Seek the spirit, forget the form

Seek the spirit, forget the form

Seek the spirit, forget the form
Close the chapters of blasphemy forever
Forget the tortures of the grave and hell
It appeals to the heart that
the spirit is all there is to know

Pilgrims return from the holy land
Clad in robes of honor
Keen to sell their repute for pennies
When did the faqirs ever care for pilgrimage?
How long can the truth be veiled?
The spirit is all there is to know.

by Bulleh Shah
English version by Fawad Usman
Original Language Punjabi