Shaikh Mujaddid-i Alf-i Sani: A Survey of Works in India Tayyeb Sajjad Asghar

Shaikh Mujaddid-i Alf-i Sani: A Survey of Works in India Tayyeb Sajjad Asghar1

Full Paper PDF http://isamveri.org/pdfdrg/D264313/2018/2018_ASGHARTS.pdf

International Imam-i Rabbani Symposium (15-17 November 2013). İstanbul

Abstract: The Naqshbandi silsilah occupies an important place in the annals of Islam in Indian sub-continent. For nearly two centuries, i.e. 17th & 18th, it was the principal spiritual order in India and its influence permeated far and deep into Indo-Muslim life. Though many Naqshbandi saints came to India and associated themselves with the royal courts of Emperor Babur, Humayun and Akbar. The credit of really organizing and propagating the Naqshbandi silsila in this country goes to Khwaja Muhammad Baqi Billah, who came to India from Kabul, his native town, and his disciple, khalifa and the chief successor Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi known as “Mujaddid-i Alf-i Sani. He played most important role in disseminating the ideology and practices of the Naqshbandi silsilah in India. He was the first Muslim Sufi scholar of the Indian sub-continent whose thought and movement reached far beyond the Indian frontiers and influenced Muslim scholars and saints in different regions. His spiritual descendants (khalifas) zealously participated in the organization of the “Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi” silsilah in India, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Turkey, Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Indonesia. Many contemporary and later sources in Arabic and Persian, a number of works in English, Urdu and other languages have appeared so far, which throw ample light on the life, works and ideas of Hazrat Imam Rabbani. His works particularly the collection of his letters (Maktūbat-i Imam-i Rabbani) have been a great source of religious and spiritual guidance through the centuries. A number of works dealing with his biography, religious thought, mystic ideology, political role and organizational activities have appeared in Arabic, Persian, English and Urdu during last four hundred years. Whatever has been written in the last 400 years, it is available in published book form as well as in manuscript form. Most of the manuscripts have been published till now. I will discuss and describe all such published books.