He was originally known as Mīr Wā‘i (‘the preacher’) and was a native of Badakhshān. He held stirring meetings for preaching. The following verses are his:—

“Though my head become the dust of thy path and be carried ³⁸⁵
away on the breeze
It is impossible that the thought of thy face should leave my
memory.”

“My heart is disturbed, as are thy tresses in the breeze;
Thou hast not undone even the smallest* knot in my string
of difficulties.”

“All at once I have become the whirlwind of the valley of
grief,
On account of my evil passions I am become a vagabond in
the world.”

“The tale of my grief and woe has passed all bounds,
Love has come upon me and has made me his own from head
to foot.”