Waris Shah (1722–1798) was a Punjabi Sufi poet. His seminal work Heer Ranjha, written in 1766, is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature. The story of Heer was also told by several other writers but Waris Shah’s version is by far the most popular today. Waris Shah is also called Shakespeare of the Punjabi language because of his great poetic love story, Heer Ranjha. Some critics say that through this story of romantic love, he tried to portray the love of man for God (the quintessential subject of Sufi literature). Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan,District Sheikhupura. Waris Shah acknowledged himself as a disciple of Pir Makhdum of Kasur. Waris Shah’s parents died when he was young, and he probably received his education at the shrine of his preceptor. After completing his education in Kasur, he moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometers north of Pakpattan. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic masjid, now called Masjid Waris Shah. His tomb is in Jandiala Sher Khan.
