A Glimpse into the Sufi Poetry of Sapana Ahsaas by Suhail Sahil

A Glimpse into the Sufi Poetry of Sapana Ahsaas

Suhail Sahil

It is often said that when a dream takes the form of feeling, it ceases to remain a dream and transforms into living emotion. Something similar can be seen in the works of Sapana Ahsaas, whose very name—Ahsaas, meaning feeling—finds a luminous reflection throughout her poetry. She has beautifully entrusted her dream of Sufi expression to the grace of her pen, weaving every emotion into the fine threads of her verse.

Sapana Ahsaas is a poetess of profound mystic insight. Her poetry reveals the depths of divine love, spiritual questioning, and the subtle hum of the universe. Her ghazals do not merely echo emotions; they invite the reader on an inner journey—a contemplative pilgrimage—where each verse leaves an imprint of reflection. It is from this very impression that one realizes how Sapana Ahsaas has added a fresh dimension to the tradition of Sufi poetry.

Her creations embody the endless longing of love, the ache of separation, the quest for self-realization, and the echo of spiritual liberation—each element carrying timeless significance. Her poetry mirrors the paradox of the human condition: the vastness of the cosmos alongside the solitude of the soul. Through her expression, one finds both the whisper of divine unity and the cry of human separation.

Every ghazal by Sapana Ahsaas is, in essence, a philosophy—an exploration of the human struggle upon the path of love, the endurance of pain, and the yearning for annihilation in the Divine. Her poetry is a living sculpture of mystical thought: expressive, profound, and meditative.

Thus, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Sapana Ahsaas’s verses awaken the reader’s inner depths and acquaint them with the true meaning of love.

Her poetry is imbued with deep spiritual vision and drenched in Sufi hue. Her ghazals are not merely about affection but are a mirror to existential awareness—a fusion of sorrow and divine serenity, of the soul’s dialogue with eternity. Her diction is simple yet profoundly evocative, inviting reflection and contemplation.

At the center of her poetic universe stands Ishq—love—serving not only as a symbol of human connection but also as a spiritual experience of the highest order. Each of her couplets raises a philosophical question that compels the reader to think, to feel, and to transcend.

Sapna Ahsaas's ghazals are deeply imbued with spiritual vision and the colors of Sufism.

They are not merely about love but are also a reflection of self-realization, where pain, grief, and cosmic truths resonate with spiritual ecstasy. Her language is simple yet profoundly effective, inviting readers towards contemplation and reflection. In her work, one finds the struggle between divine and worldly love, the recognition of servitude, and the depth of human emotions, expressed in a style that touches the heart. The central axis of her poetry is Ishq (love)-not only as a human relationship but as an elevated spiritual experience. Every verse of hers poses a philosophical question, compelling the reader to ponder.

For example, in one of her verses she writes:

Zindagi meri faqat  teri tamannaai hai

Teri wahdat meri saanson mein utar aayi hai

“My life is the discourse of your desire;

Your oneness has descended into my breath”

This couplet does not merely suggest earthly affection—it speaks of the divine essence that animates life itself. All joys and sorrows revolve around this sacred yearning. The poetess merges the language of human longing with the consciousness of divine unity, revealing love as both the source and goal of existence.

Some more verses

“Ranj-o-gham, dard-o-alam aaj ubhar aaye hain

Muddaton baad yeh bhatke hue ghar aaye hain”

“Sorrows and pains have risen again today;

After ages, these wandering ones have come home.”

This couplet reflects the Sufi realization that grief and suffering are not curses but companions on the path to spiritual awakening. The return of pain is symbolic—it is the soul’s reminder that growth often emerges from affliction. In these lines, anguish is transformed into wisdom, echoing the mystic’s belief that suffering refines the spirit.

“Aazmaane ko har ik shakhs hai betaab mujhe

Yeh haqeeqat hai meri, yeh meri sachchai hai”

“Everyone is eager to test me—

This is my truth, my unshakable reality.”

Here, the poetess declares her awareness of the world’s scrutiny and judgment. Yet this recognition is not of defeat but of self-knowledge. The couplet urges readers toward introspection—toward discovering their inner truth amid the trials of existence. This awareness of one’s essence is a cornerstone of Sufi philosophy.

“Kisko mujrim kahen, ab yeh to batao logo

Mere qaatil se bahut meri sanaa-saa’i hai

Aansooon se kaho aankhon se na baahar aayein

Dil se keh do ke dhadakne mein bhi ruswaai hai”

“Whom shall I call the guilty one, tell me, O people—

I share deep acquaintance with my own killer.

Tell the tears not to flow from my eyes,

Tell the heart even its beating brings disgrace.”

In these haunting lines, Sapana Ahsaas portrays love not merely as passion but as the ultimate truth of life. The intertwined imagery of tears and the heart reflects the unity of emotion and pain. The final line—where even heartbeat becomes humiliation—unveils the agony inherent in divine love, a signature theme of Sufi expression.

“Lamha lamha ek sadi tha aur basar maine kiya

Hijr ki tareek raatoñ ka safar maine kiya

Sard raatoñ ka tha mausam dil pe nashter ki tarah

Khwaahishoñ ka yun lahoo shaam-o-sahar maine kiya”

“Each moment was a century that I endured;

I journeyed through the dark nights of separation.

The cold nights pierced my heart like blades,

And I bled my desires from dusk till dawn.”

Here, the poetess captures the timeless torment of spiritual longing. The “nights of separation” symbolize the distance between the soul and its Beloved—a distance measured not in time but in eternity. The shers transcends temporal boundaries, depicting love as an eternal struggle that outlives both body and world.

“Jaane kis rang se bharega, woh

roshnaai hai canvas mein hoon

 woh mujhe qaid kar nahi sakta

Apni hi rooh ka qafas mein hoon

Intiha hai nahi bashar ki magar

Bheed mein apni hum-nafas mein hoon”

“Who knows in what hue that light will flow;

I am the canvas—he cannot confine me.

I dwell within the cage of my own soul;

yet—

Amid the crowd, I remain companion to myself.”

This ghazal points toward liberation and self-realization. The poetess envisions herself as light—free from bondage. The “cage of the soul” reflects the paradox of human existence: confinement within freedom, and freedom within confinement. Such imagery perfectly embodies the Sufi belief that true emancipation lies within the self.

“Ukta rahi hoon kyoon main bhala apne aap se

Ho jaana chahti hoon juda apne aap se

Sannaata cheekh cheekh ke kehta hai raat din

Bharta nahi hai koi khala apne aap se”

“Why am I weary of my own self?

I wish to part ways with my own being.

The silence screams day and night—

No void can be filled by the self alone.”

These verses portray the painful process of inner separation. In Sufi terms, to detach from the self (nafs) is to approach divine truth. The poetess confesses her desire to transcend her own identity, to dissolve into something purer. The repetition of “raat din” intensifies the ache of self-alienation—a longing to be free from ego.

“Udaas udaas fizaa kaaynaat thehri hai

Labon par sab ke koi sachchi baat thehri hai

Na chaand taare, na jugnu, na raat thehri hai

Mere Khuda! yeh teri kaaynaat thehri hai”

Translation:

“The atmosphere is steeped in sorrow, the cosmos stands still;

Upon every lip, an unripe word has frozen.

No moon, no stars, no fireflies, no night remains—

O my God! Is this Thy creation that stands still?”

This ghazal captures the stillness of existence and the loneliness of creation. By describing a universe void of motion and light, Sapana Ahsaas presents the human soul’s confrontation with divine silence. The absence of brightness becomes symbolic of inner void, reminding us that spiritual awakening often begins in darkness.

“Peeron, murshid, mast qalandar, ishq mein sab ja raqs karein

Main bhi paagal, tu bhi paagal, aa paagal aa raqs karein

Majnu bhi tu, Laila bhi tu, Sheerin bhi, Farhad bhi tu

Jangal jangal raqs karein, aa sahra sahra raqs karein”

“Saints, masters, mystics—all dance in love’s embrace;

I am mad, you are mad—come, let us dance in madness!

You are Majnun, you are Laila, you are Shirin, you are Farhad;

Let us dance through forests and deserts alike!”

This is the ecstatic dimension of her poetry—where love transcends reason and individuality. The poetess celebrates divine madness (junoon-e-ishq), identifying both lover and beloved as one. The repetition of “raqs karein” (let us dance) transforms the ghazal into a chant of union and surrender.

“La-muraadi hai aur abas main hoon

Haaye khalwat ki dastaras main hoon”

“I am desolate, and I am vain;

Alas, I dwell within the reach of solitude.”

This brief couplet captures the essence of mystical loneliness. The poetess recognizes the emptiness of worldly pursuit and accepts solitude as her sacred companion—a space where divine communion unfolds.

“Main mohabbat likh rahi hoon aashiqi se mawara

Khud ko khud mein dhoondhti hoon bekhudi se mawara”

“I write of love beyond the bounds of passion;

I seek myself within myself—beyond all oblivion.”

These lines reveal her transcendence beyond earthly affection. The poetess strives for love’s purest essence, untainted by self or desire. It is the voice of the soul seeking its own reflection in the divine mirror.

“Bayaan woh roshni lafzon mein kya karoon Ahsaas

 guzar gayi hai jo lamhon mein, kya karoon”

“How shall I describe that radiance in words?

The feeling has passed within moments—what can I do?”

Here, Sapana Ahsaas laments the inadequacy of language to express mystical experience. The ephemeral nature of divine feeling defies capture; it flashes and vanishes, leaving behind only silence and wonder.

“Chhor yeh pyaar, mohabbat ke lateefe, paagal!

Mujhko kar denge meri jaan yeh qisse, paagal!”

“Leave these tales of love and affection, O mad one!

These very stories will consume my soul, O mad one!”

This closing couplet embodies exhaustion after the storm of passion. The poetess playfully yet painfully acknowledges that love’s tales, though sweet, can devour the heart itself.

In my view, the poetry of Sapana Ahsaas is both timeless and timely. In an age consumed by speed and material pursuit, her work stands as a still, luminous mirror—inviting readers to pause and rediscover the self. Her Sufi verse offers not mere emotional catharsis but a vision of being.

Her poetry reveals that love is not just an emotional state but an ongoing spiritual journey. Every ghazal is a narrative of struggle, surrender, and awakening—a testament to the human spirit’s search for meaning.

In essence, Sapana Ahsaas’s Sufi poetry is a rare treasure—a tapestry of beauty, philosophy, and transcendence that not only delights the heart but also enlightens the soul. Through her verses, she has indeed opened new horizons within the luminous realm of Sufi literature.