Every culture has a great love story. The Punjabis have Heer and Ranjha, the Sindhis have Sassui and Punhun, and the Persians have Laila and Majnun. For the Baloch, the most famous love story is Hani and Sheh Mureed, a tale of love, honour, a promise that could not be broken, and a love that became a path to God.
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The story is set in the 15th century, the heroic age of Balochistan, in the time of the great Baloch leader Mir Chakar Rind. Here is the legend as it has been passed down through generations.
The Characters
| Sheh Mureed | Son of Sheh Mubarak, a chief of the Kahiri tribe. The finest warrior in Mir Chakar's army, famous for his swordsmanship, horse riding and archery. He was called the "lord of the iron bow," because only he could draw his heavy steel bow. |
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| Hani | Daughter of the Rind noble Mir Mandow. Sheh Mureed's childhood friend and fiancée, known for her beauty and wisdom. |
| Mir Chakar Rind | The great chief of the Rinds and one of the most famous heroes in Baloch history. |
The Bowl of Water
One day, Mir Chakar and Sheh Mureed were returning from a hunt and stopped in the town where both of their fiancées lived. Following Baloch custom, a woman did not appear before the man she was engaged to before marriage, so each man visited the other's fiancée.
Sheh Mureed was given water in a silver bowl. Thirsty and on an empty stomach, he drank it quickly and became ill. Hani, however, had placed small pieces of palm straw in the water she gave to Mir Chakar. He had to drink slowly to avoid the straw, so the water did him no harm. When Mir Chakar saw Sheh Mureed sick, he understood how wise Hani had been, and he began to admire her.
The Three Promises
Some time later, at a gathering of poets and nobles, the chiefs each made a solemn vow:
- Mir Chakar promised never to tell a lie.
- Mir Jado promised to kill anyone who touched his beard.
- Sheh Mureed, full of love for Hani, promised that on his wedding day he would give anything that anyone asked of him.
For the Baloch, a promise made in public was sacred. Breaking it meant losing one's honour forever.
The Wedding Day
On the day of Sheh Mureed's wedding celebrations, Mir Chakar came to test his vow. Sheh Mureed expected him to ask for his famous iron bow. Instead, Mir Chakar asked for Hani.
Sheh Mureed was heartbroken, but he would not break his word. To keep his honour, he gave up the woman he loved. The engagement was broken, and Hani was married to Mir Chakar.
Sheh Mureed Becomes a Wanderer
Lost in grief, Sheh Mureed turned to prayer and began to write poems about his love for Hani, which spread his story across the land. He then left Balochistan with a group of wandering holy men and travelled to Makkah and Madinah. There he lived a simple life of prayer for about thirty years.
The Return and the Iron Bow
After many years, Sheh Mureed returned to Sibi, Mir Chakar's capital, dressed in rags with long hair, and begged at the palace gate. No one recognised him, except Hani, who knew him at once but stayed silent.
During an archery contest, the nobles laughed at the poor beggar and handed him a bow. He broke it. They gave him another, and he broke that too. Finally they brought out the old iron bow, which had been forgotten in a sheep pen. Sheh Mureed held it with great respect, bent it easily, and shot three arrows, sending one arrow straight through the hole made by the one before.
Hani then described two marks on Sheh Mureed's body, and when they were found, everyone knew the truth: the beggar was Sheh Mureed.
The Ending
According to the legend, Mir Chakar had never been able to truly make Hani his wife. Realising that her heart belonged to Sheh Mureed, he divorced her and told her she was free to go to him.
But Sheh Mureed had changed. He said that his love for Hani had led him to a higher love, the love of God, and that Hani had been the path that brought him closer to the Divine. He would not return to worldly life.
The next day, Sheh Mureed chose a white she-camel from his father's herd, rode away, and was never seen again.
The Meaning of the Story
- Keeping your word: Sheh Mureed gave up what he loved most rather than break a promise. This reflects the Baloch value of honour and keeping one's word.
- True love: Hani's love remained faithful through all the years of separation.
- Love as a path to God: like many Sufi stories, earthly love becomes a way to divine love.
- Wisdom: Hani's clever bowl of water shows that wisdom is as valued as beauty.
The Baloch say: "Ta jahan ast, Sheh Mureed ast", meaning "As long as the world exists, Sheh Mureed will live." To many Baloch, Sheh Mureed is remembered as an immortal saint.
Hani and Sheh Mureed in Culture Today
The story lives on in Balochi poetry, songs, books and theatre. Modern poets such as Atta Shad wrote about Sheh Mureed and Hani, and the story has been performed on stage at theatre festivals in Pakistan. Scholars have also compared it with the Persian story of Laila and Majnun. (Read our post on the great poets of Balochi literature!)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Hani and Sheh Mureed?
Hani and Sheh Mureed are the lovers in the most famous Balochi love story. Sheh Mureed was a great warrior in Mir Chakar Rind's army, and Hani was his fiancée.
Why did Sheh Mureed give Hani to Mir Chakar?
He had promised to give anything he was asked for on his wedding day. When Mir Chakar asked for Hani, Sheh Mureed kept his promise to protect his honour.
What happened to Sheh Mureed in the end?
After returning from about thirty years in Arabia, he chose spiritual love over earthly love, rode away on a white camel and was never seen again.
When does the story take place?
The story is set in the 15th century, during the heroic age of Mir Chakar Rind.
Did your grandparents tell you a different version of this story? Share it in the comments!
Sources: Wikipedia (Hani and Sheh Mureed, based on Jan Muhammad Dashti's "The Baloch Cultural Heritage," Mansel Dames's "Popular Poetry of the Baloches" and other works), Wikipedia (Atta Shad), APP. Versions of the legend differ between storytellers.
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