Sufi literature in Urdu

Sufi Literature in Urdu: Contribution of translators

Syyed Mansoor Agha participated in a “Seminar on Sufi Literature in Urdu” and presented a paper on five books written by prominent Sufis in Arabic or Persian and latter translated in Urdu. The first book in the list is, “Fayooz-e-Yazdani”, collection of sermons and sayings of Sheikh Abdul Qadar Gilani, the Gaus-e-Azam RA. Molana Aashiq Ilahi Meeruthi translated it in 1333 AH and titled as “Al-fath-e-Rabbani”. Second book was “Risala Qusheriya”, penned by Imam Abul Qasim Abdul Kareem Ibn Hawazin Alqusheri, translated by Maulvi Ahmad Jang of Hyderabad in 1973. Third “Kashaful Mehjoob” of Syyed Abul Hasan al-Hajweri famous as Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh or Data Sahib (Lahore). Mian Tufail Muhammad, B.A., LL.B. former Head of Jamat-e-Islami, Pakistan translated it in Montgomery Jail during Ayyub Khan’s military rule.

Besides these three key books on Sufuism, two more translations were briefly introduced one of “Ahyaul-Uloom fid-Deen” of Imam Gazali and “Maktoobat-e-Rabbani “, collection of correspondence of Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi better known as Imam Rabbani Mujaddad Alf-Sani of Sarhind (Now Fateh Garh Sahib) in Punjab (India).

He also outlined broad contours of upcoming book “Basair”, compiled by Prof Syed Liaqat Hussain Qadri Chishti RA, a well known Sufi and former Head of Arabic Department of Usmania University, Hyderabad. This single book is scholarly compiled essence of knowledge on Sufism, scattered in many basic book on the subject. This is also a useful guidance, whoever endures to enter in the field and practice Sufism to obtain pious life of peace and purity. Shah Abdul Qayyum Qumesi, Head of Qumesia Library and Research Center, Sadhora, District Yamuna Nagar, Haryana (India) is pioneering the project under the supervision of this contributor.

Seminar was presided over by Qazi O.R. Hashmi, former head of Urdu, JMI, inaugurated by Syed Shahid Mehdi, former

VC AMU Aligarh, Prof Gulam Yahya Anjum delivered Key Note Address. Maulana Tariq Abdulllah participated as Chief Guest.

The Seminar was organized by Dr. Kamal Ahmad, Gaus Sehwani under the guidance of Suhail Anjum. NCPUL, a department under Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India sponsored the event.