Yaqeen Blog

If "Dear Mama" is the handbook for the mother wound, "Paisa Bolta Hai" by the legendary Sabri Brothers is the 2025 "villain arc" soundtrack—but with a spiritual plot twist.

Imagine a Qawwali track that hits with the same cynical energy as a Kendrick Lamar verse about corporate greed, wrapped in the soulful power of Sufi tradition.

The GenZ Intro: "The Original 'Money Talks' Energy"

In a world where we’re constantly told to "manifest abundance" while being crushed by late-stage capitalism, "Paisa Bolta Hai" (literally: Money Talks) is the ultimate reality check.

Before there were rap songs about "get money, stay humble," the Sabri Brothers were already calling out the fake-deep nature of society. This track is a masterclass in satirical realism. It’s the sonic equivalent of that meme: "I don't want to be a girlboss, I just want to have enough money to be a ghost." It captures the bitter truth that in the material world (the Dunya), your bank account often speaks louder than your character.

The Content: A Play-by-Play of Materialism

The Sabri Brothers use their signature call-and-response style to list the absurd ways money manipulates human behavior. They aren't praising money; they are observing its power with a side of divine sarcasm.

• The Social Status Flip: They describe how a nobody becomes a "Sir" the moment their pockets get heavy.

• The Family Dynamics: They touch on how even blood relatives change their tone based on your financial standing (the original "Where was you when I was in the kitchen?" energy).

• The Moral Vacuum: The lyrics suggest that money can buy silence, influence, and even a "good reputation" for a bad person.

The Message: The Great Paradox

While the chorus keeps hammering home that "Paisa Bolta Hai," the deeper message is actually a spiritual warning. 1. The Satire of the Dunya: By repeating how much money "speaks," they are mocking the people who worship it. They are showing how cheap and transactional human relationships have become.

2. The Illusion of Power: The Sabri Brothers are Sufi singers. Their whole vibe is about the Divine. By highlighting how loud "Money Talks" in this world, they are subtly asking: "But what will speak for you in the next one?" 3. The 2025 Takeaway: The song is a manual for Intellectual Detachment. It tells us: "Yes, money runs this game, but don't let it run you." It’s about recognizing the game of the world without losing your soul to the currency.

"Aadmi ki qadar uske kapdon se hoti hai, aur kapdon ki qadar uski jeb se."

(A man is judged by his clothes, and his clothes are judged by his pockets.)

Long before "unfiltered" was a social media tag, Bulleh Shah (1680–1757) was the original disruptor. Born Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadri, he lived through one of the most chaotic periods in Punjab's history—the decline of the Mughal Empire and the rise of Sikh power.

But while kings fought for territory, Bulleh Shah fought for the soul. He wasn't just a poet; he was a revolutionary who used the Punjabi language to smash through the walls of religious hypocrisy, caste pride, and social elitism. This is the deep dive into the man who taught the world that God isn't found in a building, but in the human heart.

1. The Come Up: Trading Pedigree for Truth 🎲

Bulleh Shah was born into a high-status Sayyid family (descendants of the Prophet ﷺ). He was an elite scholar, mastered in Arabic and Persian, and was destined for a life of comfortable religious authority.

• The Pivot: He realized that "bookish knowledge" was a veil. He famously wrote: "Padh padh ilm hazaar kitaaban, kadi apne aap nu padhya hi nai" (You read thousands of books, but you never tried to read your own self).

• The Scandal: To the horror of his noble family, he chose Shah Inayat Qadri—a low-caste Arain (farmer)—as his spiritual master. In 18th-century Punjab, a Sayyid bowing to a farmer was a "glitch in the social matrix" that sparked a massive scandal. Bulleh’s response? "Bullah kee jaana main kaun" (Bullah, who knows who I am?).

2. The Voice: "Bullah Kee Jaana" and the Philosophy of Oneness 🎤

Bulleh Shah’s poetry is written in the form of Kafis—short, rhythmic verses meant to be sung. His work is built on the philosophy of Wahdat-ul-Wujood (Unity of Existence).

• Radical Humanism: At a time of intense religious conflict between Muslims and Sikhs, Bulleh stood in the middle. He famously said: "Mandir dha de, masjid dha de... par kise da dil na dhavi" (Tear down the temple, tear down the mosque... but never break a human heart, for that is where God lives).

• The "Kanjari" Moment: When his master, Shah Inayat, became angry with him, Bulleh Shah did the unthinkable. To win back his teacher’s heart, he spent years learning to dance from a group of street performers (Kanjars). He eventually appeared before his master, dancing in a woman's dress, singing "Tere ishq nachaya kar thaiya thaiya" (Your love has made me dance like a puppet).

📊 Bulleh Shah: The Impact Matrix

3. The Break: The "Ghost" Who Refused to Die 🌍

Bulleh Shah was so controversial that when he died in 1757, the orthodox religious leaders in Kasur refused to give him a funeral or allow him to be buried in the communal graveyard. They called him a heretic.

• The Irony: Today, those who condemned him are forgotten, but Bulleh Shah’s shrine in Kasur is a global site of pilgrimage.

• The Legacy: His work is the backbone of Punjabi folk, Qawwali, and even modern rock (thanks to artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, and Junoon). He proved that you can't bury the truth; it just grows back as a song.

Real Talk: Why Bulleh Shah is a Gen Z Icon

He represents the ultimate "vibe check" for authority. He didn't care about "clout" or familial honor; he cared about Siddak (Truth).

The Takeaway:

1. Unlearn to Learn: Sometimes you have to burn the "prayer mat" of your ego to find real faith.

2. Radical Inclusion: If your spirituality excludes others based on their birth or belief, Bulleh would say you haven't started your journey yet.

3. The Heart is the Temple: Your internal landscape is the most sacred space you will ever occupy.

🔗 Reliable & Reputable Sources

• Wikipedia - Bulleh Shah Biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulleh_Shah

• Coke Studio - The Musical Legacy: https://www.youtube.com/@CokeStudio (Search "Bulleh Shah")

• Sufi Poetry Archive: https://www.rekhta.org/poets/bulleh-shah/couplets

• UNESCO - Punjabi Sufi Traditions: https://ich.unesco.org/

"Bullah, I will never die. Someone else is lying in the grave."

Which Bulleh Shah verse hits your soul the hardest?

Aziz Mian: The Philosopher of Qawwali

Aziz Mian Qawwal was not just a singer; he was a scholar, a poet, and a "Nietzschean" philosopher of Sufi music. Known for his raspy, thunderous voice and dramatic delivery, he remains a legend in South Asian music history. Holding master’s degrees in Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, he was unique because he wrote his own lyrics—often engaging in a direct, bold "argument" with the Divine. His performances were less about entertainment and more about inducing a spiritual frenzy to connect the soul with the Almighty.

"Yeh Paisa Kya Karega": A Reality Check for the Modern Chase

In an era where GenZ is often swept up in the hustle culture of Instagram fame and overnight wealth, Aziz Mian’s iconic Qawwali "Yeh Paisa Kya Karega" (What Will This Money Do?) hits differently. It serves as a hauntingly beautiful reminder that the material world is a fleeting illusion.

• The Message: Aziz Mian argues that wealth is a "silent guest" that leaves as quickly as it arrives. While the modern world prioritizes "Net Worth," he shifts the focus to "Soul Worth."

• Neglecting the Akhirah: The lyrics mock the arrogance of accumulating riches while forgetting the ultimate return to the Creator. He asks: When the breath leaves the body, can gold buy a second of life?

• The Takeaway: For a generation chasing "clout," this Qawwali is a call to balance. It doesn't forbid success but warns that if your bank account is full while your spirit is empty, you are truly bankrupt.