'The Colouring of Allah ' And Who Is Better Than Allah in Colouring?' A Qur'anic Reflection on The Festival of Colours
By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam
04 March 2026
Across the faith traditions, “colour” or “colouring” is a metaphor for a divine imprint or heavenly guidance. Just as a cloth is fully dyed and its original colour disappears, a person fully imbued with Allah’s colouring or guidance reflects faith in every thought, action, and intention, carrying the imprint of divine light in their life….
Holi, the festival of colours, is celebrated today across India and beyond as a joyous occasion marking the arrival of spring, the triumph of good over evil, and the playful spirit of life. People smear vibrant powders on one another, dance in laughter, and celebrate the diversity of colours that nature and human creativity offer. But beyond the visible celebration lies a deeper, spiritual symbolism that resonates profoundly with Islamic teachings, particularly the Qur’anic concept of Sibghatullah— “the colour of Allah”. In the Qur’an, Allah says:
صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً
“[The true] colour of Allah – and who is better than Allah in coloring [guidance]?” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:138).
Here, the term Sibghatullah is more than metaphor. Just as Holi’s colours dye everything they touch, Allah’s guidance aims to imbue our hearts, minds, and actions with divine light and faith. A believer’s life, fully aligned with God’s will, reflects the true spiritual “colour” of Islam—a life where faith permeates every thought, word, and deed.
The Qur’anic Metaphor of “Divine Colouring” or Sibghatullah— صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ
At first glance, Holi’s festival of colours and the Islamic concept of Sibghatullah might seem unrelated. Yet, both speak to the transformative power of colour. In Holi, colour is external—it brightens the world, celebrates diversity, and dissolves barriers between people. In Islam, the colour of Allah is internal—it transforms the heart, purifies intentions, and unites human actions with divine guidance.
Both remind us that transformation requires immersion. Just as one cannot partially enjoy Holi without letting colours touch the skin, one cannot claim true faith without letting Allah’s guidance fully shape one’s character. The Qur’an likens this to a cloth dyed completely—the original colour disappears, replaced by the new, lasting hue.
Unity Through Divine Colour
Holi transcends caste, creed, and age. In its joy, people come together, forgetting divisions. Similarly, Sibghatullah calls for unity through faith, where differences dissolve in the shared pursuit of righteousness. Just as colours mix and create harmony on Holi, hearts dyed in Allah’s guidance reflect compassion, humility, and justice, spreading harmony in society.
Practical Reflections for Believers
Seek the “true colour” in daily life – Let every action, from speech to behaviour, reflect sincerity, kindness, and devotion.
Celebrate spiritual diversity – Recognize that, like colours, different people reflect different shades of human experience, yet all can be dyed by Allah’s guidance.
Transform joy into gratitude – The playful joy of Holi reminds us to embrace life fully, but for believers, true joy comes from living a life imbued with divine purpose.
Holi teaches us that life is meant to be vibrant, shared, and celebrated. Sibghatullah teaches that our inner life should be fully coloured by Allah’s guidance, so that every act, thought, and intention carries the imprint of faith. When we see the playful colours of Holi, let it remind us of a greater, spiritual colour—the one that transforms the heart and unites humanity through divine guidance.
In a society that often emphasizes division, Holi and the Qur’anic notion of “Allah’s colouring” together offer a vision of joy, transformation, and unity, showing that colours—whether external or intrinsic—hold the power to connect, inspire, and elevate the soul.
Therefore, Holi was beautifully celebrated as Eid-e-Gulabi, or the “Pink Eid,” during the reign of spiritually-inclined Mughal emperors like Shah Jahan and Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. In Mughal India, it was also known as “Aab-e-Pashi” (the shower of colourful flowers). According to Tuzk-e-Jahangiri, the autobiography of Emperor Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir, he used to host Mehfil-e-Holi, festive gatherings for Holi without failing. This syncretic culture was deeply inspired by the eminent Sufi saint of Delhi, Mahbub-e-Elahi Hazrat Nizamuddin Awliya R.A, and his disciple Hazrat Amir Khusrow, who revered colours—especially pink and yellow—as divine expressions, beautifully reflected in their Persian and Hindavi poetry. Consequently, Holi and Basant became integral to their Dargah celebrations.
Hazrat Amir Khusrow composed evocative poems highlighting the spiritual significance of colours in his Hindavi poetry
Kheluungii Holi, Khaaja ghar aaye,
Dhan dhan bhaag hamare sajni,
Khaaja aaye aangan mere
(I shall play Holi as Khwaja has come home; blessed is my fortune, o friend, as Khwaja has come to my courtyard.)
Bulleh Shah—the celebrated Punjabi Sufi poet also linked Holi with divine love and spiritual union. His verses resonate even today, particularly in a world fraught with communal tension:
Hori Khelungi, Keh Bismillah.
Nam Nabi ki ratn chadi,
boond padi Allah Allah.
Rang rangeeli ohi khilave,
Jis seekhi ho Fanaa fi Allah.
“Alastu bi rabbikum” Pritam bole,
Sab sakhiyan ne ghunghat khole.
Qaloo Bala,yun hi kar bole,
“la ilaha illallah”
(I will play Holi in the name of the Lord, saying Bismillah. Each drop falls with the rhythm of Allah. Only he who has truly annihilated himself in Allah may play with these colours. “Am I not your Lord?” asked the beloved, and all lifted their veils, affirming, “Yes!”)
Historian Munshi Zakaullah, in his Tareekh-e-Hindustani, rightly asked, “Who says Holi is only a Hindu festival?” Even the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, a Sufi follower, delighted in Holi celebrations. He believed that participating in the festival did not conflict with his faith and even invited his Hindu ministers to smear gulal on his forehead. He cherished Holi in his poetry:
Kyun mope maari rang ki pichkaari
dekh kunwarji du’ngi gaari…
Ab dekhu’n main baako kaun
jo sun mukh aat…
Aaj main phagwa ta sau Kanha faita pakad kar leoon…
(Why have you squirted me with color? I cannot run; I now stand here to see who can drench me. After many days, I have caught you—I will hold you by your cummerbund and play Holi with you.)
The Sufi Celebration of Divine Colours
In the Sufi tradition, this vibrant festival is fondly remembered as Eid-e-Gulabi, a celebration of devotion, love, and spiritual joy. Even today, at Dewa Sharif, the Dargah of Haji Waris Ali Shah in Uttar Pradesh, Holi is celebrated with as much enthusiasm as Eid.
In keeping with a centuries-old tradition, Holi is celebrated at the Dargah of 19th-century Sufi saint Haji Waris Ali Shah in Dewa, a town in Barabanki district, about 25 kilometres from Lucknow. Scores of Hindus and Muslims gather to shower each other with flower petals, abeer, and gulal, honouring the festival in a spirit of communal harmony.
Notably, Dewa Sharif is the only Sufi shrine in the country where Holi is played, and it is renowned for its Hindu-Muslim unity. The shrine’s priests, who wear traditional Hindu yellow robes (pitambar), symbolize this enduring spirit of interfaith camaraderie. While the exact origins of this tradition are unknown, it is believed to be over a century old. The Holi juloos (procession) begins in the morning from Qaumi Ekta Dwar in Dewa, with participants carrying flowers. The procession circles the town and reaches the mausoleum around noon, where people play Holi with rose petals, gulal, and abeer.
Wamiq Warsi, head of Halqa-i-Fuqra-i-Warsi Astana Aliya Dewa Sharif, a committee of Warisi Sufis, explains:
"Dewa Sharif is a place of universal brotherhood and peace. Our Paigham-e-Mohabbat (message of love) has been spreading from here since the time of Haji Waris Ali Shah: whoever loves us belongs to us. Today, thousands come to Dewa Sharif to celebrate Holi and pay respects to the saint. This tradition, carried forward by our ancestors, continues to inspire unity and brotherhood in the country."
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Contributing author at New Age Islam, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is writer and scholar of Indian Sufism, interfaith ethics, and the spiritual history of Islam in South Asia. His latest book is "Ishq Sufiyana: Untold Stories of Divine Love".
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