sunniridwi bhai jaan, i think that your comment is out of place. (b) there is circumstantial evidence that he was a shia but not absolute (c) (b) has nothing to do with the greatness of his poetry i.e. even if he was a shia it wouldn't make him less of a poet (d) i personally do not think such a great sunni alim as hazrat mawlana fazl e haqq khayrabadi would have been "best friends" with a shia! (e) where can i get that book? maulanax - yes he was. but he was also a man of deep faith and had great love for the welfare of muslims in general. He often would quote the famous couplet of Shaikh Saadi about, "Ishq e Muhammad" صلى الله عليه وسلم Interested readers should read The Oxford India Ghalib: Life and Letters. Urdu readers can read the Diwan e GHalib and also his bio by Hali.
Ghalib was proud of his reputation as a rake. He was once imprisoned for gambling and subsequently relished the affair with pride. Once, when someone praised the poetry of the pious Sheikh Sahbai in his presence, Ghalib immediately retorted, "How can Sahbai be a poet? He has never tasted wine, nor has he ever gambled; he has not been beaten with slippers by lovers, nor has he ever seen the inside of a jail." In the Mughal court circles, he even acquired a reputation as a "ladies' man".
On hazrart mawlana fadle haq khayrabadi alaihi rahma, hadrat mawlana yasin akhtar misbahi maddazillahu has written a book So please, if you are interested, purchase and take a look
A children’s playground; the world before me Nightly and daily, watching its pageantry Solomon’s throne; but, a game to me Miracles of Messiah; a mere simplicity The Universe; I accept, only as a name All things, before me; nothing, but illusionary In its dust, hides the desert, when I appear Rivers bow at their banks, with my fear Do not ask, in your absence, have I been lonely Just notice the poise, you display, before me Arrogant and egoistic; why should not, I be? My beloved’s reflection is spread all around me If flowery speech is what you want to see Then place the wine goblet, right next to me My hate is a fa�ade, for my uncontrolled envy Can I stop his name, being uttered before me Faith restrains me, as temptations attack The church in front; the mosque at my back A lover, I am, with deceptive charms Laila forgets Majnu, when, in my arms Not to die for; but our union is a delight Fulfillment of my wish on our separation night Turbulent waves; no more!; they are a blood-soaked sea I know not, what else, is in store for me Though lifeless hands; but eyes, still alive Leave the flask and wineglass, by my side My colleague, my confidant; we share the same wine Do not abuse Ghalib; he is a friend of mine baaziichaa-e-atfaal hai duniyaa mere aage hotaa hai shab-o-roz tamaashaa mere aage ik khel hai aurang-e-sulemaa.N mere nazadiik ik baat hai ejaaz-e-masiihaa mere aage juz naam nahii.n suurat-e-aalam mujhe manzuur juz vaham nahii.n hastii-e-ashiyaa mere aage hotaa hai nihaa.N gard me.n seharaa mere hote ghisataa hai jabii.n Khaak pe dariyaa mere aage mat puuchh ke kyaa haal hai meraa tere piichhe tuu dekh ke kyaa rang hai teraa mere aage sach kahate ho Khud_biin-o-Khud_aaraa huu.N na kyo.N huu.N baiThaa hai but-e-aa_iinaa siimaa mere aage phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul_afshaanii-e-guftaar rakh de ko_ii paimaanaa-e-sahabaa mere aage nafrat ka gumaa.N guzare hai mai.n rashk se guzaraa kyo.N kar kahuu.N lo naam naa us kaa mere aage imaa.N mujhe roke hai jo khii.nche hai mujhe kufr kaabaa mere piichhe hai kaliisaa mere aage aashiq huu.N pe maashuuq_farebii hai mera kaam majanuu.N ko buraa kahatii hai lailaa mere aage Khush hote hai.n par vasl me.n yuu.N mar nahii.n jaate aa_ii shab-e-hijaraa.N kii tamannaa mere aage hai mauj_zan ik qulzum-e-Khuu.N kaash! yahii ho aataa hai abhii dekhiye kyaa-kyaa mere aage go haath ko jumbish nahii.n aa.Nkho.n me.n to dam hai rahane do abhii saaGar-o-miinaa mere aage ham_peshaa-o-ham_masharab-o-ham_raaz hai meraa ’Ghalib’ ko buraa kyo.N kaho achchhaa mere aage translated by Umair Raja. See original here: http://www.chowk.com/articles/6553
