This simple Kaafi illustrate how much power Bulleh Shah can pack in few words. The apparent simplicity tantalises the mind but remains shrouded in mystery and frustrating the rational mind. A brilliant Sufi strategy to stun the sensory apparatus of the Ego, the mind and to invoke a spiritual response using poetry, the language of the soul.

Iqbal refers to these assaults on the nafs , Ego as a zerbe Kaleem which cut through the Hijaab and reveal the secret of our Khudi, our true identity. Decoding the meaning leads to a state of masti or Irfaan a higher consciousness when the mind makes contact with the inherent spiritual link with the Central intelligence of the Universe, God.

Bulleh shah is expressing the experience of his heart making contact with God. His heart is alive, ratta ( red) which is symbol of life with Alif, a symbol of Allah?s oneness, tauheed and a symbol of the central message of Sufi doctrine of Wahdat Al wajood, the unity of existence.

?Alif Allah naal ratta dil mera?..

My heart is coloured with the oneness of Allah


mainoon 'bay' di khabar na kai..

I have no awareness of ?Bay? (2nd letter of the Alphabet) any thing other than Alif. Allah.

'bay' parhdian mainoon samajh na aaway..

I do not understand anything about ?Bay? Bay is the symbol of Duality which is the greatest Shirk for a Sufi.
lazzat alif di aayee..

I taste only oneness , I see Allah in every thing.

'ain' tay 'gain' noon samajh na janan.. Ain anf Ghain are the Alphabet and are distinguished only by a a single dot. He say I see no difference in the Seen and unseen as I only see Unity, Tauheed.

gal alif samjhayee..

This matter was explained by Alif, Allah when I connected to him and became coloured with his colour.

bullehya! qaul alif de pooray.
Bulleh shah the the state of Unity with Allah, Alif reveals the complete truth

jehray dil di karan safai..
And which clean the heart, of all hijaabs (covering) obscuring the vision of the beloved.

This Kaafi produces the state of unity consciousness when we see God in every thing around us and experience Gods presence in our hearts.

I hope this made some sense . However I hope this explains the Sufi symbolism and use of Alphabet to illustrate how every letter came out of Allif, example of how everything in universe came from One source , Allah(swt).