The Metaphor of the ‘Heart’ in the Poetry of Khwaja Noor-ul-Hassan Ovaisi Taarik

کلام خواجہ نور الحسن اویسی تارک میں ”دل“کا استعارہ

Abstract

Khwaja Noor-ul-Hassan Ovaisi Taarik was a distinguished Sufi poet of the twentieth century whose writings and spiritual discourses illuminated the path for his followers. He belonged to the revered Silsila-e-Owaisiya, a spiritual lineage whose beneficence continues to guide seekers on the path of inner enlightenment. His poetry is marked by profound intellectual and spiritual depth, with a particular emphasis on عشقِ رسول ﷺ (love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ) and adherence to the Prophetic teachings. A central motif in his poetic expression is the symbolism of the “heart,” which he employs in diverse and nuanced ways to portray its spiritual, emotional, and metaphysical states. Through rich imagery and layered meanings, he explores various conditions of the heart—its purity, restlessness, awakening, and its journey toward divine realization. This article seeks to critically examine and analyze these multifaceted representations of the heart in his poetry, highlighting their spiritual and literary significance.