Wali Dakni: A Poet of Love and Humanity

By Kaniz Fatima, New Age Islam

18 April 2025

Main Points:

1.           Wali Dakni, through his poetry, conveys messages of love, humanity, unity, and patriotism.

2.           A significant truth about Wali Dakni’s poetry is that it absorbed the influence of the longstanding traditions of tolerance, inclusiveness, love, and brotherhood established by Indian Sufi saints such as Amir Khusrau, Kabir, Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, and others.

3.           Wali Dakni was nurtured in a Sufi environment. Due to his spiritual leanings, his personality reflected humility, compassion, and deep affinity with fellow human beings.

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Wali Dakni

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All of us share a homeland—India—whose heritage is rooted in peace, love, harmony, and non-violence. However, in recent years, this beloved land has been plagued by rising hate and violence. While it's unpleasant to admit, a country that once took pride in its pluralistic society and Ganga-Jamuni (composite) culture now seems to be constructing its social fabric on walls of hatred. In such circumstances, should we, the custodians of the pen and the sanctity of words, remain silent? Absolutely not. Rather, we must strive with all our might to transform the atmosphere of hate into one of love. We must amplify every voice that speaks of human compassion. One such voice is that of the renowned poet Wali Dakni, widely regarded as a poet of humanity, love, and Sufism.

Gopi Chand Narang once remarked in an essay:

“Power does not lie with the writer or poet—it lies with politics. However, human values are with the writer. Political power compromises and negotiates values. Politics, in essence, is the name of compromise. But our job is to fearlessly continue to draw the attention of politicians, to warn them, and to raise the voice of love and humanity.”

Wali Dakni spent a large part of his life in Gujarat and had a deep emotional bond with the city—a fact evident throughout his poetry. His poetry comprises elements of Dakhni, Persian-influenced language, and also a version of Hindustani Urdu that is simple, elegant, and melodious—a reflection of India's Ganga-Jamuni literary tradition. It is because of this linguistic richness that Muhammad Husain Azad referred to Wali Dakni as the founding father of Urdu poetry.

Wali Dakni’s arrival in Delhi marked the beginning of his fame and popularity. His poems were sung in Delhi, and it was during this period that Urdu ghazal formally emerged in North India. His work absorbed the essence of the age-old Indian Sufi tradition of inclusiveness, love, and fraternity passed down from saints like Amir Khusrau, Kabir, Baba Farid, and Hazrat Nizamuddin.

Wali Dakni promoted messages of love, humanity, unity, and patriotism through his poetry. His students further disseminated these values. One of his disciples was Ashraf Gujarati. When Nadir Shah invaded Delhi and countless people were killed, Ashraf Gujarati penned a verse about him:

"Ya Ilahi Dafa Kar Is Zaalim Badbakht Ko,

Jis Ke Be-Mehri O Sakhti Se Fasaad-E-Hind Hai."

(O Allah, remove this cruel wretched man, whose mercilessness and cruelty have brought destruction to Hind (India)).

Wali Dakni had immense love for his hometown Gujarat, and he expressed this affection in many of his verses. He even composed an entire poem mourning his separation from Gujarat. A few couplets from that poem are:

Gujraat Ke Firaaq Soon Hai Khaar-Khaar Dil

Betaab Hai Seene Mein Aatish-E-Bahaar Dil

Marham Nahin Hai Zakhm Kaa Is Ke Jahaan Mein

Shamsheer-E-Hijr Soon Jo Hua Hai Figaar Dil

(The heart is full of thorns in separation from Gujarat,

The fire of spring burns restlessly in my chest.

There is no balm in this world for this wound,

The heart is wounded by the sword of separation.)

Wali Dakni was nurtured in the environment of Sufi lodges (khanqahs). Because of his Sufi inclination, his personality reflected humility, companionship with fellow humans, and deep compassion. Though he followed a spiritual path, Wali Dakni did not confine his Sufi life to isolation, solitude, or seclusion. Like Nazir Akbarabadi, he had a fondness for social life. He believed in increasing interaction with his fellow beings and God's creation, understanding their sorrows and pains, and building emotional connections and bonds with them.

Below are a few couplets of Wali Dakni along with their interpretations:

1. Couplet & Interpretation

Kya Mujh Ishq Ne Zaalim Ko Aab Aahista Aahista

Ke Aatish Gul Ko Karti Hai Gulaab Aahista Aahista

Translation:

"My love gradually melted the cruel beloved,

Just as the fire's warmth slowly turns the flower into rosewater."

In this verse, Wali Dakni says that his love eventually transformed the cruel beloved—softened their bitterness and harshness—just like the heat of fire slowly distils the essence of a flower into rosewater. The warmth of his love compelled the cruel beloved to show kindness.

2. Couplet & Interpretation

Shughl Behtar Hai Ishq-Baazi Ka

Kya Haqeeqi O Kya Majaazi Ka

"The finest pursuit is that of love—

Be it divine or worldly."

Here, Wali Dakni expresses a Sufi thought. He believes that love—whether divine love (Ishq-e-Haqiqi) or romantic love (Ishq-e-Majaazi)—is the noblest of all pursuits. Divine love is the love of God, and love for God’s creation is also a pathway to reach Him.

3. Couplet & Interpretation

Jo Hua Raaz-E-Ishq Soon Aagaah

Woh Zamaane Ka Fakhr-E-Raazi Hai

"The one who becomes aware of love’s secrets,

He becomes the Razi—the pride of the age."

The poet says that the person who understands the mysteries of love gains such a status in the world that they become a source of pride, like the great scholar Fakhr al-Din al-Razi. The knowledge of love elevates one’s rank in society.

4. Couplet & Interpretation

Ab Judaai Na Kar, Khuda Soon Darr

Bewafaai Na Kar, Khuda Soon Darr

"Do not part from me—fear God,

Do not be unfaithful—fear God."

Since hurting someone’s heart is disliked by God, the poet addresses his beloved and pleads not to separate from him. Such an act, he says, would incur God’s displeasure, and therefore, one must fear that divine wrath.

There is no doubt that Wali Dakni was a poet of humanity and love. His compassion for fellow humans brought his poetry very close to the emotions of the common person and the experiences of daily life. People could hear the beat of their own hearts in his verses, see a reflection of their own sorrows, and feel the intensity of their lived experiences.

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Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam.

 

Urdu Article:  Wali Dakni: A Poet of Love and Humanity ولی دکنی انسانیت اور محبت کا شاعر

 

URL:    https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/wali-dakni-poet-love-humanity/d/135214

 

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