)}} In addition, he has also used a bit more relaxed format called ''wa'i''. Do not speak about the beloved to anyone Hide him from everyone, and take him home in secret Do not reveal to anyone the pain caused by your beloved Mehar. (''Sur Suhni 5 wa'i'')}} Bhittai is said to have always kept with him the
Qur'an, Karim jo Risalo, and the
Mathnawi of Rumi. He seems to have been significantly influenced by the latter; sometimes he reflects his ideas and sometimes translates his verses in his poems. And there is no prohibition (discrimination on any basis) all may have opportunity to love, to hope.}} Bhittai has emphasized that the Sufi should stick to Shari'ah and Ma'arifah (gnosis) in his poetry: Acquaint your heart with
Haqiqat, Identify your goal as
Marifat, Be in touch with the proof (
Murshid), So that you do not go wayward. }} Abu Sa'id Abu'l-Khayr, a Persian poet and Sufi mystic (967–1049), has expressed similar idea in his verses which is also quite famously attributed to Rumi: During Bhittai's lifetime, Sindh transitioned from
Delhi-based
Mughal rule to the local
Kalhora dynasty. During the later part of Bhittai's life,
Nadir Shah Afshar sacked Delhi and made Sindh his tributary. Bhittai also witnessed
Ahmad Shah Durrani's attack on Delhi and his subjection of Sindh to Afghan rule. Despite all this, his poetry is devoid of any mention of these upheavals or the political landscape of his time in general. H. T. Sorley has attributed this to his interest in "eternal verities" and indifference to "transient phenomena" and "petty wars".
Risalo Bhittai's poetry was not written down during his lifetime, but was sung and memorized by his disciples during the musical sessions (
Rag) that he used to hold. The poems were compiled after his death into a collection called
Shah Jo Risalo (the Book of Shah). The
Risalo was first published in 1866 by the German
philologist Ernest Trumpp. It contains thirty chapters, called
Sur, each focusing on a particular musical mode. Each
Sur is further divided into sections,
dastan (story) or
fasl (chapter), which contain similarly themed
abyat. Each section ends with one or more ''wa'is
. Some Surs
focus on folk tales of Sindh such as Sassui Punhun, Sohni Mehar, Umar Marui, and Lilan Chanesar, whereas others, like Sur Asa
and Sur Yaman Kalyan
, describe the mystical moods and ideal traditional lover. Sur Sarang
is devoted to the praise of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, while Sur Kedaro'' laments the death of Muhammad's grandson, and Bhittai's ancestor,
Husayn ibn Ali at the
Battle of Karbala in 680. Sur Kedaro has been said by some prominent scholars of Shah's poetry such as
Nabi Bakhsh Baloch,
Din Muhammad Wafai and Ghulam Muhammad Shahwani to have come from an external source rather than Shah himself. Since the first edition of the
Risalo, several other editions have been published by various scholars including
Mirza Qalich Beg,
Hotchand Molchand Gurbakhshani, Ghulam Muhammad Shahvani,
Kalyan Advani, and
Nabi Bakhsh Baloch. Urdu translations have been published by
Shaikh Ayaz, and Ayaz Husayn Qadiri and Sayyid Vaqar Ahmad Rizvi. The first partial English translation of the
Risalo was published by H. T. Sorley in 1940, followed by
Elsa Kazi, and Ghulam Ali Allana. Complete translations have been published by Muhammad Yakoob Agha, Amena Khamisani, and others. Early manuscripts of the
Risalo as well as published editions show considerable differences in the content. The most widely accepted version has some 3,000
abyat and 200 ''wa'is''.
Religious beliefs Bhittai's poetry gives great indications and explicit words of what he believed in, regarding theological and religious matters. The very first verses of his Risalo in Sur Kalyan state his explicit monotheistic beliefs and belief that this world was made only for the Prophet, a common belief among Sunni Sufis. He states: Accept
Muhammad's guidance, with heart and speech. Theirs is abode of bliss, for they abide God's decree Never misled are they to paths that dubious be. }} It also shows that he believes that none of the early Muslims went astray after accepting Islam directly from the
Prophet Muhammad. In another excerpt from Sur Kalyan, he talks about the "4 companions",
Abu Bakr,
Umar,
Uthman, and
Ali, he states: the helper and the guide (to mankind), the scion of the illustrious tribe of Hashmites, and the leader of all Prophets. It fitted well with his position to be amidst his comrades in that
auspicious mosque. His four companions particularly were constantly with him. }} In another excerpt from Sur Kalyan, Bhittai talks about true lovers of God solely being Muslims, having been immersed in
Allah and declared the Prophethood of
Prophet Muhammad. He states: They have fully recognized the Prophethood of
Prophet Muhammad, as the final apostle of Allah and submitted themselves totally to the orders of Allah and the Prophet. Thus they are Muslims. In recognition thereof Allah has absolved them of all earthly affiliations and impurities, more so because they are assimilated in the Oneness of Allah. }} Bhittai in a long verse also expresses his adamant hope in the intercession of
Prophet Muhammad and talks about how all shalt be saved by his intercession and given refuge in him. He states: He will take along all the blind, disabled and those gone stray, He will pour medicine into mouth of the sick, He will take all the sinners across defiles, The light of God will not say no, He will grant his request, Here and there he is the support, hereafter also he will be the mainstay, The lord will offer holly wine, In awareness of his own self, the perfect one will show kindness, He will pitch tent for the sinners in the scorching sun on the Day of Judgment, The generous one will have those marked for hell pardoned, He will reach at the proper time and anoint all with musk, The mercy for all worlds will help all in difficulty, There the guide will hold Abdul Lateef by hand. }} In an excerpt from Sur Bilawal, Bhittai talks through the perspective of a oppressed and weak man. He calls for
Ali Shah to come and behead "
the fire-worshipper". He states: The blind is harassing a weakling like me, Come, o Ali Shah, attack the infidel, Behead him the fire-worshipper. }} Bhittai also expresses admiration for the bravery and chivalry of
Ali in his poems, glorifying his battle-stance and bravery in the battlefield. He states: Ali the lion came and smashed the forts of infidels, As he came in the courtyard, all the path glittered, Whatever places he touched with his feet, Sorrows changed into joys, it was time of felicitations. }} In apparent manner (prayer, and beliefs), like his forefathers, he was a
Sunni and held respect and consideration for all sects. He revered the
Prophet Muhammad immensely, and he revered the companions of him and revered the Imams as well. Bhittai also prayed with his hands on his chest like a
Hanafi Sunni. == Tariqah ==