who was Shirdi Sai Baba and why am I interested in him?

Sai Baba and his disciple Abdul Baba reading the Qur'an

Sai Baba of Shirdi was an enigmatic faqir who lived in the late 19th and 20th century.

He has been revered as an avatar by Hindus, though his famous saying is "Allah Malik" (God is King), and thoughout his life, Sai Baba always wore of the garb of a Muslim dervish. Shirdi Sai Baba did embrace all faiths in his teachings, though the book Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism by Marianne Warren contains translations of a notebook of Sai Baba's teachings on Islam to his murid, Abdul, showing how his base and training was in Islam.
This book contextualized him within Deccan Islam, and in the history of Deccan Muslims who embraced aspects of Hinduism and Hindus, as encompassed by Tawhid (God's unity).
In the last few years of his life, and especially after his death, Sai Baba has gone through a process of what Warren calls Hinduization.
Sai Baba's life, teachings and interpretation all have implications on the study of mixity and intersectionalities within my Islam in India class.
I wish to highlight important passages from it.


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Human Love/Divine Love in Waris Shah's Epic Love Story Heer

Where does human end love and divine love begin?
Waris Shah, the Punjabi poet wrote what many consider the Subcontinent's Romeo and Juliet.
The characters are Heer and Ranjha, Muslim Jatts who enter into a romance that's condemed by everyone around them.
Heer's family, the religious authorities and others representing worldly comfort and stability try their best to break up this love.
By contrast, the "five Pirs", or holy men that Ranjha meets in the forest bless their love, even though, as one might guess the outcome is tragic.

"The Pirs replied, 'Child, eat your fill and drink grey buffaloes milk and live on fat of the land. Dismiss all sadness from your mind. God himself will set your affairs right.' Ranjha replied, 'Sirs, I am in great distress. I beseech you bestow the girl Heer upon me, for the fire of love is devouring me.'

The holy Pirs answered and said, 'Child, all your wishes will be fulfiled; your arrow will hit the target, and yourboat will reach the shore. Heer has been bestowed on you by the Darbar of God.'"

Even though the world is completely against them, and though it is destined to "fail" in mortal terms, their love is blessed as something that cannot be broken. As many have pointed out, the lovers of God: Prophets, Messengers, Saints and their followers are attacked by the world. By keeping the love of God alive, whatever happens in the world does not change their inner state.
The text itself gives a hint of this when it quotes from the Qur'an al Kareem: 'Everything is mortal save only God.'
Though Waris Shah's text can be read as a straight forward love story, it is really about the Divine love that is kindled through cultivating a "worldly" love. In fact, the differences between them are ripped apart in this poem.
After reading this, one can see how one first forgets themself in loving another. The boundaries of where they exist change, as one feels part of another person.
This concept reminds me of the Sufi path of Fana fi Sheikh, Fana fi Rasul and Fana Fi Allah.
In each step one is being absorbed in a deeper and deeper ocean. There is no Fana within one's limitations, fears and expectations. Waris Shah's text reminds the reader that this boundless ocean of love cannot always conform to the world.

http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/heercomp/heer-english.html