“Mysticism is emptiness of the heart from what is not difficult and meeting with what is more difficult. Mysticism is the sole means of the growth of the soul and the refreshment of the heart. Mysticism is the religion of the mystics; it means the state of being free from physical desires, to control and reign in physical urges and desires. It is the knowledge that helps purify the heart. Human beings can attain high standards of self purification through mysticism only. This is the way of the sufis based on the saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH): man arafah nafsehi faqad arafah rabbehi which means he who knows himself, gets to know the secrets of the Supreme Being. Becoming conscious of one’s own being opens the window to the secrets of the Supreme Being which leads to the closeness with God. In this way he develops his ability to understand, explore and ponder on the universe created by God.” – Mir Hasan Hussain Sibla
By Prof. Md Asadullah Wani
(Translated from Urdu by New Age Islam News Desk)
Ganj-e-Marfat is a beautiful book of 224 pages. Though the title page and the dust cover has been designed with multiple colours, the golden colour is dominant. Zalika fazlullahu uotihe manyashaullaho zul fazlil azeem is printed above the title of the book on the cover. Below the title of the book, the name of the compiler is given and below the name of the compiler, Markaz-e-Sarhindiya Warsia, Bichhwada, Dalgate, Srinagar Kashmir is printed as its publisher.
The same text is written on the inner cover of the book in Roman script. The second page of the book is the print line which contains the title and the name of the compiler and the date of publication which is November 2009. The composing of the book whose 5000 copies have been published has been done by Raja Rashid Ahmad Sirhindi Warsi. It has been printed by Islamic Wonders Bureau, Daryaganj New Delhi-2. After that the name of the publisher has been repeated and the address for availing the book is given as:
Ashiana Eram, Bichhwada, Dal Gate Srinagar.
The e-mail address is given in the end.
On page III, the text of dedication of the book is given as below:
“I dedicate this endeavour of mine to my wife Alhaj Amina Akhtar Sirhindi Warsi who extended her full support in my search for truth and divine knowledge.
---- Alhaj Mir Hasan Hussain Sibla Sirhindi Warsi, Bichhwada, Dal Gate, Srinagar, Kashmir.”
The page IV and V of Ganj-e-Marfat contains the foreword by the compiler who has presented the objective behind the publication of the book and has thanked all those who have given their support in the compilation and publication of the book. Page 6 and 7 contain the list of 53 contents of the book. A short introduction of the compiler has been given on pages 8-10 under the sub-title Ek Nazar (At a glance).
From Page 10 to 15 a detailed article has been included by Kamran Hussain Sibla, Alhaj Manzoor Ahmad and Faiyaz Arif, the pupils of Mir Hasan Hussain Sibla detailing Mr Sibla’s family background, the order of mysticism in Kashmir, Mir Sibla’s interest in mysticism, allegiance, training, his association with various orders of mysticism, his contributions to poetry and literature and his relations with his pupils and disciples.
On page 16, five verses of the Quran have been quoted with Urdu translation.
Ganj-e-Marfat begins systematically with the citation of the oneness of God. In principle this should be the Page 17 of the book but since the initial 16 pages are in Roman script, the citation of the oneness of God starts from page 1. Therefore the contents of the book are as follows:
1. Tauheed ka bayan 2. Ishq-e-Khudawandi 3.The reason behind the creation of the universe 4.Ikhlas 5. Tauba ke bayan me 6.Momin Kamil 7.Sadqa 8. Panch Ibadatein 9.Shariat 10. Tariqat 11.Haqeeqat 12. Marfat 13.Tasawwuf 14.Tasawwuf ki khususiyat 15. Panch tan 16. Arif ki taarif 17. Talab-e-Peer 18. Ahle bait sheikh 19.Peeri mureedi 20.Sohbat Saleh 21. Talib ke bayan me 22. Iradat ke bayan me 23. Wasul ke bayan me 24. Salik o Majzoob ke bayan me 25. Nafs aur khwahish ke bayan me 26. Tazkiya-e-nafs 27. Izkar 28. Anwaar ke bayan me 29. Tajillee 30. Kashf 31. Sama ke bayan me 32. Adabe Sama’ 33. Sifat-e-Sohbate Saliheen 34.Sifat-e-Peer Manwi 35. Sifat-e-Mohabbat 36. Sifat Yaqeen 37. Sifat-e-Foqr 38.Sifat-e-Haya 39.Sifat-e-Raza 40.Sifat-e-Bedari 41.Sifat-e-Wajd 42.Sifat-e-Khamoshi 43.Sifat-e-khwab 44. Tark-e-Dunya Tark-e-Uqba Tark-e-maula 45. Fana o baqa 46. Rooh-e-Haq 47. Huzoor ka huliya Mubarak 48. Mojza e merajun Nabi (PBUH) 49. Merajun Nabi (PBUH) 50. Kashmir me silsila Warisia ka warood 51. Farmudat-e-Hadhrat Waris-e-Pak 52. Sifat-e-Hadhrat Waris-e-Pak 53. Hawalajat
The list of contents has been given here so that the readers can know about the topics that have been discussed in the book. Most of the topics are directly derived from the Quran, hadith and the life and practices of the holy Prophet (PBUH). Some of the topics are the result of the personal experiences and observations of the walis and sufis and are directly linked to the sufis, their pupils, disciples and the seekers of the divine truth and knowledge. This book is like a guide to a disciple and seeker of divine knowledge. It contains such principles and rules that are necessary for a disciple to follow and adhere to strictly. The compiler has also quoted the hadiths and verses from the Quran apart from the discourses and sayings of the sufis and walis and excerpts from some books to enable the disciples, the seekers of truth to become aware of the secrets of mysticism and divine knowledge as much as possible.
The compiler is hundred per cent successful in the purpose of the publication of the book he has stated very humbly in the foreword. I am referring to his statement which says that he took up the task of compiling this book with the purpose of bringing to light the contribution of the Kashmiri mystic poets to the development of Sufism by presenting samples of their poetry on mysticism, marfat and sulook. Therefore, Mir Hasan Sibla has quoted the verses from the Kashmiri language poets from the beginning till the end and given the testimony of his mastery of the language as well. As has been mentioned earlier, the compiler has presented the secrets of mysticism through the poetry of Kashmiri sufi poets such as Lal Deed, Sheikhul Alam, Habibullah Naushahri, Wahab Khar, Shams Fakir, Nagma sahib, Rahim Sahab, Ahmad Batwari, Wazah Mohammad, Rahman Dar, Qadir Kuhna, Momin Sahab, Mir Md Subhan Sibla and the compiler Mir Hasan Hussain Sibla. Such a study of Sufism in Kashmir is an important treatise of Mir Hasan Sibla. Apart from the verses of the Kashmiri poets he has also quoted some couplets of Urdu poet Dr Md Iqbal. He has also given references of the couplets of Persian poets like Maulana Rumi, Fariduddin Attar, Saadi Sherazi , Hafiz Sherazi, Amir Khusrau, Allama Iqbal and Habibullah Naushahri to make his views more impressive. Apart from it, Arabic couplets are also found in the book.
Though the book has references of the spiritual discourses of the sufis in general, the names which could be mentioned especially are Hadhrat Junaid Bughdadi, Hadhrat Moinuddin Chishti, Hadhrat Mehboob-e-Ilahi, Hadhrat Abul Hasan, Hadhrat Sheikh Abul Abbas, Hadhrat Ghausul Azam Dastagir and Hadhrat Baba Farid, Hazrat Sheikh Ali Hajweri, Hazrat Bandanawaz Gesudaraz and Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi.
As for the contents of Ganj-e-Marfat, the book is really a treasure trove of divine knowledge. Though Mir Sibla has compiled the book for the disciples and students of Sufism, it is no less important for a general reader. The study of the book not only enhances the knowledge of the reader in terms of Sufism and secrets of spiritual knowledge but also helps build his character and personality. The style and diction the compiler has adopted is simple, easily understandable, unrestrained and impressive. An excerpt about mysticism is being produced here as a sample:
“Mysticism is emptiness of the heart from what is not difficult and meeting with what is more difficult. Mysticism is the sole means of the growth of the soul and the refreshment of the heart. Mysticism is the religion of the mystics; it means the state of being free from physical desires, to control and reign in physical urges and desires. It is a knowledge that helps purify the heart. Human beings can attain the high standards of self purification through mysticism only. This is the way of the sufis based on the saying of the Holy Prophet (PBUH): man arafah nafsehi faqad arafah rabbehi which means he who knows himself, gets to know the secrets of the Supreme Being. Becoming conscious of one’s own being opens the window to the secrets of the Supreme Being which leads to closeness with God. In this way he develops his ability to understand, explore and ponder on the universe created by God.”
Pan panan tehqeeq karan
Jan maran zinde lete
In the concluding part of Ganj-e-Marfat, Janab Sibla has given the bibliography, an overview of which clearly shows that the knowledge and study of the compiler is very deep and extensive. He has a keen eye on the Quran and Hadith as well. Although he has compiled this book for the guidance of students and disciples, one comes to the conclusion after its study that the compiler’s approach is guided by research and intellect. He has made reliable every topic he has covered with references from the Quran, Hadith and books written by sufis and walis. Apart from the Quran and Hadith, he has taken help from books like Ganiyatul Talibeen, Fawaidul Fawad, Kashful Mehjoob, Shariat o Tariqat , Ahya ul Uloom, Merajul Ashiqeen and Musnavi Maulana Rome. Therefore, the book has become a book of reference for Sufism and peeri-muridee. Apart from it, Ganj-e-Marfat, is a valuable literary treatise by Mir Sibla. The composing and proofreading has been done diligently making it error-free to a great extent. As stated earlier, the golden dust cover of the book is very attractive. The couplets of sufi poet Rahim on the back cover enhance its beauty.(Concluded)
Source: Akhbar-e-Mashrique, October 25 2010
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamUrduSection_1.aspx?ArticleID=3625
4:53 AM
Moderate Islamist here
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