Impacts of Arabic Language and Literature on Khawaja Farid's Saraiki Poetic Work

Abstract

Khawaja Ghulam Farid (1845-1901) was a famous Saraiki Sufi poet of Indian subcontinent. He was born in chachran, a famous town in Khanpur. He memorized Quran in his early age. Then he got religious education. He always kept on promoting Islamic Law. His mother died when he was four years old, and he was Orphanad around the age of 8 when his father died. He was then brought up by his elder brother, Khawaja Fakhar Jahan. His elder brother was his teacher as well as his spiritual guide. He took the charge of spiritual guidance in 1871, Soon after the death of his brother Khawaja Fakhar Jahan. So he was Sajjada Nasheen (Patron Saint) of the Punjab region of Indian subcontinent. He was a great scholar and writer of his time who knew several different languages. He was famous for his work which helped him to popularize the Saraiki language. As he belonged to religious family, so he kept on rendering numerous services for Islamic preaching. He had a poetic contribution in various languages but his Saraiki poetic work got popularity all over the region. His poetry was in special term known as Kafi. Arabic language and literature has great impact on his all poetic works. Arabic vocabulary has also been used in his poetry. He has extracted the precious pearls of wisdom from the depth of an imposing ocean of Quran-O-Hadith. The impacts of Arabic language and literature on his poetic work has been tried to discuss in this article.