SHAH ABDUL LATIF
Q.1 Who was Shah Abdul Latif ? Where and when was he born ?
Ans. Shah Abdul Latif was a great saint who is lovingly called “Lal Latif” by his devotees. He was born in a small village called Hala Haveli in the year 1689.
Q.2 What do you know about the ancestors of Shah Abdul Latif ?
Ans. Shah Abdul Latif’s ancestors had migrated to Sindh during the days of Tamerlane. They had come from Hirat a town in west Afghanistan. They liked Sindh so much that they decided to make it their permanent home. Many centuries later one of their descendents Syed Habib Shah was blessed with a son who grew up to be “Saint Lal Latif” .
Q.3 Why is Shah Latif known as “Saint of Bhit” ?
Ans. When Shah Latif’s father died, he left his home and went to live on a mound at some distance from his village . A mound of sand is called ‘Bhit’ in Sindhi. Due to the fact that he lived on this mound for the rest of his life he came to be known as Shah Latif Bhitai which means the saint of Bhit.
Q.4 Name the shrines of saints found in Pakistan ?
Ans. In every part of our county , there are shrines of such saints. In Lahore, are the shrines of Data Ganj Bakhsh and Mian Mir Sahib . In Pak Patton lived and died Baba Fareed . In Multan is the shrines of Ghous Bahaul Haq. In Sindh are the tombs of two great saints, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Qalandar Lal Shahbaz. In Peshawar , in Quetta and in countless other towns and cities there are the tombs of these men of God.
Q.5. What are the important features of Shah Latif poetry ?
Ans. The important features of Shah Latif’s poetry is that it is written in the language of the common people and other great quality of his poetry beside its simplicity is its moving music.
Q.6 What is the message of Shah Latif’s poetry ?
Ans. The message of Shah Latif if the message of love. He believed in the brotherhood and equality of men and in pleasing God by good deeds. This according to Shah Latif is the goal of life .
Q.7. When is the urs of Shah Latif held ?
Ans. Shah Latif’s urs is held at his shrine every year on 14th Safar, the second month of Islamic calender.
Q.8. How do Shah Latif’s devotees celebrate his urs ?
Ans. Thousand of people gather to listen to the saint’s song sung to the tambooro . Many learned men read papers that tell about Latif’s life and poetry.
Q.9 What do you know about Shah Latif’s music.
Ans. Shah Latif was not only a saint and a poet but also a great musician . He found great comfort in music . His skill in this art enabled him to make many improvements and changes in the difficult music of his time. He loved simplicity in music and musical instruments. He did not agree with the idea that music should be difficult. He made it simple and also invented an instrument called Tambooro.
Q.10 What do you know about Tambooro ?
Ans. The Tambooro is a simple musical instrument invented by the Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.
Q.11 Write a short note on the poetry of Shah Latif ?
Ans. Shah Latif started composing poetry when he was only a boy. He was the poet of the people. He wrote poetry in the language of the common man. It is full of moving music . We are moved by it melody. His collection of poems was so valued that it was translated into many languages and is called “Risalo of Shah Latif”.
EXERCISES:
Complete the following sentences choosing suitable words from the given list.
a) What is the name of this town.
b) He lived with his brother.
c) She came with her father.
d) Every boy must finish this sum.
e) He has many books on his table.
f) I saw his standing at the shop.
g) The name of this town is Sehwan.
h) He writes with a black pen.
i) I was with her all the time.
j) You have been late many times.
k) Stand by the door, till I call you.
l) Every day she went to the park.
Cross out the wrong words.
1. He stays at home in the evening.
2. There are many books on my table.
3. Every girl must learn cooking.
4. The boy ran to the school as he was late.
5. He went to the park with his father.
6. What is the colour of your coat.
COMPREHENSION:
Q.1 Where is Bhit Shah?
Ans. It is at a distance of 55 kilometers from Hyderabad.
Q.2. What changes did Shah Latif make in the music of those days ?
Ans. He simplified it.
Q.3 Why did Shah Abdul Latif love the lake which was near the mound
Ans. He loved the lake because of its peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
PUNCTUATION;
Supply full stop, comma and question mark and sign of exclamation wherever necessary.
1. He bought ink, pen, pencil and a rubber from the shop.
2. Where to you live ?
3. Cows , horses, bullocks and donkeys are all domestic animals.
4. What a beautiful bird ?