

A 1964 Pakistani film titled Waris Shah featured Inayat Hussain Bhatti in the title role. Waris Shah's life has been fictionalised in Punjabi-language films. تے اج کتابِ عشق دا کوئی اگلا ورقہ پَھول (And plead with him to open another page in the book of love) Portrayal in media

Many verses of Waris Shah are widely used in Punjab in a moral context, for instance: Shrine of Waris Shah at Jandiala Sher Khan, Pakistan Examples

One of the oldest and most accurate copy of Qissa Waris Shah published by Kripa Ram in 1916 is available in the Punjab Public Library in Lahore. It is estimated that there are 11069 forged verses in the commonly available Qissa Waris Shah. Other poets later added their own verses in Qissa Waris Shah throughout the history. Here he resided in a small room, adjacent to a historic mosque now called Masjid Waris Shah, until his death. After completing his education, Waris moved to Malka Hans, a village twelve kilometres north of Pakpattan. Waris Shah acknowledged himself to be a disciple of an ustad from Kasur, namely Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza from whom he received his education. Waris spent years in search of the perfect spiritual guide.

Waris's parents are said to have died when he was young. His father's name was Gulsher Shah and mother's name was Kamal Banu. Syed Mohammad Waris Shah was born in Jandiala Sher Khan, Punjab, present-day Pakistan into a reputed Sayyid family and was a descendant of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki through his son Sayyid Badruddin. 20th century portrait painting of Waris Shah
