Waris Ali Shah

The becalmed ship

On his first voyage to Arabia, his biography says, he was fasting and unnoticed when the ship stopped. A Bombay merchant, Muhammad Zia-ud-din, dreamed that the Prophet rebuked him for eating without thought of fellow passengers, found Waris in a dark corner, and fed him. The ship then moved.

suddenly the ship lost its propulsive motion and was becalmed

Reported by Mirza Ibrahim Baig Shaida, disciple and biographer, in Hayat-i-Warsi, in the English version consulted. Recorded Biography written after 1905, on an event decades earlier.

No voyage record was found. Sailing ships are often becalmed, and the story has a familiar hagiographic shape. The merchant's testimony comes through the biographer alone.

A merchant's dream told only by a biographer, decades later, with no voyage record. A calm at sea is ordinary, so the low score reflects the record. Reviewer's judgment, not a calculation.

Sources: Hayat-e-Waris: An English Version of the Life of the Illustrious Saint of Deva Shareef

Fragrance of his body and untouched feet

Devotees reported a pleasant scent from his body, and said that the soles of his feet stayed soft and clean despite long barefoot travel.

Reported by Devotees collectively, in Hayat-i-Warsi. Recorded After 1905, though it speaks of what devotees noticed in his lifetime.

The same features are common in saints' lives across traditions. The text calls it unanimous among devotees and names no outside witness. Perfume and bathing by attendants are also described in the same book.

Devotees collectively, with no one named, and the same book describes perfumes and bathing. Compare the violets at San Giovanni, which at least sit in a formal file. Reviewer's judgment, not a calculation.

Sources: Hayat-e-Waris: An English Version of the Life of the Illustrious Saint of Deva Shareef

The Englishman's dream of Christ

At Bara Banki station, the biography says, a high-ranking Englishman stared at him and later returned, saying he had dreamed of Christ a year earlier, on 27 December, in the same clothing and features. A named judge, Sharaf-ud-Din, was present.

Reported by Syed Sharaf-ud-Din Warsi, a barrister and judge and a disciple, as told in Hayat-i-Warsi. Recorded After 1905.

The informant is identified and of standing, which is unusual for this text, but he was a devotee. The Englishman is unnamed, so nothing can be checked. The Calcutta High Court records of Sharaf-ud-Din's career would at least date him.

A named informant of standing, but a devotee, and the Englishman is unnamed. The meeting is ordinary and could have grown in memory. Reviewer's judgment, not a calculation.

Sources: Hayat-e-Waris: An English Version of the Life of the Illustrious Saint of Deva Shareef

Count Galarza's experience of his death

A European disciple called Count Galarza wrote from Paris on 13 May 1905 that he saw the saint going to the other world and was united with him at the moment of death. Later letters are dated 8 September and October 1905.

Reported by Count Galarza, in letters to Haji Aughat Shah and to the biographer, printed in Hayat-i-Warsi. Recorded 1905, by the letters' own dates.

If the letters are genuine this is the closest thing to dated testimony on this page, recorded within weeks. The originals were not seen, and the Count's identity was not established. His letter arrived after news of the death could have reached Paris.

Event scored: Galarza's experience, as an experience. The letters are dated within weeks if genuine, but originals were not seen, his identity is unestablished, and news could have reached Paris first. Reviewer's judgment, not a calculation.

Sources: Hayat-e-Waris: An English Version of the Life of the Illustrious Saint of Deva Shareef