Verse 38 - The Mullah attacks Ranjha

The Mullah continues to assail Ranjha, comparing him to a filthy dog and declaring that mosques, the realm of Allah, are no place for either dogs or mendicants. He launches into a diatribe taking issue with Ranjha's long hair, his mustache which according to him is too long and in violation of the Sharia. He threatenns to rip his tehmat or sarong, which hangs below his ankles and is hence to long and declares that he will burn his mustache. He calls Ranjha an apostate for abjuring daily prayer and declares that one like him, who does not understand Islamic jurispurdence should bepromptly sent to the glalows, thus again invoking Mansur al-Hallaj. Waris Shah in this verse rails aganst the arbiters of organized religion, who misuse their authority to judge and oppress those who they should be ministering to.