1

Hisotry of Tadhkira Sufi books

Tomb of Shalikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Baghdad

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator: ‘Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar)
Hyderabad, India
 2

Published by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez.
First appeared in 1446/2025.All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or otherwise, without written permission from the
publisher.

Contents
 3

i.The record of the publication of author ………………12

i.Preface………………………………………… …….17

1.Hisotry of the Tadhkira books……………………….26

 4

Preface

This Urdu book, ‘Hazrat Gaus e Aazam—Swaney Wa

Taalimaat,’ was written by Hazrat Maikash Akbarabadi. And
books link is as follows.
https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/hazrat-e-gaus-ul-aa-
zam-savaneh-o-talimaat-maikash-akbarabadi-ebooks
I have translated this book into English and published it,
giving it the English title “History of Tadhkira Sufi books.” It
was published by me in March 2025.From this book details
and history of the Tadhkira books were translated by into the
English and this is important and old record and first time
being published in the English language as per the records of
the books written in Persian and Urdu Tadhkira books of Sufi
persons in Iran, India, Arabian area as well as some other
non-Arabian countries.

Among Muslim nations, there was found interest and fondness

in writing history and Tadhkira (The word Tazkira (has
multiple meanings in English, including "memorandum",
"biography", "memory", and "admonition") books from the
biography details of the prophet.
 5

Shaikh Abdul Qader Jilani’s life was made like an example

guide for human beings. For this reason, his disciples have
made all aspects of his life for research and endeavors. Like
what he will do inside the house. What was his treatment and
behavior toward his wives? As well as what was his treatment
of his children, how was his treatment and conduct with the
male slaves and slave girls and maids?
What will be his attitude outside of the house? And his style of
treatment with his enemy persons, as well as his treatment
with his friends and well-wishers? The message he has
brought with him and how he will use it to communicate with
the people, how he has propagated the right beliefs and
mentioned wrong beliefs and superstitions, and how he has
finished away these from the world. And what was his style of
work in this matter?

How he has treated nobles and wealthy persons and how he

has had success in his treatment of love with poor persons.
What was his communion with his creator? He faced
difficulties and problems on the way of worship and mystical
exercises.

The rules and regulations he has followed on the battlefield. If

he is present at public meetings, then what is the core of the
conduct?
 6

In short, there was a search of every angle of his private and

public life, and by putting them in the robe made of the golden
thread of good deeds and pure belief, in this way, there was
prepared one dress of saintliness of higher value. And which
fit for each size of height, which is deserved for pride and
grace. Until the day of judgment, for each person it will have a
reason for wearing as well as decoration in this matter.

After this, there were compiled biographical books of the

caliphs of the Prophet, so that the world should be clear this
point that the system of the world’s welfare and well-being got
by the Muslim nation in the successorship after the Prophet’s
life, and upon which there will be acted upon by those holy
persons who have endeavored to a bright height of humanity,
to the higher grade height. If any person of wisdom doubts its
action in this matter, then for him it can taste on the fixed
three decade period a touchstone for the matter of ruling the
kingdom and ruling life and its matters and get satisfaction in
this matter.

After the rule of the caliphs of the prophet, the life of Islam
was divided into parts. The caliphate was presented with
religion and life in one color only. Due to some reasons of
history and civilization, there came a double standard. So there
were compiled history books of the rulers as well as religious
leaders and elders of religious guides. They started books of
compilation about them in this matter.
 7

There was an aim in this matter to write about the prophet and
the golden period of the caliphs of the prophet and events in
this matter. There is a required necessity to check about the
writers and the certification of the higher status of the position
to have satisfaction.

This is also believed to be from the holy Quran and hadith,

which gives the solution to the problems in this matter. And
those people who followed it in their private life and in
business in this way in the double life, how they are as well as
love the religion in this matter. So that compiled by them
books of fiqa (Islamic jurisprudence), which is the law of life
on which they can follow with peace.
 8

Hisotry of Tadhkira Sufi books

Tomb of Shalikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Baghdad

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator: ‘Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar)
Hyderabad, India
 9

In praise of Shaikh Abdul Qadi Jilani Baghdad

Tomb of Shalikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Baghdad

In praise of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani

You are light of Islam and lamp of Sufi persons

If you were not born so then there will be no light
Not only light in the world but in the Islamic way
Shah of ocean of knowledge and lover of prophet
You are great guide and authors of so many books
 10

Your service and knowledge of Islam is much great

For this reason Islamic flag is shining in the world
Hafeez is your devotee and who wrote this old book
Oh Shah of Baghdad please give your approval soon

By
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator: ‘Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar)
Hyderabad, India

Preface

This Urdu book, ‘Hazrat Gaus e Aazam—Swaney Wa

Taalimaat,’ was written by Hazrat Maikash Akbarabadi. And
books link is as follows.
https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/hazrat-e-gaus-ul-aa-
zam-savaneh-o-talimaat-maikash-akbarabadi-ebooks
I have translated this book into English and published it,
giving it the English title “History of the Tadhkira Sufi
books.” It was published by me in March 2025.
 11

Among Muslim nations, there was found interest and fondness

in writing history and Tadhkira (The word Tazkira (has
multiple meanings in English, including "memorandum",
"biography", "memory", and "admonition") books from the
biography details of the prophet.

Shaikh Abdul Qader Jilani’s life was made like an example

guide for human beings. For this reason, his disciples have
made all aspects of his life for research and endeavors. Like
what he will do inside the house. What was his treatment and
behavior toward his wives? As well as what was his treatment
of his children, how was his treatment and conduct with the
male slaves and slave girls and maids?
What will be his attitude outside of the house? And his style of
treatment with his enemy persons, as well as his treatment
with his friends and well-wishers? The message he has
brought with him and how he will use it to communicate with
the people, how he has propagated the right beliefs and
mentioned wrong beliefs and superstitions, and how he has
finished away these from the world. And what was his style of
work in this matter?

How he has treated nobles and wealthy persons and how he

has had success in his treatment of love with poor persons.
What was his communion with his creator? He faced
difficulties and problems on the way of worship and mystical
exercises.
 12

The rules and regulations he has followed on the battlefield. If

he is present at public meetings, then what is the core of the
conduct?

In short, there was a search of every angle of his private and

public life, and by putting them in the robe made of the golden
thread of good deeds and pure belief, in this way, there was
prepared one dress of saintliness of higher value. And which
fit for each size of height, which is deserved for pride and
grace. Until the day of judgment, for each person it will have a
reason for wearing as well as decoration in this matter.

After this, there were compiled biographical books of the

caliphs of the Prophet, so that the world should be clear this
point that the system of the world’s welfare and well-being got
by the Muslim nation in the successorship after the Prophet’s
life, and upon which there will be acted upon by those holy
persons who have endeavored to a bright height of humanity,
to the higher grade height. If any person of wisdom doubts its
action in this matter, then for him it can taste on the fixed
three decade period a touchstone for the matter of ruling the
kingdom and ruling life and its matters and get satisfaction in
this matter.
 13

After the rule of the caliphs of the prophet, the life of Islam
was divided into parts. The caliphate was presented with
religion and life in one color only. Due to some reasons of
history and civilization, there came a double standard. So there
were compiled history books of the rulers as well as religious
leaders and elders of religious guides. They started books of
compilation about them in this matter.

There was an aim in this matter to write about the prophet and
the golden period of the caliphs of the prophet and events in
this matter. There is a required necessity to check about the
writers and the certification of the higher status of the position
to have satisfaction.

This is also believed to be from the holy Quran and hadith,

which gives the solution to the problems in this matter. And
those people who followed it in their private life and in
business in this way in the double life, how they are as well as
love the religion in this matter. So that compiled by them
books of fiqa (Islamic jurisprudence), which is the law of life
on which they can follow with peace.
 14

The record of the publication of the author is as follows on

calmeo.com

Find my records below

Calameo.com
BASIC account and showing my record of publication and
number of viewers etc.
405
 15

Publications
46 k (Forty six thousand and six hundred )
Views
7
Downloads
0
Comments
CALAMEO.COM
Calaméo - Publishing Platform for Documents and Magazines
--------------------------------------------------------------

Record Confirmation <[email protected]>

10:14 PM (1 hour ago)
to me, neerja, ibr

Application ID: 91655

Dear Mohammed Abdul Hafeez,

Greetings from India Book of Records!

Congratulations, your claim has been finalized as a titled, '

IBR Achiever ' under India Book of Records. We appreciate
the effort and patience shown by you. Your skills have been
acknowledged and as per the verification done by the Editorial
Board of ‘India Book of Records’, only the best has been
 16

selected and approved by us.

The title and content have been created as per our verification
and are given below. The title and content have been framed
in accordance with the set protocols of record writing after an
extensive investigation involving meticulous verification of
the evidence and Book Records Database with no scope for
discrepancies. Therefore, changes with the category, title, and
description matter will not be considered, also since the record
is exclusive, therefore, the names of other
participants/supporters/parents/friends will not be included in
an individual’s record.

TITLE & DESCRIPTION

IBR Achiever

Mohammed Abdul Hafeez (born on January 10, 1945) of

Hyderabad, Telangana, is titled as ‘IBR Achiever’ for
translating a complete book titled 'Muslim Saints and Mystics'
(ISBN: 978-9830653-54-9), published by ASN Islamic Books,
from English to Kannada using Google translate, as confirmed
on August 8, 2024.

`.
 17

Books by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez - Goodreads

Global web icon
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/
15034155.Mohammed_…
sort by « previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next » * Note: these are all the
books on Goodreads for this author. To add more books, click
here . Mohammed Abdul Hafeez has 161 books on Goodreads
with 309 ratings. Mohammed Abdul Hafeez’s most

---------------------------------------------------------

My Guinness World Record

Claim ID: 287230

Membership Number: 252956

Dear Mr. Mohammed Abdul Hafeez

Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record

proposal for 'The world record of translation of two episodes
We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a
Guinness World Record.
The details of two episodes
Owaise of Qarni.
Tipu Sultan.
A six page document entitled Universal Declaration of Human
 18

Rights, produced by the United Nations in 1948, was

translated into 321 languages and dialects from Abkhaz to
Zulu.
We realise that this will be disappointing to you. However, we
have considered your application carefully in the context of
the specific subject area and that of records as a whole and this
is our decision.Guinness World Records has absolute
discretion as to which Guinness World Record applications
are accepted and our decision is final. Guinness World
Records may at its discretion and for whatever reason identify
some records as either no longer monitored by Guinness
World Records or no longer viable.
As your record application has not been accepted, Guinness
World Records is in no way associated with the activity
relating to your record proposal and we in no way endorse this
activity. If you choose to proceed with this activity then this is
will be of your own volition and at your own risk.
Once again thank you for your interest in Guinness World
Records.
Yours sincerely,
Ralph Hannah
Records Management Team

An appreciation of work of the author by Iftekhari Silsila

 19

This note shows as an appreciation of Iftekhari Silsila for the

work of the translation of the below book by the author and
adding of this book ‘Muslim saints and Mystics‘ (Tadhkirtal
Aliyah by Farid al din Attar) which is very famous in the
Western world among the English knowing persons and on
their website.

The link is as follows, which showing the author’s name in

the book as Mohammed Abdul Hafeez R.A., on their below
website.

http://www.silsilaeiftekhari.in/books/read/7XWYA37T/
tazkaratul-aulia-memories-of-the-saints/?
fbclid=IwY2xjawIN2wJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYHjD88GN
0mPA3p7L3UlTRe_ki7XryitivVXsRpkca_1DNDoyCdSNsD
MqA_aem_XaplQ4EJtFx3adkZ9VnGYA

Kindly note this book is now available on the India’s famous

website
----------------------
Top reviews from India
Srinin
5.0 out of 5 stars
For book Baba Tajuddin by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez
on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.in/Biography-Hazrat-Baba-Tajuddin-
Nagpur-ebook/dp/B01LFEKEGO
 20

A book for all spiritual seekers

Reviewed in India on 21 June 2020

This is a valuable book with rare and interesting details from

the life of the amazing and one of the greatest Sufi Saints
Tajuddin Baba, who spent most of his life in Nagpur, in the
pre independent India.
 21

I had come across the name of this Saint in the life history of
Shirdi Sai Baba written by Master E. Bharadvaja. It is reported
there that once Shirdi Baba confused his disciples by
mysteriously drumming on a water pot with his satka (a short
stick he used to carry with him). He explained his action by
saying, that he is extinguishing the fire which caught the hut
of Taj uddin Baba in Nagpur. Taj uddin Baba on the other
hand refused to accept a wealthy visitor called Bapu Saheb
Buty as his disciple. He asked him to seek his salvation from
Shirdi Baba. Both the saints were in communion with each
other on the spiritual plane!
Then I was fortunate enough to read the short biography of
Tajuddin Baba written by the same author Master Bharadvaja,
which impressed me immensely. The drawback of this short
although very valuable biography was that facts and details
mentioned in it are not complete or not explained in a logical
sequence. Which leads to a feeling of dissatisfaction. Still the
reader gets an idea of the overwhelming spiritual power and
universal love of Taj uddin. But it kindled my interest to know
more about this saint.
This made me always to be in search of a complete biography
of the saint with more details. As I by chance discovered the
Work of Mohammed Abdul Hafeez I was thrilled and I
ordered it immediately and am now a happy possessor of this
book.
Many important details from the life of this Sufi Saint, which
were like missing links, I could gather from this book:

1. About the ancestry of the saint.

 22

2. His childhood and transition from the worldly life to that of

godliness; the important incidents which took place and
worked as catalysers on the way to his perfection.
3. His relation with the Maharaja of Nagpur and other
members of the aristocracy.
4. An exhaustive account of his relationship with the Hindu-
disciples and followers.
India is a country of spirituality. Many of its spiritual masters
have transcended the narrow limits of religion, preached and
practiced universal humanism. It hardly mattered for them to
which religion their visitors belonged– they were helped
without any discrimination, because only their merit mattered
not their cast or creed.
Swami Veerabhrahmendra’s chief disciple was a Muslim
named Sayyed. Shirdi Baba lived in a mosque and was equally
worshipped by Muslims and Hindus likewise. Taj uddin Baba
was not different in this matter.
As Abdul Hafeez writes in this book about a Hindu-disciple,
Venkat Rao, who worked as a Railway guard. People observed
him sitting near Tajuddin, although he should have left that
place and left Nagpur in a train leaving for Bombay. His job
demanded this. But Venkat Rao does not leave that place,
because he is completely engrossed in the presence of the
Baba. To the surprise of the other people he was also seen at
the same time leaving in that train, which left for Bombay!
Western Occultism calls this phenomenon “bilocation” – a
miracle shown many times by Tajuddin Baba on account of
his supernatural powers. But the narration of Hafeez leaves
one question open: Did the Saint appear in the form of Venkat
Rao in the train? Or did he transfer this supernatural power to
 23

his disciple so that he could appear at two places at the same

time? Spiritual masters are capable of doing both the things.
A very interesting part of this book is that it gives a glimpse
into the Muslim or Sufi occultism (see page 81) and tries to
explain how miracles happen. This theme requires to be
elaborated if the author is planning a second edition.
From the point of view of modern Indian history this book is
of immense importance. Yoga and mysticism have been not
yet fully recognized driving forces behind the Indian freedom
struggle.
The chapter called “Gandhi and Ali Brothers” depicts Gandhis
taking the audience of Taj uddin Baba and the Baba making
two predictions – one for Gandhi and another one for the Ali
Brothers. Both of them turn out to be true! I request the author
to elaborate this chapter with more details and photos if
possible. That would increase the value of this book
hundredfold!
There are certain short comings in regard to the language.
English is a foreign language. It is not always easy to chose
the right preposition or the helping verb. In spite of this the
reader sees the godly figure of the saint Taj uddin Baba
shining behind the linguistic barbed fence of a foreign
language.
This is a book to be recommended for all those who are
interested in mysticism, universal love which overcomes the
narrow limits of religions and for the spiritual seekers.

Dr. Vanamali Gunturu

---------------
 24

Dear Mr. Hafeez Sahib

Wa alaykum Assalaam,

Jazakallah for your sincere time and efforts it is an impressive

contribution Indeed, it is a nice English Translation and will
help us to share with English speaking people. There are
certain places need to be updated in your translation. May
Allah swt bless you with the spiritual support of Hadrath Syed
Jalaluddin Jamalul Bahar Mashooq Rabbani.
I believe we should enhance the compilation done by Hazrath
Syed Aulia Quadri RA around some 55 years ago-- there are
other historical books (should be available in
A.P. Archaeology and State Central Library and
other libraries .I know some books such as Mishkat un
Nubuwwah by Hazarath Syed Ghulam Ali Shah R.A.,
Mahboob-zil-Menon - Tadkiray Aulia Deccan page 248 and
Tawariqul Auliya second part page 528.
Insha Allah, Ali pasha will gather the information on Hazrat
Mashooq Allah R.A from above mentioned books and from
other sources and we will print a revised edition soon.
Once again, thank you and our heartfelt appreciation for your
translation work.
Wassalam.
Kind Regards,
Syed Jalal Quadri
5873 E Beverly Circle
-----------------------
 25

History of the Tadkhira Sufi books

Tomb of Shalikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Baghdad

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator ‘ Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid al-Din Attar)
 26

This Urdu book, ‘Hazrat Gaus e Aazam—Swaney Wa

Taalimaat,’ was written by Hazrat Maikash Akbarabadi. And
books link is as follows.
https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/hazrat-e-gaus-ul-aa-
zam-savaneh-o-talimaat-maikash-akbarabadi-ebooks
I have translated this book into English and published it,
giving it the English title “History of tahdkirat sufi books.” It
was published by me in March 2025.

Among Muslim nations, there was found interest and fondness

in writing history and Tadhkira (The word Tazkira (has
multiple meanings in English, including "memorandum",
"biography", "memory", and "admonition") books from the
biography details of the prophet.

The start of writing Tazkira books

Shaikh Abdul Qader Jilani’s life was made like an example
guide for human beings. For this reason, his disciples have
 27

made all aspects of his life for research and endeavors. Like
what he will do inside the house. What was his treatment and
behavior toward his wives? As well as what was his treatment
of his children, how was his treatment and conduct with the
male slaves and slave girls and maids?
What will be his attitude outside of the house? And his style of
treatment with his enemy persons, as well as his treatment
with his friends and well-wishers? The message he has
brought with him and how he will use it to communicate with
the people, how he has propagated the right beliefs and
mentioned wrong beliefs and superstitions, and how he has
finished away these from the world. And what was his style of
work in this matter?

How he has treated nobles and wealthy persons and how he

has had success in his treatment of love with poor persons.
What was his communion with his creator? He faced
difficulties and problems on the way of worship and mystical
exercises.

The rules and regulations he has followed on the battlefield. If

he is present at public meetings, then what is the core of the
conduct?

In short, there was a search of every angle of his private and

public life, and by putting them in the robe made of the golden
 28

thread of good deeds and pure belief, in this way, there was
prepared one dress of saintliness of higher value. And which
fit for each size of height, which is deserved for pride and
grace. Until the day of judgment, for each person it will have a
reason for wearing as well as decoration in this matter.

After this, there were compiled biographical books of the

caliphs of the Prophet, so that the world should be clear this
point that the system of the world’s welfare and well-being got
by the Muslim nation in the successorship after the Prophet’s
life, and upon which there will be acted upon by those holy
persons who have endeavored to a bright height of humanity,
to the higher grade height. If any person of wisdom doubts its
action in this matter, then for him it can taste on the fixed
three decade period a touchstone for the matter of ruling the
kingdom and ruling life and its matters and get satisfaction in
this matter.

After the rule of the caliphs of the prophet, the life of Islam
was divided into parts. The caliphate was presented with
religion and life in one color only. Due to some reasons of
history and civilization, there came a double standard. So there
were compiled history books of the rulers as well as religious
leaders and elders of religious guides. They started books of
compilation about them in this matter.
 29

There was an aim in this matter to write about the prophet and
the golden period of the caliphs of the prophet and events in
this matter. There is a required necessity to check about the
writers and the certification of the higher status of the position
to have satisfaction.

This is also believed to be from the holy Quran and hadith,

which gives the solution to the problems in this matter. And
those people who followed it in their private life and in
business in this way in the double life, how they are as well as
love the religion in this matter. So that compiled by them
books of fiqa (Islamic jurisprudence), which is the law of life
on which they can follow with peace.

Types of biographical books

In this way, two types of biographical books were compiled by
Muhadiths and Islamic jurists. And which is comprehensive
and a reaching limit type. As such, today's world is surprised
by this matter.

After the period of the caliphate, the people of knowledge

were also divided into two kinds. One of them was helping
caliphs and noble persons with the running of the kingdoms.
So that the ruling kingdom will run the control of the affairs of
the kingdom as per religion to the most extent.
 30

The second group is that of the holy persons; upon them, there
was such fear of Allah that they wanted to be free and safe
from the Mubah. (Mubah is commonly translated as "neutral"
or "permitted" in English, "indifferent" or "(merely)
permitted". (It refers to an action that is not mandatory,
recommended, reprehensible or forbidden, and thus involves
no judgement from God.) of the world from their hands. They
were afraid of the becoming criminal of the destroying right.
Because this dangerous crime is more than the destruction of
the Huquq Eibad (rights of human beings) rights. So in their
life, it will be seen clearly that the position will be ascetics ,
abstinence , and leaving the world, and the option of the other
world is there in this matter. These persons by obtaining the
knowledge, and after that, till the time of death, who will
engage in endeavors of putting the action of the knowledge.
For their lives, all moments they can use for which they have
engaged in the work of orders of the holy prophet as well as in
the propagation of Islam have left the world and this meaning,
which is not called monastic way of life. As their guide to
reality told there is no scope of monastic way, so he was
married and brought up children.

And after a better position, they have added them in the

Nation of Islam. The meaning of the life lesson was not to be
careless with Allah. He should be as per the correct saying of
bring your heart to work. Arif Rumi said this in his Persian
couplet added in the Urdu book on this matter.
 31

These persons were first called Zuhad (pious) and then

afterward they were called with the titles of sufiyya, and their
knowledge and action and ascetic and abstinence, which have
corrected the lives of Muslims and in which they have done
much important service to the persons of the intoxication of
wealth and status. And engage in the service of men’s silence
way and peacefulness so they without accepting the effect
could not be away from it. And sometimes, from teaching and
propagation in the service and supervising of the public were
regretting their mistakes in this matter in their helpless
condition.

There are devotees of the Sufi persons who have written about
them many thousand books upon conditions. This work was
first done in the Arabic language, and the category’s first
compiler was Abu Abdalla Mohammed bin Ali bin Al-Hasan
Al-Hakim Al-Tarmazi, who died in the year approximately
320 Hijri. He was a great scholar of knowledge of the
manifest and innermost. For his Sufi views, he suffered many
difficulties at the hands of people of their country and who
died. He compiled a book, ‘Tabqat al-Sufiyya’, which is not
available at the present time.

After this Hazrat Abu Saeed Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Zaid
al-Basri, well known as al-Arabi, who wrote the book of
biography by name ‘Tabqat al-Nisak’. He was a historian,
Muhaddit (writer of exegesis) and as well as sufi. Shaikh al-
Taifa (leader of a group) Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi who died in
 32

the year 297 Hijri. He lived in his company and was able to
known upside and down of the way. He went to Makkah and
was performed duties of the post of Shaikh of Harem and died
there.His book is not found at the present time. But Allama
Zahbi was benefitted by this book. And it means that this book
was reached by the end of the 8th century to the people of
knowledge.

After that Abul Abbas Ahmed bin Mohammed Susi and who
died in the year 396 Hijri. who has written in the book of
biography by name of ‘Tabqat al-Sufia’ in this matter. The
author of the book ‘Kashaf Zannon’ was mentioned in this
book but at present time this book is not found.

After this Abu Abdul Rahman Mohammed bin al-Hasbin bin

Mohammed al-Taslimi al-Nisaburi who died in 412 Hijri and
who wrote a book by the above name. Allama Zahbi wrote
about him that he had written and he was author of the book
of ‘Shaikh al-Sufia’ and ‘Moriq Sufia’. And who has written
more than 100 books.His book ‘Tahkira Sufia’ is well known
among persons of knowledge.Even Farid Eldin Attar who was
a native of his country has made the foundation of that book
for his Tadhkira book.This Tadhkira book was published in
the year 1960 in Leaden of Holland with correction and
improvement. This book is currently not available in the range
.
 33

At that time one holy person in Isfahan has written one book
‘Tabqat al-Sufia’ with the same name. And his name is Abu
Saeed Mohammed bin Ali bin Umro al-Naqsh. And who was
died in the year 414 Hijri. Due to bad luck this book is also not
available at the present time.

Upon guessing on the of ‘Tahdkira book’ of Shaikh Abdul

Rahman Salmi, it can be said that till that time Tahdkira Sufi
books which were written were not comprehensive. So for this
reason, the books were used to be in brief. But in 4th century
one holy person was born in Isfahan and became famous by
name Abu Naim Ahmed bin Abdulla bin Ahmed Asfahani
and he was among the people who had memorized hadiths. As
well as he was historian. As per the persons of criticism and
correction of opinion that “ Abu Naim in memorizing and in
tradition in both of them is confirmed sources as Muhadith.He
wrote one comprehensive Tadhkira by name of ‘Huliat Auliya
Wa Tabqat Asfia’ in which he had added events from the
period of the companions of the prophet full details of great
Sufi persons till his time. This bookis in ten volumes and it
was published in Egypt. For each and every person of interest
and fondness to be found in it for lesson and benefit.Hafiz
Abu Naim Asfahani died in 430 Hijri in his country.

After that Majad Eldin Abu Abdalla Hussain bin Nasar al-
Kabi al-Musali al-Shafi, well known as Ibn Khamis, who died
in the year 522 Hijri. who compiled the books ‘Manaqab
Abrar’ and ‘al-Mahasan al-Alakhyar’ and in these books he
 34

explained the easy meaning of the books of ‘Tabqaat Salmi’,

‘Haliyat Aulia’, ‘Bahijatal Asrar’ and ‘Risala Qastaria’
combined in one book together. And due to good luck, copies
of the hand written manuscript were found safe in the libraries
of Berlin (Germany), Cairo, Demascus, and Turkey. Due to
the above qualities these books are eligible for printing.
After that, in this group, one great scholar arrived. He was
well known in the circle of Sufi people for his severe criticism
and his name was Jamaluddin Abu Faraj Abdul Rahman bin
Ali bin Mohammed al-Juzi al-Baghdadi. Who died in the year
597 Hijri. He was accepted as an Allamah (In English,
"Allamah" (Arabic: ‫ )َعاَّل َم ة‬is an honorary title for a profound
scholar, a polymath, a man of vast reading and erudition, or a
great learned one.) in history and hadith and wrote
approximately 300 books.

He wrote one book, the name of which is ‘Talbis-Iblis’, which

is very surprising. He has discussions on the issue of whether
Allah's and the prophet’s aim is that we should engage
ourselves in such mystical exercises and hardships that cause
unbearable hardships and sadness. In this matter has selected
some events from the stories of Sufi persons. In which it was
written that Sufi people have undergone such difficulties for
the pleasure of Allah and the prophet. And then there was his
blame of refusing to believe them in this matter, that they were
against the truth of such events.
 35

But you will be surprised to hear that by covering for such

events, Ibn Juzi has written a book, and the title was given
‘Safat Asfa.’ And this is a summary of Abu Naim’s book
‘Huliat Auliya.’

It is reality that this book is the best summary.In which it is

not only details of saliks (The word salik has multiple
meanings, including a follower of Sufism, a traveler, and a
surname) are found but it is also decorated with details of
majzub (attracted, drawn, abstracted, a man who is not in full
possession of his senses · lost, absorbed). a type of fakirs
persons.

There is also mention of such great Sufi person’s such

condition and deeds that which refresh and active for the love
of the Islamic law of Mohammadi.So for the people who have
interest and fondness of Saluki (a follower spiritual path ) and
Sufism. And for such persons there is more to read than
comparing reading the book ‘Huliat Aulia’ for it is a must.
The book was published in the year 1357 Hijri by ‘Dairat
Marif’ Hyderabad India.

Before and after this book there were written Tadhkira books.
But I think to mention them here not necessary. Now I come
towards the Persian Tadhkira books on this matter.
 36

As per I came to know that in the Persian language the first

Tadhkirat was written by Shaikh of Islam Abu Ismail bin
Abdullah bin Mohammed Alansari al-Harvi who died in 481
Hijri. And who compiled this book. In fact, it is Abu Abdul
Rahman al-Salmi’s book, which served as a significant
reference for scholars and students alike. His work not only
preserved vital historical narratives but also provided insights
into the cultural and intellectual landscapes of his time.
‘Tabqat al-Sufia’s translation book. In this book, Shaikh of
Islam has added biographies of some Sufi Shaikhs on this
matter. There were found three copies of this book of Tahdkira
(the word tazkira) has multiple meanings in English, including
"memorandum," "biography," "memory," and "admonition").
Of these, two copies were found in Turkey. And copies are
saved in Calcutta, and this last copy belongs to Asiatic’s books
library. And Mr. I. Wanaf, who prepared the Persian
handwritten book list, and these details are found on pages 78-
83, in which there are details of his discussion on this matter.
Shaikh Farid Eldin Abu Hamid Mohammed bin Ibrahim
Attar Neshapuri

Introduction

In praise of Hazrat Farid Eldin Attar

You are a world-famous writer of Islamic books

Your name will remain till the day of judgment
Your famous Tadhkirat Auliya is a golden book
Which is an ocean of great advice and teachings
 37

O Shah of Time, Hafeez has translated your book

In English and Gujarati, which are well-known
O Shah of time, in all your books this book is fine
Which is of knowledge as well as great wise stories
So Hafeez requested Allah for mercy on his grave
He was a Sufi and a great holy person of his time.
By Mohammed Abdul Hafeez
Email: [email protected]

Abu Hamid bin Abu Bakr Ibrahim Farid al-Din Attar was born
in AD 1145 or 1146 in Nishapur province of Iranian Khorasan
and died circa 1221. There is disagreement over the exact
dates of his birth and death, but several sources confirm that
he lived almost a hundred years. Different stories are told
about the death of Attar. One common story is as follows. He
was captured by a Mongol. One day someone came along and
offered a
thousand pieces of silver for him. Attar told the Mongol not to
sell him for that price since the price was not right. The
Mongol accepted Attar's words and did not sell him. Later,
someone else came
along and offered a sack of straw for him. Attar counseled the
Mongol to sell him because that was how much he was worth.
The Mongol soldier became very angry and cut off Attar's
head. So he died to teach a lesson. Attar, much better- known
by is pen names Farid al-Din and Attar (‘the pharmacist’), was
a Persian and Muslim poet, Sufi, theoretician of mysticism,
And hagiographer.

Farid al-Din Attar was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic. Living
 38

during a turbulent era of political uncertainty, he tumed

inwards, exploring the realm of God and the paths to Him
through mystical poetry. Little about Attar is known with
certainty.
His name (literally, ‘Pertume of Roses’) indicates that, like his
father, he was a druggist and followed the calling of a medical
man. Supposedly reliable Persian sources vary in the year of
his death by a span of 43 years. One reason for this uncertainty
is that, unlike other Islamic poets, he did not write flattering
panegyrics about his own life and greatness. This is to his
personal credit, but unfortunate for the historian. We are
certain only of the fact that he was bom in Nishapur in North-
Eastem Persia; he passed 13 years of his youth in Mashad,
and spent much of his life collecting the poetry of other Sufi
mystics.

He was the son of a prosperous chemist, and got an excellent

education in Arabic, theosophy and medicine. He helped his
father in the store and on his father’s death, took over its
ownership. The people he helped in the pharmacy used to
confide their troubles in Attar and this affected him deeply.
Eventually, he abandoned his pharmacy and travelled widely
to Kufa, Mecca, Damascus, Turkistan, and India, meeting Sufi
sheikhs and retumed promoting Sufi (Islamic mysticism) ideas
to his home city of Nishapur.

Attar speaks of his own poetry in various contexts, including

the epilogues of his long narrative poems. He confirms the
guess likely to be made by every reader that he possessed an
inexhaustible fund of thematic and verbal inspiration.
 39

He writes that when he composed his poems, more ideas came

into his mind than he could possibly use. He also states that
the effort of poetical composition threw him into a state of
trance
in which he could not sleep.

Like his contemporary Khaqani, Attar was not only convinced

that his poetry had far surpassed all previous poetry, but that it
was to be intrinsically unsurpassable at any time in the future,
seeing himself as the ‘seal of the poets’ and his poetry as the
‘seal of speech’.

The Mantiq al-Tayr (The Conference of Birds) written in the

twelfth century by Farid al-Din Attar, a metaphorical tale of
birds seeking a king (God) has inspired readers across time
and around the world. This epic poem tells of a conference
attended by all types of birds, who pose a series of questions
to their leader, the hoopoe. The stories he tells in reply are
allegories for the spiritual quest and its pitfalls. Mantiq al-Tayr
or The Conference of Birds is known as his most famous epic
poem,
which is consecrated to the tale of the spiritual quest of 30
birds to find their supreme sovereign, the simurgh. This work
was modelled on
the treatise on the birds composed half a century earlier by
another Sufi master,Ahmad Ghazali (d. 1126 CE), founder of
the ‘School of Love’ in Sufism. This epic masterpiece has also
enjoyed several musical and theatrical adaptations in the West,
while its stories are common subjects of illustration in Persian
miniature painting. Attar’s most celebrated works are the
 40

confernce of Birds and a poem consisting of 4,600 couplets.

The poem uses allegory to illustrate the Sufi doctrine of union
between the human and the divine.

In the edition of R. P. Masani’s 1923 translation, noted Sufi

scholar and spiritual teacher Andrew Harvey sets the scene.
‘The allegorical framework has the stark, luminous simplicity
of Islami calligraphy. You may believe you are reading a
witty, dazzling allegory. Very soon, however, if you read with
attention, you will realise you are being drawn into a vision of
a mystical path of the greatest depth.’

Attar is best known for his often-translated masterpiece

Mantiq al-Tayr, literally meaning ‘The Conference of Birds’,
still
considered to be the best example of Sufi
poetry in Persian language after Rumi’s verses. Distinguished
for his provocative and radical theology of love, many lines
of Attar’s poems and lyrics are cited independently as maxims
in their own right. These paradoxical statements are still
known
by heart and sung by minstrels throughout Iran, Afghanistan,
Tajikistan and wherever Persian is spoken or understood, such
as in the lands of the Indo- Pakistani subcontinent.

Other important works of this prolific poet include the Elahi

Nama (Book of God) and the Mosibat-Nama (Book of
Adversity), both of which are mystical allegories similar in
structure
and form to Mantiq al-Tayr, the Divan (Collected Poems) and
 41

the famous prose work, Tadhkerat al-Awliya, an vauable

source of information on the early Sufis (abridged English
translation, Muslim Saints and Mystics). From the point of
view of
ideas, literary themes, and style, Attar’s influence was strongly
felt not only in Persian literature but also in other Islamic
literatures. His great prose work comprises the monumental
compendium in Persian of biographies of famous Sufis, called
Tadhkerat al-Awliya, or Memoirs of the Saints. Attar
composed at least45,000 couplets and many brilliant prose
works in six important works of poetry and one major prose
work.

Asrar Nameh (or the Book of Mysteries ), which strings

together a series of unconnected episodic stories, is known as
Attar’s least-known poems.

Attar’s Book of Adversity (Mosibat-Nama ) recounts the Sufi

path in other terms, following the voyage of the contemplative
wayfarer or ‘pilgrim of thought’ (Salik-i-Fikrat) through the
mineral, vegetable, animal, human, and angelic realms.

Attar’s divine book Elahi-Nama relates the story of a king

who asks his six sons what they most desire. They all ask for
worldly things, and the king exposes their vanity in a series of
anecdotes.

The Book of Selections (Mukhtar-Namah) is a collection of

over 2,000 quatrains (Ruba’i) arranged in 50 chapters
according to various mystical themes, and his collected poems
 42

(Divan) contains some 10,000 couplets which are notable for

their
depiction of visionary landscapes and heartrending evocations
of the agonies and ecstasies of the mystic.

These poems are notable not only for their thematic unity,
with usually just one mystical idea, or a series of related
concepts
from first verse to last line being elaborated progressively, but
also for their esoteric hermeticism and unconventional
religious values.

The attribution of the Book of Khusraw (Khusraw-Namah a

romance of the love between a Byzantine princess and a
Persian prince, with almost no mystical content) to the poet
has been rejected on convincing stylistic, linguistic and
historical grounds, as spurious. Attar’s works had such an
impact on both the
Sufi community and the literate public at large that his fame
soared soon after his death. He was imitated rapidly, so today
there are some 23 works falsely attributed to ‘Attar’ proven by
modern scholars to be spurious or of doubtful authenticity. If
we take merely the works that are unquestionably his
comprising a good 45,000 lines, the achievement is
monumental.

However, the most important aspect of Attar’s thought lies in

the fact that all of his works are devoted to Sufism (Tasawut)
and throughout all of his genuine collected works, there does
 43

not exist even a single verse without a mystical colouring: in

fact, Attar dedicated his entire literary existence to Sufism.

Farid al-din Attar is considered one of the pre-eminent

mystical poets of the Persian literary tradition. The duration of
his life is uncertain, though he can be placed in the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries C.E. bom in Nishapur in what is today
Iran.

Attar reached an age of over 70 and died a violent death in the

massacre which the Mongols intlicted on Nishapur in April
1221. His mausoleum is located in Nishapur. It was built by
Ali-Shir Nava’i in the sixteenth century.

Attar apparently was a pharmacist but little information about

his personal life is known. Information about Attar’s life is
rare. He is mentioned by only two of his contemporaries, Awfi
and Khadja Nasir ud-Din Tusi.

Attar wrote a number of books on SuTism. According to his

own writings, Sufism was meant to be a spiritual search for a
union with God. This search throughout history has taken
many forms, but for Attar it was quite specific. Parallels may
be seen with Dante. According to Attar, the spiritual
pilgrimage of man brings him through seven successive
‘valleys’. First is ‘The Valley of Quest,’ where ascetic
means are adopted; then follows “The Valley of Love,”
which may be compared to Dante’s, earthly paradise;
then follow ‘The Valleys of Knowledge’, ‘Detacment’,
‘Unity’, and ‘Amazement’; and Tmally, ‘The Valley of
 44

Annihilation of the Self ’is reached. This is the supreme state

of divine union with God. SuTism was meant to be an all-
encompassing effort to live in a meaningful, religious
frame of mind.

Attar died fleeing the Mongol hordes under Genghis Khan.

Just before his death,
Attar met a young poet, Rumi, to whom he gave some of his
philosophical poems.
Rumi perpetuated and added to the philosophical development
of SuTism and the understanding of Attar. This is solid
evidence that Rumi met Attar as a young boy as Rumi’s
family abandoned the city of Balkh. On their way, Rumi’s
father came to
visit Attar. It is reported that Attar gave a copy of one of his
mystic poetry books to the young Jalal Din (who was not
called Rumi or Molana until much later when he became the
great mystic and poet as he is known today). Their meeting
has been
reported by various sources, including Rumi’s own son
Hassam al-Din. Attar is one of the most prolific figures of
Persian
literature. He wrote over a hundred works of varying lengths
from just a few pages to voluminous tomes. Generally
speaking, most of his books are popular and relatively easy to
read.

Two of Attar’s works have been translated into English.

S. C. Nott translated Conference of the Birds (1954); and
Bankey Behari (1961) and A. J. Arberry (1966) published
 45

abridged translations of Memoirs of Saints, both with

excellent introductions. The best works about Attar are Eduard
G. Browne, A Literary History of Persia, vol. 2 (1906),
and Margaret Smith, , The Persian Mystics:
Attar (1932). Attar is represented in A. J. Arberry, Aspects of
Islamic Civilization as Depicted in the Original Texts (1964),
and James Kritzeck, ed., Anthology of Islamic Literature:
From the Rise of Islam to Modern Times (1966). For a
discussion of the Sutism of Attar, see A. J. Arberry, Sufism:
An Account of the Mystics of Islam (1950), and Idries Shah,
The Sufis
(1964). In 2002, an intemational conference entitled ‘Farid
al-Din Attar and the Persian Sufi Tradition’ was held by the
Iran Heritage Foundation in collaboration with the Center of
Near and Middle Eastem Studies at the School of Oriental and
African Studies (SOAS), and the University of London.

The conference, which was convened by Dr Leonard

Lewisohn, author, translator and researcher in the area of
Islamic studies and a specialist in Persian language and Sufi
literature, and
Christopher Shackle, Professor of Modem Language of South
Asia at SOAS at the University of London, was the
centerpiece of a number of musical, poetic and artistic events
in London to celebrate Persian mysticism and the literary
contributions of
Farid al-Din Attar.

Attar’s tomb in Nishapur attracts a large number of tourists

 46

every year who visit the historic city of Nishapur to pay tribute
to this great Persian poet and writer.
Nishapur ( aka Neyshabur) is a city in the Razavi Khorasan
province in north- eastem Iran, situated in a fertile plain at the
foot of the Binalud Mountains, near the regional capital of
Mashhad. Every year, concurrent with the commemoration
day
of Farid al-Din Attar Neishaburi on 14 April, a special
ceremony is held in Nishapur, Razavi Khorasan province with
the attendance of intellectuals, academic members, authors,
students, etc. Tadhkerat al-Awliya (Muslim Saints and
Mystics) is considered a world famous classical book of
Persian literature which has been printed in many countries in
many
intemational languages, having inspirational stories from the
lives of the earliest Sufis by the great thirteenth-century
Persian Sufi poet, Farid al-Din Attar, the most famous work of
its
kind.

The thought-world depicted in Attar’s works reflects the

whole evolution of the Sufi movement. The starting point is
the idea
that the body-bound soul’s awaited release and retum to its
source in the other world can be experienced during the
present life in mystic union attainable through inward
purification. By explaining his thoughts, the material used is
not only specifically Sufi, but also from older ascetic
legacies.
 47

Although his heroes are for the most part Sufis and ascetics,
he also introduces stories from historical chronicles,
collections
of anecdotes, and all types of highly-esteemed literature. His
talent for perception of deeper meanings behind outward
appearances enables him to tum details of everyday life into
illustrations of his thoughts. The idiosyncrasy of Attar’s
presentations hwalidates his works as sources for study of the
historical persons whom he introduces. However ,as sources
on the
hagiology and phenomenology of Sufism, his works have
immense value. Judging ffom Attar’swritings, he viewed the
ancient Aristotelian heritage with skepticism and dislike.
Interestingly, he did not want to uncover the secrets of nature.
This
is particularly remarkable in the case of medicine, which fell
within the scope of his profession.

He obviously had no motive for showing off his secular

knowledge in the manner customary among court panegyrists,
whose type of poetry he despised and never practiced. Such
knowledge is only brought into his works in contexts where
the theme of a story touches on a branch of natural science.

Inscription on Attar ’s tomb as translated by Garcin de Tassy

God is Etemal.. .Here in this garden of a lower Eden,

Attar pertumed the soul of the humblest of men.
This is the tomb of a man so eminent that the dust stirred by
 48

his feet would have served as collyrium to the eye of the

firmament...and of whom the saints were disciples...In the year
of
the Hijra 586 he was pursued by the sword of the army which
devoured everything, being martyred in the massacre which
then took place... “
Increase, O Lord, his merit.. .May the glory be with Him who
dies not and holds in his hands the keys to unlimited
forgiveness and infmite punishment. ”

His grand book Tadhkerat al-Awliya in prose and his most

famous works in verse include:
Asrarnameh
Elahinameh
Mosibatnameh
Manteq-u ttair
Bulbulnameh
Heydarnameh
Mokhtarnameh, and
Khosrownameh .

In the preface to the ‘Memorial’ ( Muslim Saints and Mystics),

Attar lists his reasons for writing the book, but not the sources
used by him.

His declared motives, as summarized by R. A. Nicholson, are

as follows.

1 He was begged to do so by his religious brethren.

 49

2 He hoped that some of those who read the work would bless
the author, and thus, possibly secure his welfare beyond the
grave.

3. He believed that the words of the saints were profitable

even to those who could not put them into practice, inasmuch
as the strengthen aspiration and destroy self-conceit.

4. Jonaid said, ‘Their sayings are one of the armies of

Almighty God whereby He confirms and reinforces the
disciple, if his heart be dejected.’

5. According to the Prophet, ‘Mercy descends at the mention

of the pious’: per-adventure, if one spreads a table on which
mercy falls like rain, he will not be tumed away portionless.

6. Attar tmsted that the blessed influence of the saints may be

vouchsafed to him and bring him happiness before he died.

7. He busied himse1f with their sayings in the hope that he

might make himself resemble them.

8. The Koran and the Traditions cannot be understood without

knowledge of Arabic, wherefore most people are unable to
profit by them; and the Sayings of the Saints, which form a
commentary on the Koran and the Traditions, were likewise
uttered, for the most part, in Arabic. Consequently, the author
has translated them into Persian, in order that they may
become accessible to all.
 50

9. Since an idle word often excites keen resentment, the word

of Truth is capable of having a thousand fold effect even
though you are unconscious thereof.
Similarly, Abd al-Rahman EskaTi said that the reading of the
Koran was effectual, although the reader might not understand
it, just as a potion of which the ingredients are unknown.

10. Spiritual words alone appeal to the author. Hence, he

composed this ‘daily task’ for his contemporaries, hoping to
fmd some persons to share the meal which he had provided.

11. The Imam Yusof Hamadhani advised some people, who

asked him what they should do when the saints had passed
away from the earth, e.g. to read eight pages of their sayings
every
day. Attar felt that it was incumbent upon him to supply this
desideratum.

12. From his childhood he had a predilection for the Sufis and
took delight in their sayings. When such words are spoken
only by impostors and when true spiritualists became as rare
as the philosopheCs stone, he resolved to popularize literature
of
this kind so far as which lay in his power.

13. In the present age the best men are bad, and holy men have
been forgotten. The Memorial was designed to remedy this
state of things.
 51

14. The Sayings of the Saints dispose men to renounce the

world, meditate on the tuture life, love God, and set about
preparing for their last joumey. One may say that there does
not exist in all creation a better book than this, for their words
are a commentary on the Koran and Traditions, which are the
best of all words. Any one who reads it properly will perceive
what passion must have been in the souls of those men to
bring forth such deeds and words as they have done and said.

15. A turther motive was the hope of obtaining their

intercession hereatter and of being pardoned, like the dog of
the Seven Sleepers which, though it be all skin and bone, will
nevertheless be admitted to Paradise.

In his preface, Attar mentions three books which he

recommends for those ambitious to attain a a tull
understanding of the
pronouncements of the Sufis.

These he entitles: Ketab Sharh al-Qalb (The Exposition of the

Heart ), Ketab Kashf al-Asrar (The Revelation of the Secrets ),
and Ketab Ma’refat al-Nafs wa’l- Rabb (The Knowledge of
the

Self and of the Lord). No clue is given here to the authorship

of these works, but Attar refers in one other context (II, 99) to
the Sharh al-Qalb as a book of his own composition; see also
Attar’s introduction to his own Mukhtar-Namah.
 52

It may, therefore, be deduced that Attar was the author of the

other two titles. No copy of any of the three has so far been
recovered. Attar wrote 96 Episodes in his book Tadhkerat al-
Awliya, as follows.

1. Ja’far al-Sadeq
2. Owais al-Qarani
3. al-Hasan al-Basri
4. Malek ibn Dinar
5. Mohammad ibn Wase’
6. Habib al-’Ajami
7. Abu Hazem al-Makki
8. Otba al-Gholam
9. Rabe’a al-’Adawiya
10. al-Fozail ibn ‘Iyaz
11. Ebrahim ibn Adham
12. Beshr al-Hafi
13. Dho ‘1-Nun al-Mesri
14. Abu Yazid al-Bestami

15. Abd Allah ibn al-Mobarak

16. Sofyan al-Thauri
17. Shaqiq al-Balkhi
18. Abu Hanifa
19. al-Shafe’i
20. Ahmad ibn Hanbal
21. Dawud al-Ta’i
22. al-Mohasebi
23. Abu Solaiman al-Dara’i
24. Mohammad ibn Sammak
 53

25. Aslam al-Tusi

26. Ahmad ibn Harb
27. Hatem al-Asamm
28. al-Tostari
29. Ma’ruf al-Karkhi
30. Sari al-Saqati
31. Fath al-Mauseli
32. Ahmad ibn Abi T-Hawari
33. Ahmad ibn Khazruya
34. Abu Torab al-Nakhshabi
35. Yahya ibn Mo’adh al-Razi
36. Shah ibn Shoja’ al-Kermani
37. Yusof ibn al-Hosain al-Razi
38. Abu Hafs al-Haddad
39. Hamdun al-Qassar
40. Mansur ibn ‘Ammar
41. al-Antaki
42. Abd Allah ibn Khobaiq
43. al-Jonaid
44. Amr ibn ‘Othman al-Makki
45. Abu Sa’id al-Kharraz
46. Abu ‘I-Hosain al-Nuri
47. Abu ‘Othman al-Hiri
48. Ibn al-Jalla’
49. Rowaim
50. Ibn ‘Ata’
51. Ebrahim al-Raqqi
52. Yusof ibn Asbat
53. al-Nahrajuri
54. Somnun
 54

55. al-Morta’esh
56. Mohammad ibn al-Fazl
57. al-Bushanji
58. al-Termedhi
59. Abu Bakr al-Warraq
60. Abd Allah ibn Monazel
61. Ali ibn Sahl al-Esfahani
62. Khair al-Nassaj
63. Abu Hamza al-Khorasani
64. Ahmad ibn Masruq
65. Abd Allah al-Maghrebi
66. Abu Ali al-Juzajani
67. Abu Bakr al-Kattani
68. Ibn Khafif
69. Abu Mohammad al-Jorairi
70. Al-Hallaj
71. Abu Baker wasti
72. Abu Omeru Naqil
73. Jafer Jildi
74. Abul Khair Qatah
75. Abu Abdallah Mohamed Bin Hussain
76. Abu Ishaque Garzoni
77. Abul hasan Qarqani.
78. al-Shebli
79. Abu Nasser Siraj
80. Abul Abbas Qasab
81. Ebrahim al-Khauwas
82. Memshad al-Dinawari
83. Abu Ishauqe Ibrahim Shebani
84. Abu Baker Sayedlani
 55

85. Abu Hamza Mohammd Bin Ibrahim Baghdadi

86. Abu Ali Daqaq
87. Shaikh Abu Ali Saqfi
88. Abu Ali Ahmed Rudbari
89. Shaikh Abul Hasan Ali Jafri
90. Abu Osman al-Maghrabi
91. Shaikh Abul Abbas Nahwandi
92. Abu Omeru Ibrahim Zajaji
93. Sheikh Abul Hasan Saiq
94. Abul Qasim Nasarabadi
95. Abul Fadhel Hasan Sarqasi
96. Abul Abbas Alsayari

Thirty-Eight Episodes translated by A. J. Arberry An

abridgement, translated by A. J. Arberry, of Attar’s only
known prose work Tadhkerat al-Awliya (Muslim Saints and
Mystics) which he worked on throughout much of his life was
available publicly before his death.
Arberry’s translation is an abridgement, consisting of only
the following chapters.

3. Hasan of Basra
4. Malek Ibn Dinar
6. Habib al-Ajami
9. Rabe’a al-Adawiya
10. A1-Fozail Ibn Iyaz
11 .Ebrahim Ibn Adham
12. Beshr Ibn al-Hareth
13. Dho ‘1-Nun al-Mesri
14. Abu Yazid al-Bestami
 56

15. Abd Allah Ibn al-Mobarak

16.Sofyan al-Thauri
17.Shaqiq of Balkh
21. Dawud al-Ta’i
22. al-Mohasebi
26. Ahmad Ibn Harb
27. Hatem al-Asamm
28.Sahl Ibn Abd Allah al-Tostari
29.Ma’ruf al-Karkhi
30.Sari al-Saqati
33.Ahmad Ibn Khazruya
35.Yahya Ibn Mo’adh
36.Shah Ibn Shoja’
37. Yusof Ibn al-Hosain
38. Abu Hafs al-Haddad
43. AboT-Qasem al-Jonaid
44. Amr Ibn Othman
45. Abu Sa’id al-Kharraz
46. Abul-Hosain al-Nuri
47. Abu Othman al-Hiri
50.1bn Ata
54.Somnun
58.al-Termedhi
62 .Khairal-N assaj
67.Abu Baker al-Katani
68.IbnKhafif
70.al-Hallaj
78.al-Shebli
81 .Ebrahimal-Khauwas
 57

Tadhkerat al-Awliya is a biography of Muslim saints and

mystics. In what is considered the most compelling entry in
this book, Attar relates the story of the execution of Hallaj, the
mystic who had uttered the words, ‘I am the Truth’ in a state
of ecstatic contemplation. Attar wrote 114 pieces, the same
number of suras in the holy book of Quran. About 30 of his
works
survived.

Influence on Rumi

Attar died fleeing the Mongol hordes under Genghis Khan.

Just before his death, Attar met a young poet, Rumi, to whom
he gave some of his philosophical poems. Rumi perpetuated
and added to the philosophical development of Sufism and the
understanding of Attar. Attar is one of the most famous mystic
poets of Iran. His works were the inspiration of Rumi and
many other mystic poets. Attar and Sanai were two of the
greatest
influences on Rumi in his Sufi views. Rumi has mentioned
both of them with the highest esteem several times in his
poetry. Rumi praises Attar as follows.

‘Attar roamed the seven cities of love—We are still just in one
valley.’
 58

Rumi’s Mausoleum in Kunya,Turkey

The Second Episode Owaise of Qarni

In Tadhkerat al-Awliya, Attar wrote the second episode about

Owaise of Qami, and in the famous book of poetry, Masnavi
by Jalaleddin Rumi, the following is said by
Prophet Muhammad about Oveys Qami.

The prophet Muhammad says that

the breeze brings o’men
The divine perfume from Yemen.
The scent of Ramin comes from Oveys
The fragrance of God from Oveys.
Ovey’s heavenly pertume from God,
Overjoyed the heart of the prophet of God.
 59

Forsaking his mortal being willingly

That earthly (Oveys) become heavenly.

Publication note for the second episode by David

Rosenbaum of the New York Times.

Farid al-Din Attar is considered one of the pre-eminent

mystical poets of the Persian literary tradition. The duration of
his life is uncertain, though he can be placed in the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries C.E. Bom in Nishapur in what is today
Iran, Attar apparently was a pharmacist, but little information
about his personal life is known. During his lifetime he is
believed to have written approximately nine books, including
such famous works as the Mantiq al-Tayr (The Conference of
the
Birds ) and the Ilahi-Nama (The Book of God).

Muslim Saints and Mystics is an abridgement, translated by A.

J. Arberry, of Attar’s only known prose work,
Tadhkerat al-Awliya, which he worked on throughout much of
his life and which was available publicly before Arberry’s
death. In what is considered the most compelling entry in this
book, Attar relates the story of the execution of Hallaj, the
mystic who had uttered the words,
‘I am the Truth’ in a state of ecstatic contemplation. Arberry ’s
translation is an abridgement; the entry on Owaise al-Qarani
translated by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, omitted in Arberry’s
text, and is available at the following link: Owaise al-Qarani.
 60

Website on which the second episode is available

Owaise of Qami

113k - Adobe PDF - View as html

Owaise of Qami, trans. from Urdu to English by Mohammed

Abdul Hafeez, Hyderabad, India, reference book
www.omphaloskepsis.com/ebooks/pdf/Owaise.pdf
As a pharmacist. Attar was a pen name which he took for his
occupation. ‘Attar’means herbalist, durggist or perfumist, and
during his lifetime in Persia, much of medicine and durgs were
based on herbs. Therefore, by profession, he was similar
to a modem-day doctor and pharmacist.

Three phases of Attar ’s creativity

Classification of the various works by these two criteria yields

virtually identical results. The German orientalist Hellmut
Ritter at Tirst thought that the problem could be explained by
the spiritual evolution of the poet. He distinguished three
phases of Attar’s creativity:

• Works in which mysticism is in perfect balance with a

finished, storyteller’s art.

• Works in which a pantheistic zeal gains the upper hand over

literary interest.
 61

• Works in which the ageing poet idolizes Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib while there is no trace of ordered thoughts and
descriptive skills. Ritter surmised that the last phase, that of
old age, was coincidental with a conversion to Shi’ism.
However, in 1941,
the Persian scholar Nafisi was able to prove that the works of
the third phase in Ritter’s classification were written by
another Attar who lived about two hundred and fifty years
later at Mashhad and was a native of Tun (source: Intemet
search).

In this book, translation of the following 58 episodes omitted

in Arberry’s text are included.

Reference books:

1. Sheikh Farid al-Din Attar, Tazkeratul Aoulia (Book of

Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu trans., Majedi Book Depot,
Kanpur, 1383 A.H., India.

2. Sheikh Farid al-Din Attar, Tazkeratul Aoulia (Book of

Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu trans., Anwar Book Depot,
New Delhi, India.
 62

Farid al-Din Attar’s life details

Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār (born 1142, Nīshāpūr, Iran—

died c. 1220, Nīshāpūr) was a Persian Muslim poet who was
one of the greatest Sufi (mystical) writers and thinkers,
composing at least 45,000 distichs (couplets) and many
brilliant prose works.
As a young man Farīd al-Dīn traveled widely, visiting Egypt,
Syria, Arabia, India, and Central Asia. He finally settled in his
native town, Nīshāpūr, in northeastern Iran, where he spent
many years collecting the verses and sayings of famous Sufis.
His name, ʿAṭṭār, which literally means a perfumer or
apothecary, may indicate that he, his father, or his grandfather
practiced that trade. There is much controversy among
scholars concerning the exact details of his life and death as
well as the authenticity of many of the literary works
attributed to him.
The famous prose work Tadhkerat al-Awlīyāʾ, an invaluable
source of information on the early Sufis (abridged Eng.
trans., Muslim Saints and Mystics). From the point of view of
ideas, literary themes, and style, ʿAṭṭār’s influence was
strongly felt not only in Persian literature but also in other
Islamic literatures. Farīd al-Dīn al-ʿAṭṭār added in his Persian
book Muslim Saints and Mystics 96 episodes.
 63

The publication note in the Second Episode of the

Tadhkerat al-Awlīyāʾ by Mr. David Rosenbaum of New
York Times
 64

The second episode of the book Tadhkerat al-Awliya

Hadrat Owaise of Qarni.

Tomb of Hadart Owaise of Qarni in a village of Yemen

away from capital Sana.

About Sohail Yemeni, the prophet says that he is superior to

his followers due to his kindness and favor. When there is
praise by the prophet then what else can I describe about him.
Sometimes the prophet used to turn his face towards Yemen
and said, “I feel the breeze of love from the Yemen.”the
prophet told on the day of judgment that Allah will create
70,000 angels same as Owaise of Qarni (clone) and when
Owaise r of Qarni will come there in between them and will
proceed to the heaven, no one will recognize him except Allah
, because in the world he used to worship away from the
 65

mankind and so he will be kept away from the mankind on the

day of judgment. It is mentioned that the friends of Allah will
be kept hidden by him, so no one will be able to see them. On
the day of judgment the prophet salla allahu ta’ala’alayhi wa
sallam will come out of his palace and will say, “ where is
Owaise , so that I can see him.” soon there will be a call in
which it will be heard that do not worry in this matter, you
will not see him here as you did not see him in the world.
The prophet told that there was a person in my followers and
his recommendation was accepted which was equal to the
hairs of the sheep of Rabiya and Mizer tribes of Arabia. There
were two tribes in Arabia who had many sheep at that time.
The companions asked the prophet salla allahu ta’ala’alayhi
wa sallam, “Who that person is?” he said, “He is one
among the slaves of Allah.” then they told the prophet that
they were also slaves of Allah, but what was his name. The
prophet told them, “His name is Owaise and he is from
Qarni.” they asked him, “Where he is?” He replied, “He is
in Qarni.” then companions asked the prophet, “Have you
seen him?”he replied that even though he did not see him
physically but he was seen by the eyes of certainty. The
companions asked that how such a lover did not come to see
you. He said, “It may be due to two reasons, first due to his
conditions and second is to respect my Shariat (Islamic
law), because his mother is old and blind. He looks after
camels and gets some money for the food and clothes for his
mother. Then the companions asked could they see him. The
prophet answered that Abu Bakr will not see him but Ali Ibn
Taleb and Omer Farouq will see him. On Owaise Qarni’s
body there are hairs and on his chest and on his palm there are
 66

small white marks, which are not of leprosy.The prophet said

to Omer Farouq and Ali Ibn Taleb , “When you will meet
him, convey my salam and ask him to pray for the
Muslims.”the prophet told he is superior among the Allah ‘s
men who are hidden. Then the companions asked that where
could they find him? The prophet replied, “In Yemen there is
a camel look after Owaise and you have to follow his foot
steps.”
When the time of prophet death was nearer, the companions
asked that to whom they should give his dress. He said, “to
Owaise of Qarni.” After the death of prophet Omer Farouq
and Ali Ibn Taleb radi went to Koofa (Baghdad) and at the
time of delivering sermon Omer Farouq requested the people
of Najd to stand and asked them, “Is there any person from
Qarni.” they said, “yes.” then Omer Farouq asked them
did they know about Owaise of Qarni? They replied, “no,
but there is a mad person who lives away from the
people.” Omer Farouq asked where he lives. They replied,
“He lives in Arna valley and looks after the camels, eats
dry bread in the night, neither come to the village nor talk
to the people.” he does not eat what we eat and he does not
know sorrow and happiness. When people laugh he weeps
and when people weep he laughs. Omer Farouq and Ali Ibn
Taleb went to that valley and found that Owaise of Qarni was
praying at that time. Allah has ordered his angels to look after
his camels. When there was a sound he finished his prayer and
said salam to Omer Farouq . Omer Farouq asked him, “ What
his name is?” he replied, “A slave of Allah .” then Omer
Farouq said, “We all are slaves of Allah but I am asking your
proper name.” he replied, “Owaise.” Omer Farouq told him to
 67

show his left hand. He showed his hand and Omer Farouq
saw the white mark on his hand, which was already described
by the prophet. He kissed his hand and said, “The prophet has
conveyed his Salam and has sent his dress for you and asked
you to pray for the Muslims.” then Owaise of Qarni told them,
“You are superior so you pray, as you are very close to the
prophet .” Omer Farouq replied, “I will pray but you also pray
according to the advice of the prophet. Owaise of Qarni
requested Omer farouq to please check some other person and
that he is not the real one. Omer Farouq said that they have
found all marks on him, which were explained by the prophet .
Then Owaise of Qarni said, “Give me the dress so that I can
pray.”Omer Farouq radi gave him the dress. Owaise of Qarni
told him to stay there and he went away and poured the dust
on his face and asked Allah , “Oh Allah, I will not wear the
dress until you accept my recommendation for all Muslims
and for this the prophet has sent his dress and Omer Farouq
and Ali Ibn Taleb have done their work, now your work is
left.” then there was call in which it was heard, “I have
forgiven some people due to your recommendation.” Owaise
of Qarni replied, “I will not wear the dress until you forgive all
Muslims.” then the call was heard again in which it was told,
“I have forgiven many people.” when he was talking to Allah,
at the same moment Omer Farouq and Ali Ibn Taleb came
over there. When Owaise of Qarni saw them there he asked
them that why they have come over there because he was
talking to Allah and that he will not wear the dress until he
(Allah) accepts my recommendation for all the Muslims.
Omer Farouq saw that Owaise of Qarni was wearing a rag
dress, in which there was wealth of 18000 worlds. Omer
 68

Farouq was very sad to see himself and his caliphate, so he

said, “Anybody is there who can purchase his caliphate for a
piece of bread.” Owaise said that foolish will purchase so
throw it and anybody who likes it, will take it, so there is no
need of selling and buying it. Then Owaise of Qarni wore the
dress and said that Allah has forgiven the Muslims on his
recommendation and due to this dress to equal number of the
sheep of Rabiya and Mizer tribes. Ali Ibn Taleb was silent.
Omer Farouq asked him, “Oh Owaise, why have you not met
the prophet?” Owaise asked, “Have you seen the forehead of
the prophet . If you have seen then tell me whether his
eyebrows were close or scattered.” but he could not reply this.
Owaise of Qarni told, “ Are you a friend of the prophet
Muhammad ?” he said, “yes.” If you were firm in the
friendship then why you have not broken your teeth when the
prophet ’s teeth were broken in the battle of mount of Ohud in
Madina and this is the rule of friendship. He showed his teeth
and said that he had broken all his teeth in prophet’s love
without even seeing him. When I broke a tooth, I was not sure
of it as it might be the same tooth of the prophet or not and
then I have broken all my teeth. Omer Farouq and Ali Ibn
Taleb wept and said that your value of respect was great. He
did not see the prophet but his respect for the prophet was
admirable. We have to learn respect from him. Omer Farouq
asked him to pray for him. Owaise of Qarni told him that there
should be no desires and wishes when one has faith in Allah.
In every prayer I used to pray for all men and women of
Muslim world for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. If you die
with faith then you will find result of my pray in your grave
otherwise my pray will be spoiled. Omer Farouq asked him to
 69

give some advice. He said, “Oh Omer, do you know Allah ?”

Omer said, “Yes, I know.” He told Omer that except Allah he
does not know anybody and it is better for you also. Again
Omer asked for more pieces of advice. He said, “Oh Omer ,
does Allah know you.” He said, “Yes.” then it is better that
Allah knows you more than others. Then Omer radi allahu
anhu told him to please wait for some time, so that he can
bring something for him. Owaise of Qarni took out two dinars
from his pocket and said, “This is my earning from camel
grazing. If you guarantee that these two dinars are enough for
my entire life then I will accept the other things from you,
otherwise I do not need anything.” then Owaise of Qarni gave
thanks to them for coming over there to see him after facing
many difficulties and asked them to leave the place. The Day
of Judgment is near, where we can meet there and from there
we will not separate at all. Now I am busy for the preparation
for the life after death. When Omer Farouq and Ali Ibn Taleb
left that place the people of that place started respecting
Owaise of Qarni.
He left that place and reached Koofa. After that nobody has
seen him, but Huban’s son Harm when he heard about the
greatness of recommendation of Owaise of Qarni he was
anxious to see him. He went to Koofa to see him, searched
him and by chance he found him on the river Farat where he
was doing ablution and washing his clothes. He said, “I
recognized you due to your greatness and what I have heard
about you.” He paid salam to him; he replied it and he looked
at me carefully. I wanted to shake his hand but he did not give
his hand. I said, “Oh Owaise , Allah has blessed you, granted
his mercy and has forgiven you.” I wept in his friendship and
 70

on his weak condition, Owaise of Qarni also wept. Owaise

said, “Oh Harm, the son of Huban, god bless you. What thing
you have brought here and who showed you my address.”
Harm replied him, “How do you know my name and my
father’s name, as I have not seen you before.” Owaise said,
“Allah told me, who knows everything. My soul recognized
your soul, as soul of Muslim knows each other.” I asked him
to narrate any saying of the prophet. He told that he did not
met the prophet and has heard his qualities from others and do
not want to become scholar of prophet’s tradition, as he has
many pending things to do. Then he asked him to recite any
verse from the Quran. He recited. “A‘oodhu billahi minash
shaitan rajeem” and he started weeping. He said that Allah
says in the Quran, “wama khalaqtul jinna wal insa illa li-
ya‘budoon.” he recited and he cried in loud noise so I thought
that he had gone mad. He again asked me what had brought
him there. I told him that I wanted your friendship and to
become successful. He replied that one who knows Allah
does not need the love and affection of others and gets comfort
from others. I asked him to advise me. He told me that when
you sleep, think that your death is under your pillow. When
wake up, do not have many hopes and do not consider any sin
smaller, but think it is big one. If you think any sin smaller
then you think Allah small and will become a sinner. I asked
him, “What do you say about my stay?” he told me to go to
Syria. Then I asked how I would find my livelihood there?
Owaise of Qarni said, “It is very sad that their hearts are full
of doubts and suspicions and they do not accept the pieces of
advice.” I asked him some more pieces of advice for me. He
told, “Oh son of Huban, your father died. Adam alayhi salaam,
 71

Eve alayhi salaam, Noah alayhi salaam, Abraham alayhi

salaam, Moses alayhi salaam, David alayhi salaam also died.
Abu bakr died who was the first caliph, my brother Omer also
died.” then he said, “Oh Omer, God bless you.” Omer is still
living. He says, Allah has informed him that Omer has
passed away. He told me that, I and you are in between dead.
He recite blessing and started praying. He advised me to
follow the holy book and the right path and do not forget
about death at any moment. When you reach your people then
advise them and also advise mankind. Always follow the steps
of the prophet, otherwise you will be out of the religion and be
eligible for the hell. He then advised some prayers and asked
me to go. He said, “Oh son of Huban, you will not see me and
I will not see you again, but remember me in your prayers,
because I to remember you in my prayers. You go on that way
and I will follow this way.” I had desire to follow him for
some time but he did not allow me. He wept and I also wept. I
was watching him from the backside but after some time he
disappeared. After that there was no news about him. The son
of Huban said that Owaise of Qarni first told him about the
four caliphs of the prophet.
Rabiya narrates that he went to see Owaise of Qarni and he
saw him while he was performing the morning prayer. After
the prayer he was busy in the glorification of Allah until the
time of noon prayer. He was busy with his work until the time
of next prayer and in this way he was very busy until next
morning prayer. For three days he did not eat or drink
anything or even slept. On fourth night he slept for some time
and then wake up and started hymns, in which he said, “ Oh
Allah, keep me away from full sleep and full food in the
 72

stomach and it is enough for me and I have come back to

you.” it is said that he never slept in the nights. He used to say
that the night was for doing prostration, bowing and for
standing before God. He used to keep every night alive. When
people asked him, “How do they pray?” he told, “I want it will
be dawn before I did not say ‘Subhan Allah ’ in the
prostration. As I want to do worship same as angels do in the
sky.” When people asked him, “What is khudo (attention) in
the prayers?” He told, “If there is wound of spear on your
body but you did not notice it.” The people asked him, “How
are you?” how he will be, when he wake up in the morning
and the death will allow him to be alive or not upto night?
When people asked him about his work, he replied, “Oh, the
journey is long but no preparations at all?”
Owaise of Qarni said that if you worship of Allah and if the
same is equal to the worship of all creations of Allah in the
sky and earth but Allah will not accept the same unless you
have faith in him. The people asked him further, how we have
to keep faith in Allah. He said at the time of worship do not
think for other things, which Allah have reserved for you. He
said, “Whoever like the following three things, for him hell
will be near to nerve of his neck.”
1.Good food
2.Good dress
3.Sitting with wealthy people
People told Owaise of Qarni that there is one man who is
sitting in the grave since 30 years and wearing shroud around
his neck and weeping. He said, “Take me to that person so that
 73

I can see him.” the people took him to that person and he saw
that man who has become thin by weeping. He told him, “Oh
man, the shroud and the grave has kept you away from the
Allah, and these two things are disturbing on your way.” Due
to his divine appearance that person was able to see these
things on him and his condition was revealed to him. He died
in the grave. So think on it that if grave and shroud are seen
then other things can also be seen. It is reported that Owaise
has not eaten anything or drank even water for three days. On
the fourth day he got a dinar on the way. He did not took that
dinar and he thought that it belonged to some other person and
he went ahead to eat grass. Then he saw a sheep and in her
mouth there was hot bread and the sheep kept that bread
before him. But he thought that it belonged to some other
person. The sheep told him, “I am the slave of Allah like
you.” then he took that bread and that sheep was disappeared.
His praise and qualities are too many and great. In the
beginning Shaikh Abul Qasim Gorgani was the follower of
Owaise of Qarni. Owaise of Qarni says that one who knows
Allah from Allah , and then he knows everything. He said,
“Safety is in loneliness. The person who is single and alone
and who do not think about others in his heart is safe and
secured, because it is not good to think about others in
loneliness. Satan (devil) will run away when two persons meet
each other.” So he did not go there because he knew that no
need to misguide them, as those persons are busy with each
other and have forgotten Allah. Owaise of Qarni suggested
keeping control on the heart so that other person (devil) may
not enter into it.
 74

Owaise of Qarni’s sayings

1.When I asked for high respect, I got it in the service.
2.When I asked for leadership and status, I got it in the
people’s advice.
3.When I asked for kindness and service, I got it in the truth
and right path.
4.When I asked for proud and greatness, I got it in poverty and
misery.
5.When I asked for link, I got it in goodness and in the fear of
God.
6.When I asked for fame, I got it in the worship.
7.When I asked for carelessness, I got it in the trust of God.
It is reported that the neighbors of Owaise of Qarni told him
that they thought him a mad man. They collected some money
and constructed a house for him. He used to live in that house.
There was nothing in the house to eat at the time of breakfast.
He tried to earn money by collecting seeds of dates and by
selling them. From that money he managed his food. If he
collected dates, he used to sell them and that money was spent
for the charity. His dress was old and not in the good
condition. He made his dress from the horse skin which he
used to clean himself. He used to leave the house at the time
of morning prayer and to enter the house after night prayer.
Wherever he went, the children threw stones on him. He
requested the children to throw small stones on him to avoid
bleeding from his body and not to spoil his ablution. He was
 75

not worried about his legs but he was worried about his
prayers.
In his last days he met Ali Ibn Taleb and participated in the
war of Seffin and died there. There is a group of people who
consider themselves as Owaisia . For them there is no need of
teacher and they do not have any source with them like
Owaise of Qarni, but they are on the right path of religion due
to the grace of God.
Owaise of Qarni has not seen the prophet but the prophet did
his internal training and this is fact. His position is very high
and it is difficult for anybody to attain such a high position.
Such greatness is due to the kindness and mercy of God.
Whom God likes, will be given such a great position.
His grave is in a small village of Yemen, which is far away
from capital Sana.

Translated from Urdu to English by Mohammed Abdul

Hafeez, B.Com.
Hyderabad, India.
=======================================
Reference book
Tazkeratul Aoulia by Shaikh Farid Attar (Book of Muslim
saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Anwar
book depot,
Delhi, India.
======================================
 76

The translation history of the book Tadkera Awiliya in

English
In English, there are three partial translations of the Taḏkera.
The first, by Bankey Bahari (Lahore, 1965) and who
translated only 62 episodes very briefly and the second, a
more accurate one, by Arthur J. Arberry, (London, 1966) and
which was a abridge edition of 38 episodes. This translation
also contains detailed bibliographic information and supplies
a most valuable list of sources and analogues for the various
anecdotes and aphorisms at the beginning of each separate
chapter. A translation by Paul Losensky of Indiana
University is forthcoming in 2004 edition of 28 episodes
only with a good introduction. Other translations are
mentioned in the general bibliography below.
The third translation by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez from
Hyderabad India and his book published by A.S. Noordeen
Malaysia in the year 2014 edition of 58 episodes.

Conclusion : Upon checking of the above translations of the

book Tazikira Auliya of Farid Eldin Attar it is noticed that no
any translator did not do all 96 episodes in their books.
If anybody wants to study complete book in the standard
language then he has to study the following two books then
he can able to study all 96 books so, for this reason, these two
books are very popular.
Tazkira Auliya by Farid Eldin Attar who has written 96
 77

episodes in Persian language.

The details of episodes of these two books are as follows.

1.Tazkira Auliya translation by Arthur J. Arberry 38
episodes in English.
2.Tazkira Auliya translation by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez 58
episodes in English

For this reason of research A. S. Noordeen Malaysia has

taken 10 years to publish my book Muslim Saints and
Mystics of Farid Eldin Attar for getting the information from
my side.

In the year 2014 A.S. Noordeen Malaysia has published book

Tadkera Awiliya translated by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez
from Hyderabad India in which there are found 58 episodes
which were not translated by Arthur J. Arberry and this
book is available on Amazon.com and Archive.org and there
is good preface in the book with historical information of the
book which is found in it. The book’s link is as follows.
 78

And it is also published on archive.org as follows.

https://archive.org/details/102579013-tazkara-tul-aulia-
memories-of-the-saints-1-1_202310
 79

Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.

Translator: ‘Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar)
Hyderabad, India
80
 81

1.In the Persian book of ‘Tadhkirat al-Auliya of Farid al-Din

Attar’, in which Farid al-Din Attar has written 96 chapters in
the Persian version of the book.
2.But in the English translation book by A. J. Arberry who
has added in his book ‘Muslim Saints and Mystics’ which
published in the year 1966 in an abridged translation of
‘Memoirs of Saints’ 38 chapters only.
3. In the year 2014, Mohammed Abdul Hafeez the
undersigned had published his book ‘Muslim Saints and
Mystics’ from A.S. Noordeen, Malaysia. In this book, 58
chapters translation added which were left over episodes by
A.J. ARberry upon the research works of the almost ten years
in the Persian and Urdu books. As no details were find in the
English books about this translation. This fact can be checked
by the readers in the above book number two in which
translator ignored total chapters in the Persian book and how
many he has left chapters for the sake information of the
readers as well as for research and reference work.
 82

If we count the chapters of the English translation of the book

of A. J. ARBerry and Mohammed Abdul Hafeez from books 2
and 3, then there will be total 96 chapters as per the original
Persian of the book Tadhkira Tal Auliya of Farid Uddin Attar.
Kindly find the three above books links for reference and
research on the aim of the classical readers and institutions.
1. https://www.scribd.com/document/825581480/Tazkara-
Tul-Auliya-by-Shaikh-Fareedud-Din-Attar-Urdu

2. https://archive.org/details/MuslimSaintsAndMystics

3. https://www.scribd.com/document/664938284/Tazkara-
Tul-Aulia-Memories-of-the-Saints

After this, the Shaikh of Islam on this topic, Shaikh Farid

Eldin Abu Hamid Mohammed bin Ibrahim Attar Neshapuri,
took pen in his hand and, by name, Tadhkira Auliya, compiled
Tahdkira book and added in his book 96 chapters in the
Persian language which became famous and well-known and
trusted among the meeting of the Sufi persons.

So it was published many times in Europe, India, and Iran.

Mirza Mohammed Khan Qazduni who has written in the
preface of ‘Tahdkirat Auliya’ of the European edition the
following details in the Persian text which could not translated
 83

into Urdu language. So for this reason it is ignored in the

English book by me.

Author Mohammed Abdul Hafeez’s Introduction

The publication note in the Second Episode by

Mr. David Rosenbaum of New York Times

Farid Al- din Attar is considered one of the preeminent

mystical poets of the Persian Literary tradition. The
duration
 84

of his life is uncertain, though he can be placed in the

12th and 13th centuries c. e. born in Nishapur in what is
today Iran, Attar apparently was a pharmacist, but little
information about his personal life is known. During his
lifetime he is believed to have written approximately 9
books, including such famous works as the Manteq Al-
Tayr ( the conference of the birds) and the Ilahi- Nama
(the book of god) . Muslim Saints and Mystics is an
abridgement, translated by A. J. Arberry, of Attar' s only
known prose work: Tadhkirat Al- Auliya ( the memorial
of the saints) , which he worked on throughout much of
his life and which was available publicly before his
death.
In what is considered the most compelling entry in this
book, attar relates the story of the execution of Hallaj,
the mystic who had uttered the words “ I am the truth”
in a state of ecstatic contemplation. Arberry's translation
is an abridgement; the entry on Owaise Al- Qarani
translated by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B. Com. ,
Hyderabad, India, omitted in Arberry' s text, is included
in the following link: Owaise al- Qarani.
Kindly note this episode is very popular on the internet
and no other article of the same title is not meeting the
reader’s requirement and giving full details. So for the
reason in many countries, this article is very popular
and added on many web sites for the public reading as
well for the reference and research purpose. The detail
on U.S.A. website on which the second episode is
available as follows.
============================================
 85

Owaise of Qarni
113k - adobe pdf - view as html
=============================
On him, which were explained by the prophet. Then Owaise
 86

Qarni . . . Translated from Urdu to English by

Mohammed A. Hafeez, B.Com. Hyderabad, India. ,
reference book . . .

www.omphaloskepsis.com/ebooks/pdf/Owaise.pdf.And

Tadhkiratal-Auliya’ by Farid-AL-Din

Attar Introduction
Farid Al-din Attar is considered one of the preeminent
mystic poets of the Persian literary tradition. The
duration of his life uncertain, though he can be placed
in the 12th and 13th century C.E. born in Nishapur in
what is today Iran. Attar apparently w pharmacist but
little information about his personal life is known.
During his lifetime he is believed to have written
approximatel books, including such famous works as
The Manteq Al-Tayr ( Conference of the Birds) and
The Ilahi-Nama (The book of God, Tadhkiratal-Auliya
(Muslim Saints and Mystics) is consider world famous
classical book of Persian literature which printed re-
printed in many countries.
 87

An abridgement, translated by A.J. Arberry, of

Attar's o known prose work Tadhkirat Al-Auliya (The
Memorial of the Saints) which he worked on throughout
much of his life an which was available publicly before
his death. Arberry's translation is an abridgement. The
entry on Owaise of Qaran translated by me which was
omitted in Arberry's text is added the above web site. In
Tadhkiratal-Auliya Sheikh Farid-Al-Din
 88

Attar wrote many chapters and in those chapters there

is fu information and details of the titles are available .
His style o writing is most interesting and for this
reason the readers wil remember the chapters from the
above great book for a long time.

Due to many great chapters this book is very famous in

the word and it translations are available in many
languages of world. Mr. David Rosenbaum’s email
message about the publication of the episode ‘Owaise
of Qarani’ on the webs
www.omphaloskepsis.com of U.S.A.

On Jun 8, 2005, at 9:24 AM,

David Rosenbaum <[email protected]> wrote:

Attention : Mr. Hafeez,

I have received the RTF file.
Thank you.

Will post it during the next update of the site.

David Rosenbaum
 89

Thanks to Mr. David E. Rosenbaum of New York

Times

The second chapter Owaise Al-Qarani

was published on the following web site by Mr.David
E. Rosenbaum as he was the editor of the web site
below. Mr. David E. Rosenbaum's publication note
about the entry on Owasie of Qarni. Muslim
 90

Saints and Mystics is an abridgement, translated by A.J.

Arberr Attar's only known prose work: Tadhkirat al-
Auliya (The Memorial of the Saints), which he worked
on throughout muc his life and which was available
publicly before his death. In w is considered the most
compelling entry in this book, Attar rela the story of the
execution of Hallaj, the mystic who had utter the words
"I am the Truth" in a state of ecstatic contemplation
Arberry's translation is an abridgement; the entry on
Owaise
al-Qarani translated by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez,
B. Com Hyderabad, India omitted in Arberry's text, is
included in the following link: Owaise al-Qarani.
====================
2. Owaise of Qarni (PDF)
will create 70,000 angels same as Owaise of
Qarni (Clone) and when ... Owaise of Qarni told
him to stay there and he went away and ...
www.omphaloskepsis.com/ebooks/pdf/Owaise.pdf -
113k - View as html - More from this site –Save.
===================
 91

New York Times reporter Mr. David E. Rosenbaum

was beat robbed and dispatched to his
death

On the Friday night of Jan. 6, 2006 in Northwest

Washington, w New York Times reporter Mr. David
E. Rosenbaum was
beaten,robbed and dispatched to his death. But in history
 92

of book TadhkiratAl-Auliya ( Muslim Saints &

Mystics ) the nam Mr. David E. Rosenbaum will be
remembered always as he h
published the above article with the special note
with the follo details. 1. Some details about the
life of Farid Al-din Attar .
The details of the works by Farid Al-din Attar . 3.
He also introduced the translator ( Mohammed Abdul
Hafeez B.Com. ) his work of translation of the second
main chapter Owaise Qarni from the above book.
The above second episode is fro Tadhkirat Al-
Auliya (Muslim Saints & Mystics ) by Farid Al-
Attar.
 93

The Uwaisī (or Owaisi; Arabic: ‫ )ُأَوْيس‬silsila (chain of

the Uwaisi)

The Uwaisī (or Owaisi; Arabic: ‫ )ُأَوْيس‬silsila (chain of

transmission) or tariqa (pathway) is a form of spiritual
transmission in the vocabulary of Sufism, named
after Owais al-Qarani. It refers to the transmission of
spiritual knowledge between two individuals without the
need for direct interaction between them.
Background
Main article: Owais al-Qarani

In the science of spirituality of Islam (Tasawwuf) the

Uwaisi Transmission occurs when the spirits of righteous
believers (saliheen, awliya) meet in the world
called `alam al-arwaah (the world of spirits) which is
beyond `alam al-ajsam (the material plane). Whoever
takes knowledge through spirituality from a master
in `alam al-arwaah is called "Uwaisi". This means of
transmission is considered as powerful and effective as
the physical relation of master and disciple.
 94

The term "Uwaisi" is derived from the name of Owais al-

Qarani, who never met the Islamic prophet Muhammad in
person, yet was fully aware of his spiritual presence at all
points in his life.
In Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition,
by Hisham Kabbani, it is noted that:
The sign of the Favor of Allah Almighty and Exalted on
his servant is to authorize one of His saints to uplift that
servant to the Divine Presence. That is why many saints
who came in previous times were guides for those who
came after through this spiritual (Uwaisi) connection. It is
known that many saints have been under the guidance and
training of prophets and other saints that lifted them up.
Contemporary Western orders

Silsila Owaisi is an active Uwaisi Sufi order from the

United Kingdom led by Shaykh Banaras Owaisi. They
operate a charity and offer spiritual healing services.
The "Uwaysi Order, a Shi'i branch of the Kubrawiya, was
brought to the West by its shaykh, Shah Maghsoud
Angha. " There are two recent and distinct contemporary
branches of the Uwaisi Order in the West following
lengthy legal disputes between Shah Maghsoud's off
spring.
 95

One is Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shah Maghsoudi, headed

by Nader Angha, the son of Shah Maghsoud. The other is
the Uwaiysi Tarighat, led by Shah Maghsoud's
daughter, Nahid Angha and her husband, Ali Kianfar. The
couple co-founded the International Association of
Sufism.

Muhammadia Uwaisia Order

Muhamadia Uwaisia Order is blessed to Shaykh
Muhammad Owais Naqibi Qadri Suharwardi AbuAl Alai
Naqshbandi, Chishti Sabri Jahangiri.
Shaykh Muhammad Owais was granted permission of
Uwaisia silsila directly from Muhammad in his court in
Madinah in 1st Shaban 1434 AH (2013 CE) and
Muhammad blessed this silsila with the name
"Mohammadia Uwaisia" (or "Muhammadia Uwaisia" or
"Muhammadiya Uwaisia" or "Muhammdiya
Owaisia"; Arabic: ‫)محمدئة ُأَوْيسئة‬.
Last shaykh of silsla Uwaisa was Nūr ad-Dīn 'Abd ar-
Rahmān Jāmī (Persian: ‫)نورالدین عبدالرحمن جامی‬
(1414-1492 CE).

After this book, there came the name of Moulana Noor

Uddin Abdul Rahaman Jami, who died in 898 Hijri. And
his famous book’s name became well-known: ‘Naftaq-al-
 96

Anas.’ In this book, a biography of Shaikh of Islam

Abdallah Ansari is written. And some of the many
qualities in it. As such, no other book of the same title
became famous and well-known in this manner. All over
the world, its copies are in beautiful getups with many
thousands of color designs and with gold-plated works
preserved in the libraries. In the Reza library, there is one
handwritten copy that was read by Mughal Prince Dara
Shikwa twice, who has corrected the writer’s mistakes in
the book. And on the title page, he wrote his opinion
twice.

In this book, there is a description of a total of 567 Sufi

men and women. Allama Ali Ashgar has written one book
about Jamai. In it he has added a translation of the opinion
of ‘Nafqat’ by the orientalist Mr. Brown on Persian
literature. After this, Moulana wrote his opinion of the
book in Persian.

In Moulana’s book, there are some hard places as well.

Moulana’s disciple Raziuddin Abdul Ghafar Lari, who
died in the year 913 Hijri and who has written some good
remarks on the margins. We have to read those marginal
writings along with the book in this matter.
 97

Abul Ghazi Sultan Hussain bin Mansour bin Biaqra bin

Umar Shaikh bin Amir Taimur Gol Gan, who died in the
year 911 Hijri. And who has written a biography book by
the name of ‘Majalis-al-Ashaq’ in which there is mention
of such persons who were well known and famous in the
world of love and affection as good-named persons. Even
the compiler of the book in this category has added kings,
nobles, and general persons, and from them he has added
famous lovers. But most of them find holy persons of
Allah in this book. And those who, in the love of Allah,
crossed from Qais and Farhad to the many destinations.
This book is also published. And due to the unique quality
of the book, it can be readable.

In India, on this subject, those books were written in

which this book is added. This is an important and an
exceptional book of the Tadkira, known as ‘Akhbar
Akhyar’ which was written by Shaikh Muhdith Abdul
Haq Dehlavi, who died in 1052 Hijri and who compiled
this book in 999 Hijri. In this book there are details of 255
Sufi mystics, and at the beginning there are details of
Shaikh Abdul Qader Jilani, and in the middle there are
added Tadhkira of Sufies of India, and in the end, his and
his family's details are written.
 98

A contemporary of Shaikh Muhdith Abdul Haq Dehlavi

was Abdul Samad bin Afzal Mohammed bin Yousuf
Ansari, who was the nephew of Shaikh Abul Fazal and
wrote one Tadhkira in the year 1015 Hijri. The details of
such persons are known, which are already known in the
‘Akhbar Akhyar’. Three manuscripts are known, and one
of them is found and safe in Patna.

During this period, one Shuttari holy person lived, and his
name was Mohammed Ghousi bin Hasan bin Musa
Mandavi, who wrote a Tadhkira by the name of ‘Gulzar
Abrar’ in the year approximately 1022 Hijri, in which 575
biographies were added. And many manuscripts are
found. This book is translated into Urdu, and its
translation was printed. Mr. Stori, in his Persian literature
book, added this book vol. JAH2 on page 984. And about
this book, he has written that from this book, good
information is found. In the Reda library, one manuscript
of the book is found.

During the rule of Emperor Shah Jehan, there was a

person by the name of Mir Akbar Ali Hussaini Ardastani
who wrote one big volume of Tadhkirat by the name of
‘Majma Aulia,’ which he dedicated in the name of Shah
Jehan, and in it there are added 1400 details of holy
 99

persons. There are many copies of this book found in the

world's libraries. In our library, two handwritten copies
are saved. Among them, the first and second volume,
which are in complete shape.

Even Shah Jahan’s eldest son, Prince Dara Shikoh, died in

1096 Hijri. who compiled the Tadhkira book in the year
1049 Hijri under the name of “Safinatal Auliya” which
became most famous and many editions of this book were
published many times. The other world famous Persian
book of Prince Dara Shikwa is as follows:

‘Skinatal Auliya’ by Dara Shikwa, which is the most

famous Persisan book which is translated by Mohammed
Abdul Hafeez into English first time in the year 2018 and
the book’s link is as follows.

https://archive.org/details/safinatal-auliya-final-book-1-
3/Safinatal%20Auliya%20final%20book
%20%281%29%20%283%29/

After him, Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Rasul Abbasi Chisti,

who died in the year 1094 Hijri, was compiled in the
 100

Tadhkira in the name of ‘Maratal Israr,’ and many copies

are found. In its middle, and after that many Tadhkira
books were written, but I am closing my discussion of the
Persian Tadhira books upon ‘Qazinatl Asfia.’

‘Qazinat al-Asfiya’ is written by Mufti Ghulam Rasul

Lahori, and in this discussion of Tadhkera books, it is
considered a comprehensive and most beneficial book. I
have referred to this book many times. In this book, Mufti
Sahib mentioned brief and important details of previous
authors. One work from his side, which was done by
Mufti Sahib, is that the details of the deaths found were
added by him by adding stanzas of the death in his book.
Even though the stanzas do not show the correct dates of
each occasion, these dates are helpful on this matter. This
book was completed in the year 1282 Hijri and it was
published in Lahore, Lucknow and Kanpur.

The biography books of Sufi holy persons which were

passed by my eyes and which are as follows.

The translation of book ‘Nafat al-Anas’ and this book of

Jami in the Urdu language. And which was translated by
Syed Ahmed Ali Chisti Nizami who compiled this book.
 101

and was published by Malik Chinan Uddin of the Noval

Kishore Press, Lahore. And translation is fluent and with
idioms are found. It is saved in Raza library.

One Arabic famous book ‘Lawaqa al-Anwar Fi Tabqat al-

Akhyar’. And which is famous as ‘Taqbat Akbabari’. So
did Abul Mawahab Abdul Wahab bin Ahmed Sharani
who died in the year 973 Hijri. It is called ‘Tabqat al-
Hasharani’. This book was published in two volumes in
Egypt in the year 1286 Hijri.

Moulana Syed Abdul Ghani Warsi who was Assistant

Accountant General in Hyderabad and who published
this book in 1905 and was done this book’s Urdu
translation. It was published by Mataba Shamsi Agra and
its first volume in 1908. A second volume followed in
1911. And the remaining other volumes were not passed
by my eyes. The translation followed Urdu translation
upon the style of Arabic and for this there is not find in it
daily spoken language style in this book.In short, the book
is readable.

There is already discussion of Shaikh Muhadit Abdul

Haq’s book ‘Akhbar Akhyar’. This book was translated
 102

into Urdu by Mohammed Latif Faridi, M.A. in the year

1958. In the same year, Mohammed Salim Sahib
published this book through the Estaqlal Press Lahore.
This translation is with idioms. And for this reason it can
be readable. As per the saying of the translator “ The
book for its attraction and cheerful style and as per
criticism and research there is available this book in the
general appreciation in this matter.

Maulavi Syed Imam Uddin Ahmed bin Mufti Syed Ashraf

Ali Hussaini Quaderi Gulshanabadi who wrote in the year
1291 Hijiri ‘Tariq Auliya’ in three volumes compiled one
biography book. And its first volume is saved in Reda
library. And this was book published in Bombay. In this
book there are added holy persons up to the fifth century.
And in second volume there is a description of holy
persons of 6th century to 10th century. In the third
volume biography of Sufi persons from 11th century to
till time of compilation of this biography book and it was
confirmed but it is not known whether remaining two
volumes were published or not. In short, this book is
comprehensive and very beneficial.

Khaja Mohammed Ashraf Ali Quaderi Hanfi Kucknavi

‘Akhbar Akhbar fil al-akhyar al-akhyar’ by this name
 103

was published in the year 1304 Hijri was written in one

brief ‘Tadhkira’ book and this book was published in
Hussaini Press, Agra. And which is safe with us.Even
though in it there added some of the Sufi persons details
but the description which are added in details in this
matter and he has kept his view upon matters of research.

Among the old style of Tadhkira book best book added

was ‘Masalik Salikin Fi Tadhkirat Wasil’, which was
written by Mirza Sattar Baig son Mirza Dildar Baig
Sahsarmi Murid Shah Mohammed Sher Quaderi Mujdadi
who complied and published this book in the life of his
peer and printed in Mufid Press in Agra. It was published
in big size of the paper in two volumes and this book
there are found 1038 pages.

In this Tadhkira the compiler of the book also tried in this

matter that to mention about manners and habits of the
people of Tadkira. And with events in connection with
Allah as well as events which happened with him with
mankind in this matter.In it there is must that writer of
Tahdkira should write the deeds performed by him as per
order of Allah and his prophet. And in this way Tadhkira
books was become for best sources of the matter of
attention and reading.
 104

In addition to the general Tadhkira books there are found

in Persian and Urdu language Tadhkira books of different
Sufi persons and also for different Sufi chains. Which
passed by my eyes in the compiled Tadhkira books. In
those biography books there is more details and
comprehensiveness and by such sources of them then we
can reach near and family with the persons of
biographies.

In the Persian language the biography which is found

written about some holy person and its name is ‘Israr
Touhidfi Maqamat al-Shaikh Abi Saeed’. which was
written approximately in the year 574 Hijri. And it is in
the name of Sultan Ghiasuddin Mohammed bin Sam who
died in 599 Hijri.

In this book Shaikh Abu Saeed Fazal Allah bin Abi

Alkhair who was died in the year 440 Hijri events are
added. This book’s compiler was Mohammed bin al-
Munwar bin Abi Saeed bin Abi Taher bin Abi Saeed
Mahmini.This Shaikh Abu Saeed Abul Khair is that holy
person and who Persian rubai (Rubaiyat, or quatrains, is
the plural of rubai, which is an Arabic word which
literally means four. Among the forms of poetry, rubai is
 105

the name of the genre in which a theme is versified in four

lines. Metrically, there are 24 syllables in a Rubai.) are
well known and the one which is mentioned in the Urdu
book is remembered to me usually.

This book was compliled by the son of the great

grandson of Abu Saeed because whatever he has written
is due to the statement of a person of pledge he is having
eligible for trust in this matter.

And one more book of this category’s important book is

‘Kashaf Israr’ which was written by Habeeb Allah bin
Mohammed Ali bin Nasiruddin Akbarabadi Dehlavi and
was compiled in the year 1132 Hijri.

Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Quader Jilani and who was left this
mortal world in the year 561 Hijri and one of his
biography book was written by Noor Eldin Ali bin
Yousuf ‘Albastani fe Najmi al Shafi’ and who died in
the year 712 Hijri. And ‘Kashaf Asar’ is its Persian
translation. Mr.Stori has mentioned about this book’s two
manuscripts and a third hand written manuscript found in
Rampur.
 106

The original book’s first translation was done by the name

of ‘Zabdatul Asar’ by Shaikh Abdul Haq Muhaddis
Dehlavi. This book was published in Urdu in the year
1890 Hijri.

The third translation was done by Baderuddin bin Ibrahim

Sarhindi and who compiler of the book ‘Hazrat al-Qadas’
and that book is not found probably.

One more book of this category is written by Maulavi

Manavi’s book ‘Seerat’, who died in 672 Hijri, which
was written by Faridun bin Ahmed Sipsalar in 730 Hijri
under the name of ‘Risalat Dar Ahwal Moulana
Jalaluddin Maulvi’ with the correction work of Saeed
Nafsi. The preface was printed in the year 1325 Hijri in
Tehran.

The compiler of this book has mentioned Maulana

Rumi's attributes as follows.
 107

“His endeavors, mystical exercises, condition of namaz,

condition of piety, abstinence, passion, union, attributes
of love, intoxication, and engrossment, attributes of
attention, and position, unity, the reason for Sama
("Sama" in English can have a few meanings depending
on the context, including "equal," "similar," or "the Sufi
practice of listening to religious poetry".) meeting, the
height of mystic way. In good words, put light on this
matter.

One book in this rare category, ‘Sair Mohammedi’, was

written by Mohammed Ali Samani in the year 831 Hijri
about Deccan’s well-known and famous holy person
‘Hazrat Syed Mohammed Hussain Gesu Daraz’, who was
caliph of Hazrat Nasiruddin Chiragh Dehlavi’s events and
fondness. In it, there is discussion, and this book is very
interesting with full information. So it is eligible to be
printed by arrangement.

About Shaikh Bahuddin Naqshband’s events and miracles

book, ‘Anis Talibin Wahat al-Salikin’, written by Shaikh
Salah bin Mubark Bukhari in the year 791 Hijri. Its copies
are found in libraries in Europe, and two copies are found
in the Reda library.
 108

From this chain there was one holy person, and his name
was Khaja Obeid Allah Ahrar. Who died in the year 895
Hijri, His son, Mohammed al-Qazi, died in the year 921
Hijri. About his events, he wrote the book ‘Sisilatal-Arifin
in the year 910 Hijri, a detailed and comprehensive
Tadhkira book. And its two manuscripts are found. One is
in ‘Zakhira Subhan’ is found in Aligarh. Another is found
in Rampur.

Especially about Sufi persons of Rampur, there was not

yet any permanent book written. But Mavlavi Imam
Uddin Khan Rampuri died in the year 1259 Hijri. A book
was written about his spiritual master Hazrat Darga Shahi
and also his spiritual master Hazrat Hafiz Shah Jamal
‘Majma Kramat’ about their events in the Persian
language in the year 1231 Hijri. The book’s Urdu
compilation was done by Moulana Hasan Qadri and was
printed.

In addition to this book, Hazrat Shah Bolaqi Muradabadi,

his sons and his caliph Hafiz Amin Sahib and Hafiz
Shaib’s caliph Moulana Rustam Ali Sahib Ranpuri, events
by the disciple of the second person, Moulana Hafiz Allah
Abbasi Bilaspuri, and his poetic name Hafiz who wrote
one book by the name of ‘Bait-al-Marafa’ in the year
 109

1323. From this book we are able to know about Rampu’s

learned people and Sufi person Moulana Rustom Ali. His
events were known by reliable sources and detailed his
profound impact on the community. His teachings
emphasized the importance of spiritual growth and unity
among followers, fostering a sense of belonging that
resonated deeply within the hearts of his disciples. .

Hafiz Ali Khan Shauq Rampuri, former caretaker of

Rampur Library, who died in 1352 Hijri and in the year
1933, and who added in his book ‘Kamalan Rampur’. In
this book, he added details of all the holy persons of Allah
in a briefer way, which he collected from all sources. It is
good to add in one book separately; then it will be useful
on this matter.

Then it will become a good reference for a biography

book on the Sufi persons of Rampur. To this book there
may be added details of other holy persons of the later
period.

Among the mystic ways of Rampur, Hazrat Shah Shah

Abdulla Quaderi Baghdadi’s personality of blessing was
among the special and general persons. He came from
 110

Baghdad to India. And in India every where he went there

and then at that place people of the religion and world
both of them welcomed him very much.

Moulana Niayaz Ahmed Niayaz, a holy person from the

family of the Sufi chain Chistia Fakhiria. When he heard
about Hazrat’s arrival in India, he went in his presence
and pledged his hands in the Sufi chain of Qaderia.
Nawab of Rampur Nawab Faiz Allah Bahadur was such a
pious person that he never looked at a Ghair Muherram
woman (in English, "ghair muherram" translates to "non-
mahram" or "stranger", referring to someone who is not a
close relative and whom one is permitted to marry
according to Islamic law). He then heard good news of
the Hazrat’s arrival in Rampur; then he went out of
Rampur city and shouldered the palki (palanquin) of the
Hazrat. And with much respect, he has brought Hazrat to
Rampur. He was given Aghapur village for the expenses
of the servants of the Hazrat. Hazrat was selected for a
plot of land in Rampur, on which he constructed a shrine
building by his own expenses and did not accepted any
amount from Nawab Sahib of Rampur. And the rest of his
life was spent with learned persons, Sufi people, and
noble persons in between them with respect and honor.
 111

Hazrat Abdulla Baghdadi’s short biography was compiled

by Syed Mohammed Shah Maikash Akbarabadi, who was
the grandson of Hazrat Syed Amjad Ali and who was the
special caliph of Hazrat Syed Abdalla Baghdadi Sahib.
And for gathering events, he was taken care of with
attention and honesty as well in the biography book of
Hazrat Syed Abdallah Sahib. With statements in his book,
he also copied original text references so that the readers
of the book can check and find mistakes if any for
arriving results in this matter. I hope that, like me, other
persons will like the compiler’s new ideas and care. Also
in that book of Hazrat Syed Shah Baghdadi upon reading
events, able to follow his steps in this matter for success
and welfare in the world and hereafter.

Some old Tadhkira books

 112

1.Hyat Hazrat Sufi Sarmad | PDF | Sufism

Scribd
https://www.scribd.com › document › Hyat-Hazrat-Sufi...

Mohammed Abdul Hafeez is added at the close of the

book. Sarmad Kashani, also known as Sarmad Shaheed,
 113

was a Persian Sufi saint and martyr who was executed in

1661 or 1662: *Background :
2.Biography book of Hadrat Khaja Usman Haruni
This book was translated from very old Persian book
which is well known by the title of biography of Hadrat
Khaja Usman Haruni and I have translated from Urdu into
English language for the first time and I am presenting
this biography of Hadrat Khaja Usman Haruni for the
global edition of Amazon.com. And the Urdu version of
the book was published in the year 1345 Hijri by Syed
Ejaz Ali in Ajmer. So it was published 92 years ago.
This translation of the most ancient and celebrated Persian
book about Sufi’ism will, I hope, be found useful not only
for the number of students familiar with the subject at first
hand but also by many readers. This is a small book in
which there are advises and instructions especially
available for Taleb (student) and it refers to a person who
is committed to a Murshid (spiritual master) in a Tariqa
(spiritual way) of Sufism and it is also known as a Salik
(Arabic: Salik ), a mureed is an initiate into the mystic
philosophy of Sufism and all these details and sayings of
the great Sufi Saint and Sufi master Hadrat Khaja were
are added in this book . And also in this book there are
some great achievements which are not yet known to the
general, persons and other persons are published in a very
interesting style so, for this reason, the readers will find
great interest and attention in this matter. From the above
 114

facts and details, if the readers will start reading this

book’s first page and will not stop its reading till they will
reach its last page as in this book some interesting events
and as well as other great miracles and endeavours of holy
saint are added and this holy saint to have passed away
from the world some 1,000 years ago. Even though this is
small book, but due to its importance it is so great due to
coverage of so many interesting events and positive
information in it so it is like an ocean of knowledge and
information of the holy saint and who have passed away
from the world upon doing his great endeavours and
many hard tasks for the preaching and propagation work
of Islam in the foreign land so this book is small one but it
will present the ocean of knowledge and information for
the guidance of people towards the right path of Islam.
This book is edited and formatted as per the great book
‘Muslim saints and Mystics’ (Tadhkirtal Aliyah by Farid-
aldin Attar) which is very famous in the Western world
among the English knowing persons. So, for this reason,
there will be some small differences in it while comparing
with the Urdu books and its literature. The aim of this
book is to present in the Western world where there are
great search and demand for the books of Sufism and
biographies of holy saints who lived and spent their entire
lives for the preaching and propagation of Islamic religion
in all corners of the world as per tradition and practice of
Allah’s last prophet.
 115

To write about this great saint Hadrat Khaja Usman

Haruni is not only it is difficult and but it is very hard task
as he was not only a great pious personality of his time in
the Indian subcontinent but he was also a great
personality who is known for many of his great
achievements and miracles so in brief he was Qutub
(highest cadre in spiritual pivot at axis) of his time and
who did many great endeavours for the preaching and
propagation of Islam in the above areas with hopes of its
expansion to other adjoining and distant territories and
there was no such personality during his time. It is my
great honour and pleasure to translate this book from
Urdu into English, so I request the readers to read this
book because in it there are many revelations of the
secrets which are added in this book for which I shall be
highly obliged to all of its readers in this matter. In the
preface of the book ‘Tadhikra Awliya’ (Muslim Saints &
Mystics), Attar mentions three books which he
recommends for those ambitious to attain a full
understanding of the pronouncements of the Sufis but in
this book also there are many revelations of the secrets
which are available for the students of the Tariqa
(spiritual path) of Sufism.
 116

The discourses book of Hadrat Khaja Usman Haruni

known as Anis al-Arwa’s link is as follows.
https://www.scribd.com/document/313260319/Anis-al-
arwa

The-Biography-of-Hadrat-Khaja-Usman-Haruni’s
link as follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/313260927/The-
Biography-of-Hadrat-Khaja-Usman-Haruni

3.Hasth Bahist

https://sufi.co.za/books/hasth-bahist/

Introduction The collection of eight books (Hasht Bahist)

of speeches (malfuzat) of six great Sufi masters of the
 117

Chisti order who were like the forefathers of this noble

path and these Sufi masters are well known for all over
the world. The books of Hasht Bahist (The eight heavens)
were written in the Persian language and were later
translated into Urdu language. These Shaykhs include
Khwaja Usman Harooni, Khwaja Ajmeri, Khwaja
Bakhtiar Kaki, Khwaja Farid, Khwaja Nizamuddin, and
Khwaja Naseeruddin Chiragh Dehlavi. The names of
eight (Hasht Bahist) books available in the Urdu language
are as follows. The following eight books have been
translated first time by me into English and these eight
books are added in this book and theirs titles are as
follows.1. Anis al-Arwah 2. Dalil Arifin 3. Fawid al-
Salikin 4. Rahat al-Qulub 5. Israr al-Auliya 6. Fawid al-
Fawad 7. Afzal al-Fawaid 8. Maftal-Ashiqin The above
eight books have been translated first time by me into
English in 1219 pages and these 8 books are available on
sale on amazon.com. May I request to you to please look
into the matter and if interested contact the above
publisher as the books which have become up to date for
publishing as per global standard of English language. As
you know well that this is 800 years old books of heritage
for which you will get immense rewards of advices and
discourses of Sufi masters in India who were wholly
responsible for the preaching and propagation of Islamic
mission in the sub-continent of India. Mohammed Abdul
 118

HafeezTranslator ' Muslim Saints and Mystics'(The

Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar& 'Hasth Bahist'
Hyderabad, India Email: [email protected]

4.The Travels of Hazrat Tamim Ansari, Chennai

Mausoleum of Hazrat Tameem Al-Ansari, Kovalam,

Tamil Nadu, India

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez
Amazon Kindle Author
 119

This book ‘The Travels of Hazrat Tamim Ansari

Chennai’ and this is a new book and which is published
in the year 2023 in the English language. Please note it is
a biography book about the holy companion of the holy
last prophet of Allah.
This is a small book in which the biographies of holy
saint is added and in this book there are some great
achievements of this great holy saint of Chennai region,
which is not yet known to the general, persons and other
persons are published in a very interesting style so for this
reason the readers will find great interest and attention in
this matter.
From the above facts and details, if the readers will
starts reading this book’s first chapter and will not stop its
reading till they will reach its last chapter as in this book
some interesting events and as well as other great
miracles and endeavours of holy saint are added and this
holy saint was passed away from the world many
centuries years ago.
Even though this is small book but due to its
importance it is so great due to coverage of many
interesting events and positive information in it so it is
like an ocean of knowledge and information of the holy
 120

saint and who was passed away from the world upon
doing his great endeavours and many hard tasks for the
preaching and propagation work of Islam in the foreign
lands so this book is small, one but it will present the
ocean of knowledge and information for the guidance of
people towards the right path of Islam. This book is
edited and formatted as per the great book ‘Muslim
saints and Mystics‘ (Tadhkirtal al-Awliya by Farid al din
Attar) which is very famous in the Western world among
the English knowing persons. So for this reason there will
be some small differences in it while comparing with the
Urdu books and its literature. The aim of this book is to
present in the Western world where there is great search
and demand of the books of Sufism and biographies of
holy saints who lived and spent their entire lives for the
preaching and propagation of Islamic religion in all
corners of the world as per tradition and practice of
Allah’s last prophet.
To write about these great saint of the Chennai region
is not only it is difficult and but it is very hard task as he
was not only great pious personalities of his time in
Chennai region but he was also a great companion of
the last prophet of Allah in the Chennai area and due to
presence of his personality after his death and due to
presence of his dead body and which was a major cause
for the preaching and propagation of Islam in Chennai
 121

region many centuries ago, so in brief he was a great

Muslim saints in the region and who did many great
endeavours for the preaching and propagation of Islam in
South India and around it and there was no such
personality during their time.

Born Medina, Arabia

Mausoleum of Hazrat Tameem Al Ansari, Kovalam,

Burial
Tamil Nadu, India

Full name
 122

Tamim ibn Zayd Al Ansari

Tribe Bani Maran ibn al-Najjar

Father Zayd ibn Asim al-Ansari

Tamim ibn Zayd al-Ansari (Arabic: ‫تميم بن زيد‬

‫ )األنصاري‬was a Muslim saint whose Dargah (shrine) is
located in Kovalam, Tamil Nadu, India which is 59 km
from Chennai. Al-Ansari was born in the city of Medina,
Saudi Arabia and is a Sahabi (companion of the Islamic
prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Dargah
has an area of 3 acres (12,000 m).
The first Thursday after the first full moon of each
month is a day of devotion. Though the Dargah is open
from 5 A.M. to 10 P.M., and some devotees spend the
night there. Sahaba (companion ) was said to be
companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him). But Hazrath Tamim Ansari was buried by Arcot
Nawab Muhammed Saadatullah Khan in around 180
Hegira.
 123

Biography
Name
His name is Tamim Ansari and his father’s name is
Ahmed Ansari and his mother’s name is Rabia and in this
magazine have mentioned many of his details of millions
of characters and conducts as well as his endeavours and
 124

miracles are available in it. He was a famous companion

of the last prophet of Allah. He was a resident of Madina
city in the country of the Saudi Arabia.
The reporters of right sayings and informers of the
newspaper of the truth have been informed in this matter
that once Hazrat Umar bin Qattab was sitting in the grand
of the mosque of the prophet in Madina after the morning
prayer of Fajr along with his friends and companions and
suddenly at that time one woman in veil was arriving
there and she was asked about the Hazrat Umar bin
Qattab and the people have pointed towards him. That
woman told him that “Oh the ruler of the Muslims my
husband is absconding since three and a half years and his
where about are not known and till now it is not known
the news about his life and death. So I am facing great
problems to bring up the children in this matter, so I
request you to kindly allow me to re-marry with some
other person.” The caliph of the last prophet, Allah has
asked her “Who was his husband ?, and how he was
vanished away from Madina.?” That woman told that
“My husband’s name is Tamin Ansari and he was
vanished away from the house since three and half years
suddenly and she has been searching him since for three
and half years and but still she could not able to get his
news and where about in this matter.” The caliph of the
prophet told her that, “ She has not given permission in
 125

this matter till the four years will not be over and during
this period your husband may come back or there will be
any news on this matter from any side.” The woman
began crying and wept very much and she has requested,
“ Oh caliph of the Muslims how she will maintain and
bring up the children of Tamim Ansari and she is poor
and helpless and she did not have any Dirham with her so
how she will pass the period of the four years.?” The
caliph of the Muslims told her that, “ You do not worry
for the expenses of the bringing up of the children as she
will be given money from the Baital Mall (public
treasury) as per the requirement in this matter. So go and
take care of the children and in reality Allah will solve all
problems of the men.”
In short, that woman was returned back to her home
in happy condition and she has spent a period of four
years in waiting of the husband in her house. After the
end of the four years she goes to see the caliph of the
prophet again and she said “ Oh caliph of the Muslims
now four years have been completed and now give her
permission to re-marry and he told her that she should
complete further more four months and come back and
see him.
At last this period was also have been ended and
during this period also his husband ‘s where about and
news were not found by her. So she went into the
 126

presence of the caliph of the Muslims and she said “Oh

caliph of the last prophet that now she could not have
patience in this matter. And at that time some persons
were present there. The caliph told in the loud voice “ Is
anybody is there who can marry this woman.?” So one
person among them was standing and he said he can
marry with her woman. At that time the caliph of the
prophet married that woman with the man there. Then
that woman and husband along with children were began
living in the happy condition.
For more details please find link of free e book as
follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/654472132/The-
Travels-of-Hazrat-Tamim-Ansari-Chennai-
India#:~:text=The%20document%20discusses%20the
%20biography,by%20devotees%20at%20the%20site.
 127

5. Gulzar Auliya (The Garden of Saints)

By Hazrat Abdalla Shah Sahib Muhaddith Deccan in the

Urdu

Translated into English by

Mohammed Abdul Hafeez
Book link as follows
https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/detail/gulzar-e-auliya-
ebook
 128

Contents
Preface ……… ... 05
Author’s brief biography… ………………………… 07
1/2. Syedna Abu Baker ......... ............................. 14
3.SalmanFarsi………………………………………….15
4. Imam Qasim bin Mohammed ………...…………..16
5. Imam Jafar Sadiq…………………………………….17
6. Bayazid Bustami ………….………………………18
7. Shaikh Abul Hasan Qarqani … 19
8. Abul Qasim Jurjani ………...……………………21
9. Shaikh Abu Ali Farmadi ………..…………………22
10.Shaikh Khaja Yousuf Hamdani ………...…………23
11.KhajaAbdulKhaliqJhajgan…………………………24
12.Khaja Arif Reokari..…………….……………… .27
13.Khaja Mahmood Anjir Fagnavi… … 28
14.khaja Azizan Ramati………………………………29
15.Khaja Mohamed BabaSamasi……………………....31
16.Khaja Syed Amir Kalal ………….…………………31
17.Khaja Bahauddin Naqshband……………………… 32
18.Khaja Alauddin.……………………………….. 34
19.Moulana Khaja Yaqu Charqi.....………….………. 38
20.Khaja Obeid Allah ahrar…………………………… 39
21.Khaja Mohamed sharafuddin Zahed ………...… 43
22.Khaja Mohammed Darwesh……………………… 44
23.Maulana Khajgai Mohamed Amakgni...................... 44
24.Khaja Mohamed Baqi Billah ………..……………45
 129

25.Imam Rabbani Mujadid Alif Thani……………… 48

26.Khaja Mohamed Masoom……………………… 51
27.Moulana Shaikh Saifuddin……………………..… 53
28.Shaikh Hafiz Mohamed Mohsin ……………….… 55
29.Moulana Syed Noor Mohamed Badayuni………… 55
30.Mirza Mazher Jane Jana…………….…………..…57
31.Ghulam Ali Shah Dehlavi…………..…………...… 64
32. Shah Saeed Ali Sahib……………………………...71
33. Syed Badasha Sahib Bukhari………………………78
Preface
This book is very old and which was written and
published in the year 1334 Hijri in Urdu language. It
means it was published one hundred years ago by Hazrat
Abul Hasnat Syed Abdullah Shah of Hyderabad.
This is a small book in which there are brief
biographies of 33 holy Sufi saints are added and also in
this book there are some great achievements which are
not yet known to the general persons are published in a
very interesting style so for this reason the readers will
find great interest and attention in this matter.
From the above facts and details, if the readers will
starts reading this book’s first chapter and will not stop its
reading till they will reach its last chapter as in this book
some interesting events and as well as other great
miracles and endeavours of holy saints are added and
these holy saints have passed away from the world some
100 years ago.
 130

Even though this is small book but due to its

importance it is so great due to coverage of many
interesting events and positive information in it so it is
like an ocean of knowledge and information of holy saints
and they have passed away from the world upon doing
their great endeavours and many hard tasks for the
preaching and propagation work of Islam in the foreign
lands so this book is small one but it will present the
ocean of knowledge and information for the guidance of
people towards the right path of Islam.
This book is edited and formatted as per the great book
‘Muslim saints and Mystics‘ (Tadhkirtal Auliya by Farid
al din Attar) which is very famous in the Western world
among the English knowing persons. So for this reason
there will be some small differences in it while
comparing with the Urdu books and its literature. The
aim of this book is to present in the Western world where
there is great search and demand of the books of Sufism
and biographies of holy saints who lived and spent their
entire lives for the preaching and propagation of Islamic
religion in all corners of the world as per tradition and
practice of Allah’s last prophet.
In the last pages of this book, author’s brief biography
and a picture of his mausoleum in Hyderabad is added for
the reader's kind perusal.
To write about this great author is not only it is difficult
and but it is very hard task as he was not only a great
 131

pious personality of his time in Hyderabad but he was

also a great author of so many books so in brief he was
Qu’tub (highest cadre in spiritual pivot at axis) of his time
in Hyderabad region and who did many great endeavours
for the preaching and propagation of Islam in Hyderabad
and around it and there was no such personality during
his time.
It was my great honour and pleasure to visit him along
with my family members and relatives in Hussaini Alam
mosque Hyderabad
when I was in my childhood period.

Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.

Translator ‘ Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(Tadhikaratal Awliya ).
Email : [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------
 132

6. 22 Khajas of Delhi

Translated by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.

Translator ‘ Muslim Saints and Mystics’ (The Tadhkirah
al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar Hyderabad, India

Preface

It is proud for Delhi to be a house of holy persons as well

as fakirs persons.Many thousand well-known and famous
personalities of connection and permission people of
Allah who are taking resting in the condition of sweet
sleep in their final resting places. In this book there are
added life details of 22 holy persons of Allah. And who
can be called the Qutub of their time? And spiritual
master of their period. And for this reason, Delhi is
sometimes called the "22 Khwajas' abode" (Dehleez)
because 22 Sufi saints, or Khwajas, are buried there. The
name "Dehli" is associated with "Dehleez.". Qutub of
 133

Qutub Hazrat Khaja Qutub Uddin Bakhatiar Kaki, as per

order of his spiritual master Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin
Chisti, was settled down in Delhi. The spiritual
foundation of the kingdom which he has laid down in
Delhi, and its signs are still seen till today. The earth, time
conditions and events that could not end this kingdom in
this matter. The rules and regulations on which this
kingdom laid the foundation and those rules that
guaranteed human welfare. Among those holy persons
who became much famous and well known, some were
called Qutub al-Aqtab, others as Mahbook Ilahi, Chiragh
Delhawi, Mutwakil, Baqi Billah, Fina Fillah, Muhib Nabi,
Maqdum, and some became Allama (scholars).
3 From those holy persons there were started Sufi chains
that were found in India and Pakistan and faraway
countries, as well as in their cities and villages. In this
book, there are added in a more brief way life details of
22 holy persons of Delhi and details of biography, strange
events, and stories rare usages, leaving of luxurious life,
revelation and daily recitals, Wazifs ( Allah has
mentioned in many places in the Qur’aan the recitals
(Wazifas) of many prophets at the time of their
difficulties. Such recitals are significant and beneficial in
removing one from similar difficulties and programs,
sayings, revelations and miracles, endeavors, and worship
details, which were added in this book. This book is the
first presentation of its new category of the holy persons
in brief way in this matter. If this book will be accepted
 134

about 22 holy persons, then it will be a matter of pride for

me. In this book there are added life details of 22 holy
persons of Allah. And who can be called the Qutub (Qutb,
Qutub, Kutb, Kutub or Kotb (Arabic: ‫ )قطب‬means 'axis',
'pivot' or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and
be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In
Sufism, a Qutb is the perfect human being, alInsān al-
Kāmil ('The Universal Man'), who leads the saintly
hierarchy of their time, spiritual master of their period.
And for this reason, Delhi is sometimes called the "22
Khwajas' abode" (Dehleez) because 22 Sufi saints, or
Khwajas, are
4 buried there. The name "Dehli" is associated with
"Dehleez.". Qutub of Qutubs Hazrat Khaja Qutub Uddin
Bakhtiar Kaki, as per the order of his spiritual master
Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin Chisti, was settled down in
Delhi. The foundation of spirituality of the kingdom,
whom he has laid down in Delhi, and its signs are still
seen today. The earthtime conditions and events that
could not end this kingdom in this matter. The rules and
regulations on which this kingdom laid the foundation and
those rules that guaranteed human welfare. Among those
holy persons who became much famous and well known,
some were called Qutub al-Aqtab, others as Mahboob
Ilahi, Chiragh Delhi, Mutwakil, Baqi Billah, Fina Fillah,
Muhib Nabi, Maqdum, and some became Allama. From
those holy persons there were started Sufi chains that
 135

were found in India and Pakistan and faraway countries,

as well as in their cities and villages. In this book, there
are added in a more brief way life details of 22 holy
persons and details of their biography, strange events, and
stories rare usages, living of simple and ordinary life,
revelation and daily recital programs, sayings, revelation
and miracles, endeavors, and worship details, which were
added in this book. The Urdu version of this book was
first written by Zahur AlHasan Sharib in the year May
1964, and its English version is translated by me
(Mohammad Abdul Hafeez, Amazon
5 Kindle author) in the English language in the year
August 2024. This book is the first presentation of its new
category in this matter. If this book is accepted, then it
will be a matter of pride for both authors.
Preface of the English version
The Urdu version of this book was first written and
published by Zahur Al-Hasan Sharib in the year May
1964, and the English version is translated by me
(Mohammad Abdul Hafeez, Amazon Kindle author) in
the English language in the year August 2024.

6
 136

7
Contents i
Preface…………………………………………… . . 02 1.
Hazrat Qutubuddin Bhakhtiyar Kaki………… …. . 18 2.
Qazi Hameeduddin Nagori… …………………….. 80 3.
Shaikh Baderuddin Ghaznavi…………… 91 4.
Shaik Shaik Najibuddin Mutwakil…………………. 100
5. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
110 6.Hazrat Nasiruddin Mahmood Chiragh Dehlavi
146 7.Hazrat Amir Khusro
156 8 Moulana Hazrat Shams Uddin Mohammed Yahia
164 9.Moulana Alauddin Neli Chisti……………………
172 10.Khaja Mohiuddin
Kashani…………………………177 11. Hazrat Khaja
Kamaluddin 182 12.Hazrat
Maqdum Samiuddin Suherwardi Dehlavi 186 13.
Hazrat Khawaja Baqi Billah 194
14. Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhadhis Dehlvi
202 15.Shah Kalim Allah
Shahjehanbadi……………… ...210 16. Hazrat Moulana
Fakheruddin Fakher Jahan…… .219 17. Mirza Jana Jan
Mazhar Shaheed…………………..228 18.Hazrat Shah
Wali Allah Muhidth Dehlavi 235 19. Hazrat
Shah Mohammed Farhad Dehlavi 242 20.
Hazrat Shah Muhahid Abdul Aziz Dehlavi 245
21. Hazrat Shah Mohammed Afaq Dehlavi
 137

257 22. Hazrat Shah Abu Saeed Dehlavi

262
Books website link is as follows :
https://archive.org/details/22-holy-saints-of-delhi-2-
3_20241116/22%20Holy%20Saints%20of%20Delhi
%202%20%283%29?
-------------------------------

7.My 4 old Tadhkira books which belongs and famous

to 3 cities of Maharastra State and in India.

The Taj Mahal in Agra

 138

1. Biography of Haji Malang and Haji Ali in

Mumbai
Book link is as follows.
Biography Hazrat Haji Malang Kaliyan and ...

Scribd
https://www.scribd.com › document › Biography-Hazra...

1. Biography Hazrat Haji Malang Kalyan and Hazrat

Haji. Ali Mumbai. The mausoleum of Hazrat Haji
Ali Mumbai. Translated by. Mohammed Abdul Hafeez,
B.Com.

2.Biography of Gulshan-Sadiq in Pune link as

follows.
Refrence book
https://www.scribd.com/document/732763334/
Gulshan-Sadiq
 139

The devotion of Princess Mumtaz Mahal

One time there was a banquet of the Prince

Qurram in the house of the Shah Gushan Sadiq
Sahib in Pune when he was working as royal
governor of Mughal Kingdom in the Deccan.
Many kinds of the dishes were spread on the
eating cloth. There were displayed 100 dishes
of Chinaware (China ware, which is the
modern popular term for porcelain), and among
them, 20 dishes were presented for Princess
Mumtaz Mahal’s noble women and royal
 140

servants, ladies, and other concerned personnel

on the eating cloth of the Shah Sahib. And
other 80 dishes were sent along with the royal
princess to the place of the residence. And with
all royal employees and army personnel eat to
full of their stomach. Then at that time,
Princess Mumtaz Mahal told to Prince Qurram
that “His highness you used to say always in
the capital Akbarabad that we used to eat the
food which is not available to anybody. Now,
pay some attention to the food of the Shah
Sahib in which there is a miracle that the food
is always hot, tasty as well as fresh.” It is
written that there were many degrees of the
devotion with Shah Sahib that to Prince
Qurram and Princess Mumtaz Mahal so for that
wife of Qurram Princess Mumtaz Mahal
requested with Hazrat that “Till she will be live
in your city so after your eating of the food to
send remaining bread pieces to her from your
eating cloth and which will be the cause of
blessing and felicity for us ”
-----------------------------------------------
Refrence book ;
https://www.scribd.com/document/732763334/
Gulshan-Sadiq

---------------------------------------------------
 141

3. Biography of Baba Tajuddin Nagpur

Link of the book as follows.
https://www.scribd.com/document/563112712/
Biography-of-Hazrat-Baba-Tajuddin-Nagpur

In Nagpur biography of Tajuddin Baba which is famous

as well as its review is as follows.
Top reviews from India
Srinin
5.0 out of 5 stars
For book Baba Tajuddin by Mohammed Abdul Hafeez
on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.in/Biography-Hazrat-Baba-
Tajuddin-Nagpur-ebook/dp/B01LFEKEGO
 142

A book for all spiritual seekers

Reviewed in India on 21 June 2020

This is a valuable book with rare and interesting details

from the life of the amazing and one of the greatest Sufi
Saints Tajuddin Baba, who spent most of his life in
Nagpur, in the pre independent India.
 143

I had come across the name of this Saint in the life history
of Shirdi Sai Baba written by Master E. Bharadvaja. It is
reported there that once Shirdi Baba confused his
disciples by mysteriously drumming on a water pot with
his satka (a short stick he used to carry with him). He
explained his action by saying, that he is extinguishing the
fire which caught the hut of Taj uddin Baba in Nagpur.
Taj uddin Baba on the other hand refused to accept a
wealthy visitor called Bapu Saheb Buty as his disciple. He
asked him to seek his salvation from Shirdi Baba. Both
the saints were in communion with each other on the
spiritual plane!
Then I was fortunate enough to read the short biography
of Tajuddin Baba written by the same author Master
Bharadvaja, which impressed me immensely. The
drawback of this short although very valuable biography
was that facts and details mentioned in it are not complete
or not explained in a logical sequence. Which leads to a
feeling of dissatisfaction. Still the reader gets an idea of
the overwhelming spiritual power and universal love of
Taj uddin. But it kindled my interest to know more about
this saint.
This made me always to be in search of a complete
biography of the saint with more details. As I by chance
discovered the Work of Mohammed Abdul Hafeez I was
thrilled and I ordered it immediately and am now a happy
possessor of this book.
 144

Many important details from the life of this Sufi Saint,

which were like missing links, I could gather from this
book:

1. About the ancestry of the saint.

2. His childhood and transition from the worldly life to
that of godliness; the important incidents which took
place and worked as catalysers on the way to his
perfection.
3. His relation with the Maharaja of Nagpur and other
members of the aristocracy.
4. An exhaustive account of his relationship with the
Hindu-disciples and followers.
India is a country of spirituality. Many of its spiritual
masters have transcended the narrow limits of religion,
preached and practiced universal humanism. It hardly
mattered for them to which religion their visitors
belonged– they were helped without any discrimination,
because only their merit mattered not their cast or creed.
Swami Veerabhrahmendra’s chief disciple was a Muslim
named Sayyed. Shirdi Baba lived in a mosque and was
equally worshipped by Muslims and Hindus likewise. Taj
uddin Baba was not different in this matter.
As Abdul Hafeez writes in this book about a Hindu-
disciple, Venkat Rao, who worked as a Railway guard.
People observed him sitting near Tajuddin, although he
should have left that place and left Nagpur in a train
leaving for Bombay. His job demanded this. But Venkat
 145

Rao does not leave that place, because he is completely

engrossed in the presence of the Baba. To the surprise of
the other people he was also seen at the same time leaving
in that train, which left for Bombay!
Western Occultism calls this phenomenon “bilocation” –
a miracle shown many times by Tajuddin Baba on
account of his supernatural powers. But the narration of
Hafeez leaves one question open: Did the Saint appear in
the form of Venkat Rao in the train? Or did he transfer
this supernatural power to his disciple so that he could
appear at two places at the same time? Spiritual masters
are capable of doing both the things.
A very interesting part of this book is that it gives a
glimpse into the Muslim or Sufi occultism (see page 81)
and tries to explain how miracles happen. This theme
requires to be elaborated if the author is planning a second
edition.
From the point of view of modern Indian history this book
is of immense importance. Yoga and mysticism have been
not yet fully recognized driving forces behind the Indian
freedom struggle.
The chapter called “Gandhi and Ali Brothers” depicts
Gandhis taking the audience of Taj uddin Baba and the
Baba making two predictions – one for Gandhi and
another one for the Ali Brothers. Both of them turn out to
be true! I request the author to elaborate this chapter with
more details and photos if possible. That would increase
the value of this book hundredfold!
 146

There are certain short comings in regard to the language.

English is a foreign language. It is not always easy to
chose the right preposition or the helping verb. In spite of
this the reader sees the godly figure of the saint Tajuddin
Baba shining behind the linguistic barbed fence of a
foreign language.
This is a book to be recommended for all those who are
interested in mysticism, universal love which overcomes
the narrow limits of religions and for the spiritual seekers.

Dr. Vanamali Gunturu

------------------------------------
By
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator ‘ Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid al-Din Attar)
------------------------------------------------

https://www.scribd.com/document/932888444/My-4-
Books-Which-Are-Famous-in-3-Cities-of-Maharastra
 147

8. Tazkira Mashaikh-e-Banaras

Mausoleum of Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin C

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator: ‘Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya by Farid Eldin Attar
 148

Hyderabad, India

Contents
1. Author’s
introduction……………………………………....….….o6
2.Preface………………….,,…………………………...36
3.Tazkara Mashaikh-e-Banaras…..….………….... …38

Preface

In this book translation of biographical details of the Urdu

edition of the book, Tazkira Mashaikh-e-Banaras are
added by me upon its translation into the English edition
and this book is well known and famous book which is
written by Abdus Salam Nomani and who wrote this book
in the Urdu language and which was translated into
English language by me.
These details have been translated by me into English
language from the above old book of the Urdu language
and in which there are available some great achievements,
as well as the commands and teaching of the students of
the mystic way by Muslim saints of Banaras in the area of
the Banaras and which are not yet known to the general
 149

and special persons, are added in this book and which are
available in a very interesting style so for this reason, the
readers will find great interest and attention in this matter.
And for the above Urdu’s book is given title is given as
Tazkira Mashaikh-e-Banaras and the same title“ Takira
Mashaikh-e- Banaras” I have given the same above title
for my translated book’s English edition.
Due to the above facts and details, if the readers will
start reading its first page of the book and will not stop
reading till they will reach this book’s last page as some
interesting events and as well as other great miracles and
endeavours of Muslim saints of Banaras is added in this
book and these holy saints who were passed away from
the world many centuries and years ago.
Even though this is a small book, but due to its
importance, it is so great due to the coverage of many
interesting events and positive information so it is like an
ocean of knowledge and information of Tazkira
Mashaikh-e-Banaras who was passed away from the
world upon doing his great endeavours and many hard
tasks for the teaching and propagation of the Islamic
religion and the work of Islam and which they have done
in the area of Banaras so this book is a great book and it
will present the ocean of knowledge for the guidance of
people towards the right path of Islam.

To write about these great saints and great spiritual

masters is not only it is difficult and but it is a very hard
 150

task. In Tazkira Mashaikh-e-Banaras in which there were

not only added biographies of great pious personalities of
their time in the area of Banaras and who was also a great
and famous spiritual master so, in brief, they were great
holy persons of Allah of their time in the Banaras region.
For a long time, they were engaged in religious
discourses, sermons, and spiritual training of the people
and they did also many great endeavours for the
preaching and propagation work of Islam in Banaras and
around this region and also there was no such personality
during his time in the world.

As this book of the biographies of the holy saints is very

short in length so for this reason, the translator’s
biography is added as per the requirement of the length of
pages of the book.

Link of the book is as follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/847464003/Tazkira-
Mashaikh-e-Banaras
 151

9. TAZKARA AULIYA JHANSI

Mausoleum of Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin Chisti

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.
Translator ‘ Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid al-Din Attar
 152

Preface

In this book translation of biographical details of the

Urdu edition of the book Tazkara Aylia Jhansi is added
by me upon its translation into the English edition and this
book is well known and famous book which is written by
Mohammed Farooq and who wrote this book in the Urdu
language and which was translated into English language
by me.
These details have been translated by me into English
language from the above old book of the Urdu language
and in which there are available some great achievements,
as well as the commands and teaching of the students of
the mystic way by Muslim saints of Jhansi in the area of
the Jhansi and which are not yet known to the general and
special persons, are added in this book and which are
available in a very interesting style so for this reason, the
readers will find great interest and attention in this matter.
And for the above Urdu’s book is given title is given
as Tazkara Aylia Jhansi and the same title“ Takara
Auliya Jhansi” I have given for my translated book’s
English edition.
Due to the above facts and details, if the readers will
start reading its first page of the book and will not stop
reading till they will reach this book’s last page as some
interesting events and as well as other great miracles and
endeavours of Muslim saints of Jhansi is added in this
 153

book and these holy saints who were passed away from
the world many centuries and years ago.
Even though this is a small book, but due to its
importance, it is so great due to the coverage of many
interesting events and positive information so it is like an
ocean of knowledge and information of Tazkara
Auliya Jhansi who was passed away from the world upon
doing his great endeavours and many hard tasks for the
teaching and propagation of the Islamic religion and the
work of Islam and which they have done in the area of
Jhansi so this book is a great book and it will present the
ocean of knowledge for the guidance of people towards
the right path of Islam.

To write about these great saints and great spiritual

masters is not only it is difficult and but it is a very hard
task. In Tazkara Auliya Jhansi in which there were not
only added biographies great pious personalities of their
time in the area of Jhansi and who were also a great and
famous spiritual master so, in brief, they were great holy
persons of Allah of their time in the Jhansi region.
For a long time, they were engaged in religious
discourses, sermons, and spiritual training of the people
and they did also many great endeavours for the
preaching and propagation work of Islam in Jhansi and
around this region and also there was no such personality
during his time in the world.
.
 154

As this book of the biographies of the holy saints is

very short in length so for this reason, the translator’s
biography is added as per the requirement of the length of
pages of the book.

Contents
1. Author’s
introduction………………………………………………..
..…….o6
2.Preface………………….…….………………………..
…………………………...36
3. Tazkara Auliya Jhansi……..……………..
……………….…………………38
4. Sheikh Shibuddin Suherwardi………..
…………………………………..44
5.Hazrat Shaikh Bahuddin Naqshaband……………..
………………….48
6.Hazrat Shaikh Maqdum Bhauddin Zikeria
Multani……..…..54
 155

7. Maqdum Hazrat Shaik Saderuddin

Mohammed………………57
8. Hazrat Maqdum Jahaniyan
Jahangasht…………………………….58
9. Hazrat Shaikh Najamuddin
Ibrahim………………………………….60
10.Maqdum Shaikh Minhajuddin Haji
Harmain……………………..62
11.Hazrat Shah Madar Makanpuri………………….
……………………..65
12. Hazrat Mir Syed Mohammed Makai………………..
………………65
13. Hazrat Shaban Al-
Millat…………………………………………………67
14. Maqdum Shaikh Taqi…………………..………….
……………………….83
15.Hazrat Maqdum Shah Moin Al-Haq………….
……..………… .88
16. Hazrat Maqdum Syed Tajuddin……………..
…………………,,,,..93
Link of the book is as follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/444295748/Tazkara-
Auliya-Jhansi
 156

10.Tazkira Mashaik-e-Bihar

Tomb of Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin Chisti

Translated by
Mohammed abdul Hafeez
Email [email protected]
 157

Preface

In this book translation of biographical details of

the Urdu edition of the book, Tazkira Mashaikh-e-Bihar is
added by me upon its translation into the English edition
and this book is well known and famous book which is
written by Mohammed Tayyeb Abdali and who wrote this
book in the Urdu language and which was translated into
English language by me.
These details have been translated by me into the
English language from the above old book of the Urdu
language and in which there are available some great
achievements, as well as the commands and teaching of
the students of the mystic way by Muslim saints of
Banaras in the area of the Bihar and which are not yet
known to the general and special persons, are added in
this book and which are available in a very interesting
style so for this reason, the readers will find great interest
and attention in this matter. And for the above Urdu’s
book is given title is given as Tazkira-Bihar and the same
title“ Takira Mashaikh-e- Bihar” I have given the same
above title for my translated book’s English edition.
Due to the above facts and details, if the readers will
start reading its first page of the book and will not stop
reading till they will reach this book’s last page as some
 158

interesting events and as well as other great miracles and

endeavours of Muslim saints of Bihar is added in this
book and these holy saints who were passed away from
the world many centuries and years ago.
Even though this is a small book, but due to its
importance, it is so great due to the coverage of many
interesting events and positive information so it is like an
ocean of knowledge and information of Tazkira
Mashaikh-e-Bihar who was passed away from the world
upon doing his great endeavours and many hard tasks for
the teaching and propagation of the Islamic religion and
the work of Islam and which they have done in the area of
Banaras so this book is a great book and it will present the
ocean of knowledge for the guidance of people towards
the right path of the Islam.

To write about these great saints and great spiritual

masters is not only it is difficult and but it is a very hard
task. In Tazkira Mashaikh-e-Bihar in which there were
not only added biographies of great pious personalities of
their time in the area of Bihar and who was also a great
and famous spiritual master so, in brief, they were great
holy persons of Allah of their time in the Bihar region.
For a long time, they were engaged in religious
discourses, sermons, and spiritual training of the people
and they did also many great endeavours for the
preaching and propagation work of Islam in Banaras and
 159

around this region and also there was no such personality

during his time in the world.

As this book of the biographies of the holy saints is

very short in length so for this reason, the translator’s
biography is added as per the requirement of the length of
pages of the book.

The link of the book is as follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/451905111/Tazkira-
Mashaikh-e-Bihar

12. Maktubat Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billah

Contents
i.Author’introduction………………..………………….o6
2.Preface………………….…….…………………… .33
1.Maktubat Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billah……….
……….36

In the praise of Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billah

Oh Shah Baqhi you are famous king of the world

And your name and status is well known everywhere
Hafeez is your devotee, so help him in this project
 160

So that his book can shine in the world with success

O Shah does not ignore Hafeez as he is in the need
So that this book project may successful in the world
O Shah Baqi still your teachings are like shining starts
When the English edition will publish so it can shine
And will become a light of guidance to the dark world
Those who read book then they can know knowledge
The Shah's chain is fine and so it is working with success
If you want success so can see the Shah Baqhi’s sayings
So Hafeez request with Khwaja Sahib for success of book
So that in the globe this book can show the right way

By Mohammed Abdul Hafeez ,

email [email protected]

Preface
In this book translation of episodes from the Urdu
edition of the book Maktubat Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billah
which is written by the Qazi, Alimuddin is added by me
upon its translation from Urdu into the English and this
book is well known and famous in the Urdu and Persian
language. These episodes have been taken from the above
old book of Delhi region and in which there are available
some great achievements of Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billah in
the area of the Delhi, which are not yet known to the
general and special persons and which are added in this
book and which are available in a very interesting style so
 161

for this reason, the readers will find great interest and
attention in this matter. Due to the above facts and details,
if the readers will start treading its first page of the book
and will not stop reading till they will reach this book’s
last page as some interesting events and as well as other
great miracles and endeavours of holy saint is added in
this book and this holy saint was passed away from the
world many centuries and years ago.
Even though this is a small book, but due to its
importance it is so great due to the coverage of many
interesting events and positive information so it is like an
ocean of knowledge and information of Khwaja
Baqibillah who was passed away from the world upon
doing his great endeavours and many hard tasks for the
teaching and propagation of the Islamic religion and this
work of Islam, he was done in the Delhi area so this book
is a great book and it will present the ocean of knowledge
for the guidance of people towards the right path of Islam.
To write about this great Sufi saint and great spiritual
master is not only it is difficult and but it is a very hard
task as Khwaja Baqi Billah was not only a great pious
personality of his time in the area of the Delhi but he was
also a great and famous spiritual master so, in brief, he
was Qutub (highest cadre in spiritual pivot at axis) of his
time in the Delhi region. For a long time, he was
engaged in religious discourses, sermons, and spiritual
training of the people and he did also many great
endeavours for the preaching and propagation work of
 162

Islam in Delhi religion and around this region and there

was no such personality during his time. The brief
biography of Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billah, the anniversary
is on 25 Jamadi us Sani, His name was Razi-Uddin ‘Abul
Mowayyad ‘Abdul Baqi bin ‘Abdus Salam of
Badakhshan. Popularly known as Khwaja Baqi Billah of
Kabul, he had migrated to Delhi and was a profound sage
presenting the picture of the Quranic verse: “We have not
created the jinn and man save for Our worship”.
Excelling in devotion, piety and holy endeavour,he was
the very crucible of devotion to God emitting the
brilliance of love divine. Born about 971-72 Hegira at
Kabul-, he took Maulana Muhammad Sadiq Halwa’i as
his teacher and accompanied him in his tour to
Transoxania. There he set his heart on betaking the path
of spirit and terminated his education to call upon the
mystic Shaikhs of the area. First of all, he enlisted himself
as a disciple of Shaikh Khwaja Ubaid, a spiritual
successor to Maulana Lutf Ullah. Aspiring to attain the
highest reaches of divine truth, he took Shaikh Iflikhar
and then Amir Abdullah of Balakh as his spiritual guides
but was not satisfied till he was drawn in a mysterious
manner to Khwaja Baha’uddin Naqshband, who created
in him an inclination to follow the path of mysticism
requiring strict observance of the holy law. After some
time he came to Kashmir and met Shaikh Baba Kubrawi
in whose company he acquired excellence and perfection
of spirit. It is reported that during this period of his
 163

complete absorption in God, the unveiling of a stage that

the mystics call fans, or extinction was experienced by
him. Khwaja Baqi Billah again took to scouring the
country for another spiritual mentor after the death of
Shaikh Baba Kubrawi. During his travels, he had a vision
of Khwaja‘Ubaid Ullah Ahrar from whom he learned the
secrets of the Naqshbandiyah order. There after Khwaja
Baqi Billah took the road to the region of Transoxania
where he was granted leave by Shaikh Muhammad
Amkanki to practice the Naqshbandiyah discipline and
also to enlist disciples in that order only after three days’
stay with him. Khwaja Baqi Billah returned to India,
stayed for a year at Lahore where he met the scholars of
the town, then he came down to Delhi and took up
residence in the fort of Feroz Shah. The fort had, in those
days, a spacious mosque and a wide canal running beside
it. Khwaja Baqi Billah continued to live at this place until
the end of his life’s journey. Being inflamed with the love
of God, Khwaja Baqi Billah often gave way to transports
of ecstatic raptures but he always tried to conceal his
spiritual excellence from others owing to his
temperamental modesty.The Funeral of Khwaja
Baqibillah one of the mureeds (disciples) of Khwaja
Baqibillah, may God sanctify his secrets, asked him the
meanings of the Sufi terms ‘fana’ [annihilation in God]
and ‘baqa’ [Everlasting subsistence in God]. The Shaykh
said, "When I die, ask this question to the person who
prays my funeral prayer."The Shaykh had left a condition
 164

that only a person who has never missed a single tahajjud

prayer (supererogatory prayer in the middle of the night in
addition to the five canonical prayers a Muslim must
perform in a day) in his life should pray my funeral prayer
(Namaz-e-Janazah) and when this condition was prayed
out during his funeral everyone present lowered their
heads and no one dared to come forward to read his
Namaz-e-Janazah. Finally a man, his face veiled, came
forward and prayed the funeral prayer. After the prayer as
the veiled man walked off the mureed remembered his
Shaykh's answer and ran to the veiled man and grabbed
him by the arm. "My Shaykh asked me to ask you a
question about what is fana and baqa'" he said. At this, the
veiled man removed the veil from his face. It was Khwaja
Baqibillah himself! "The man whose funeral prayer you
have just prayed is fana", he said, "And what you see
before you is Baqa!"

The link of the book is as follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/440713412/Maktubat-
Khwaja-Baqi-Billah

13. Baher-E-Rahmat’
 165

This book ‘Baher-E-Rahmat’ is very old and which is written

by Syed Abu Saeed Wala in Persian and translated from
Persian into Urdu language by Sheikh Mohammed Abdul
Gafoor Quaderi Rehamatabadi and who is working in Jamia
Nizamia Hyderabad as deputy head of the department of
Arabic language. He published this book in the 2001 A.D. It
means it was published some 17 years ago in Hyderabad in the
Urdu language. Please note it is a biography of Hazrat Syed
Khwaja Rahmatullah (R.A.) (Naib-e-Rasool) Rahmatabad
Sharif.
This is a small book in which there is a biography of Khwaja
Syed Rahmatullah of Rahmatabad Sharif is added and in this
book there are some great achievements of this great Sheikh of
Deccan (South India) which are not yet known to the genera,
persons and other persons are published in a very interesting
style so for this reason the readers will find great interest and
attention in this matter. Hazrat Khwaja Syed Rahmatullah and
who is also known as Naib-E-Rasool (deputy of Allah’s last
prophet).
From the above facts and details, if the readers will starts
reading this book’s first chapter and will not stop its reading till
they will reach its last chapter as in this book some interesting
events and as well as other great miracles and endeavours of
holy saint are added and this holy saint who was passed away
from the world some 232 years ago.
Even though this is a small book, but due to its importance it
is so great due to coverage of many interesting events and
positive information in it so it is like an ocean of knowledge
and information about holy saint and who was passed away
 166

from the world upon doing his great endeavours and many hard
tasks for the preaching and propagation work of Islam in the
area of the Deccan (South India). So this book is a small one,
but it will present the ocean of knowledge and information for
the guidance of people towards the right path of Islam.
This book is edited and formatted as per the great book
‘Muslim saints and Mystics‘ (Tadhkirtal Aliyah by Farid al din
Attar) which is very famous in the Western world among the
English knowing persons. So for this reason there will be some
small differences in it while comparing with the Urdu books
and its literature. The aim of this book is to present in the
Western world where there is great search and demand of the
books of Sufism and biographies of holy saints who lived and
spent their entire lives for the preaching and propagation of
Islamic religion in all corners of the world as per tradition and
practice of Allah’s last prophet.
To write about this great Sufi saint is not only it is difficult
and but it is very hard task as he was not only a great pious
personality of his time in Deccan (South India) region but he
was also a great Sufi Master in Deccan area who struggled hard
for the preaching and propagation of Islam centuries ago so in
brief he was Qu’tub (highest cadre in spiritual pivot at axis) of
his time in Deccan (South India) region and who did many great
endeavors for the preaching and propagation of Islam in South
India and around it and there was no such personality during
his time.

This book is divided into four parts and in each part there are
some chapters. The details of the four parts are as follows.
 167

Part 1. The biographies of Sufi Masters of Khwaja Sahib

Part 2. The biography of Khwaja Sahib
Part 3. The miracles and revelation of Khwaja Sahib
Part 4. The biography of the disciples of Khwaja Sahib

Book’s link is as follows.

https://www.scribd.com/document/242082662/BAHAR-E-
RAHMAT

By Imtiaz Ali Arshi

25 August 1965
The End.
-------------------