Malik Muhammad Wasif (15 January 1929 – 18 January 1993), best known through his pen-name Wasif Ali Wasif, was a Pakistani teacher, writer, poet and

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

figure. The author of some 40 books, he is known for his

aphorisms An aphorism (from Greek ἀφορισμός: ''aphorismos'', denoting 'delimitation', 'distinction', and 'definition') is a concise, terse, laconic, or memorable expression of a general truth or principle. Aphorisms are often handed down by tra ...

and short prose pieces and

essays An essay ( ) is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a Letter (message), letter, a term paper, paper, an article (publishing), article, a pamphlet, and a s ...

, often taken from his columns in Urdu newspapers, many of these books being collections of his speeches and public lectures, while he has also written poetry. He was close to some of Pakistan's best-known intellectuals of his era such as Qudratullah Shahab,

Ashfaq Ahmed Ashfaq Ahmed (; 22 August 1925 – 7 September 2004) was a Pakistani writer, playwright and broadcaster. His works in Urdu included novels, short stories and plays for Pakistan Television Corporation, Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan. H ...

and Hanif Ramay.

Early life and education

Wasif was born to Malik Muhammed Arif into a family of the Punjabi Awan clan on 15 January 1929 in

Khushab Khushab (Punjabi language, punjabi: خُوشاب) is a city as well as a district of Sargodha Division, located in the Punjab (Pakistan), Punjab province of Pakistan. The word ''Khushab'' means "sweet water." Khushab city also serves as the headq ...

, Punjab. After getting his early religious education from his father, he matriculated from Government High School Khushab in 1944 before moving to Jhang, where his maternal grandfather was the headmaster of a Government High School, later graduating from Government Degree College Jhang. Moving to Lahore, he earned his MSc in Mathematics from Government Islamia College Civil Lines, Lahore and MA in English from Government College, Lahore (GC). As a student, he was a good player of

hockey ''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...

and started writing for the GC magazine ''Ravi,'' in both Urdu and English.

Professional career

In 1954, Wasif passed the Provincial Civil Service (PCS) examination but chose to become a teacher instead. After teaching in some private institutions for some time, he founded Lahore College for English (Lahore English College) near Anarkali in Lahore, in 1958.

Books

This is a list of Wasif's books, both originals works as well compilations and translations: * ''Shab Chiragh'' (Urdu Poetry) 1978 * ''Kiran Kiran Sooraj'' (Aphorism) 1983 * ''The Beaming Soul'' (English Version of Kiran Kiran Sooraj) 2008 * ''Dil Darya Sumandar'' (Essays) 1987 * ''Qatra Qatra Qulzum'' (Essays) 1989 * ''Ocean in Drop'' (English version Of Qatra Qatra Qulzam) 1989 * ''Harf Harf Haqeeqat'' (Essays) 1994 * ''The Truth Unveiled'' (English version Of Harf Harf Haqeeqat) 2023 * ''Bharay Bharolay'' (Punjabi Poetry) 1994 * ''Shab Raaz'' (Urdu Poetry) 1994 * ''Baat Say Baat'' (Aphorism) 1995 * ''Segue Of Spiritual Whispers'' (English version Of Baat Se Baat) 2023 * ''Gumnam Adeeb'' (Letters) 19?? * ''Anonymous Writer'' (English version Of Gumnam Adeeb) 2023 * ''Mukalama'' (Dialogue, Speeches & Interview) 1990 * ''Ziker-e-Habeeb'' (Na'tia Poetry) 2004 * ''Dareechay'' (Aphorism) 2004 * ''Doors To The Insight'' (English version Of Dareechay) 2022 * ''WasifYat'' (Essays) 2013 * ''Kulyat-e-Wasif Ali Wasif'' (Poetry) 2014 * ''Aqwaal-e-Wasif Ali Wasif Ka Encyclopedia'' 2014 *
Guftgoo
' (Questions & Answers Series – 30 volumes) * ''Guftgoo'' 1–5 (volume 1) 2015 * ''Guftgoo'' 6–10 (volume 2) 2015 * ''Guftgoo'' 11–15 (volume 3) 2015 * ''Guftgoo'' 16–20 (volume 4) 2015 * ''Guftgoo'' 21–25 (volume 5) 2015

References

Further notes

* * * *

External links

WASIF ALI WASIF Official Website

Wasif Khayal Magazine

Dailytimes.com.pk: Seminar to commemorate Wasif Ali Wasif
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wasif, Wasif Ali Pakistani Sufis Sufi poets 1929 births 1993 deaths Pakistani scholars Poets from Punjab, Pakistan People from Khushab District 20th-century Pakistani poets 20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam Aphorists 20th-century Pakistani philosophers Scholars from Lahore Writers from Lahore Punjabi-language poets Government College University, Lahore alumni People from Punjab Province (British India)