Urdu and Sufism: A Deep-Rooted Connection in Poetry and Prose

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 9 November 2024 The Article Highlights The Significant Influence Of Sufi Mysticism On The Development Of Urdu Literature, Focusing On Figures Like Hazrat Aziz Safipuri. It Explores How Sufi Themes Enriched Urdu Poetry And Emphasizes The Need To Preserve This Cultural And Literary Legacy. Main Points: · Sufi poets and saints significantly shaped the development of Urdu language and literature, blending mysticism with poetic expression. · Hazrat Aziz Safipuri, an important but often overlooked figure, played a pivotal role in enriching Urdu literature through his mystical poetry. · Sufi poets infused their works with spiritual themes, contributing to the depth and emotional resonance of Urdu literary traditions. · Sufi traditions bridged the gap between Persian and Urdu, influencing poetic forms, themes, and linguistic richness. · The article stresses the importance of preserving and acknowledging Sufi contributions to ensure the continued growth of Urdu literary heritage. --------- The services rendered by the great Sufi saints in the development and promotion of Urdu language and literature are not hidden from any discerning observer. Spiritual personalities have played a very pivotal role in popularizing Urdu among the masses and in expanding its literary horizons. From the very beginning, they performed extraordinary feats in bringing this language closer to the people and giving it literary depth. It is due to Sufis that Urdu enjoys a healthy rapport with the masses since ancient times. To spread religious teachings and to guide the populace, many Sufi saints took local languages, and for the simplicity and accessibility of Urdu, it gained a special status. Therefore, by quality and quantity, no other regional language of India can surpass Urdu in that literature concerning Sufism and mysticism. As apparent from the pages of history, Khanqahs, monasteries, and Tekkes of Persia became the stronghold where Khanqah and its Sufic monasteries developed full life under Urdu poetry that made for a very soulful surrounding. Notable Persian poets including Saadi, Hafez, Rumi, Iraki, Jami and Khusraw, who lighted up the devotional gatherings of Sama in Sufism had often been recited as well as explained through Urdu poems and thus have been supportive to the ideals of the mystical love, devotion as well as divine knowledge. So this is one of the significant contributions by Sufis to the enrichment of Urdu poetry. This, as a heritage, awaits further research and study full of respect and admiration. The writers and poets of Sufism, however, gave great contributions to literature as well. They, either directly associated with Sufism or joined the Sufi organization, are forgotten in majority cases. Their literary creations were lost in the winds of time, and only their name remained, even as a dimming candle in the dark. Of them was the great poet and scholar of Sufism, Hazrat Aziz Safipuri. Hazrat Aziz Safipuri's name in the academic and literary world is Aziz Safipuri, whose name is originally Muhammad Wilayat Ali Khan. It needs to be mentioned that his surname "Khan" was not a sign of lineage but an honorary title. From Aqa'id-ul-Aziz (The Beliefs of Aziz), this is a biography, we learn that his lineage went as far back as to Siddiq al-Akbar Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (RA), the first caliph of Sunni Islam. Famous researcher Malik Ram, in Talameezah-e-Ghalib, wrote that Hazrat Aziz Safipuri was from the lineage of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni, who was a direct disciple of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, one of the prominent figures of the Chishti Order of Sufism. Hazrat Aziz Safipuri, in the world of Sufi thought, was initiated under the guidance of Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Khadim Safipuri, who had given him the name Aziz-ul-Allah Shah, which he had later adopted as his pen name. His initiation into Sufism took place in 1286 Hijri (1870-1871), from which point he started using the name Aziz instead of Wilayat. Hazrat Aziz Safipuri belonged to a family background that was noted. Originally from Kannauj, his ancestors shifted to Lucknow during the political disturbance under Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula. His family home in the town of Safipur Sharif in the present-day Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh became the centre for his birth and later academic excellence. He was born on 6th Safar, 1259 Hijri (7 March 1843), and his primary education began with his father's tutorship. Later on, he continued to receive learning from prominent scholars of the time. He was a great physician too and was taught medicine by the celebrated physician, Maulana Hakeem Hidayatullah Safipuri. Scholarly Contributions and Literary Works Hazrat Aziz Safipuri was an all-round personality. He had in his repertoire a treasure trove of literary contributions to his credit. He composed quite a few literary pieces both in Arabic, Persian and Urdu regarding theology, Sufism, mysticism, medicine and philosophy, to mention a few. The books written by him include: In Arabic: 1. Muqaddama Makhzan-ul-Wilayat wal-Jamal (Published) 2. Mush'at-ul-Aziz (Not published) In Persian 1. Ijaz-ul-Tawarikh (The Miracles of History) 2. Bayan-ut-Tawarikh (Exposition of History) 3. Diwan-e-Khatm-e-Fikr-e-Farsi (Poetry Collection) 4. Diwan-e-Aziz (Poetry Collection) 5. Diwan-e-Naat-ul-Mahboob (Poetry Collection on the Prophet) 6. Diwan-e-Noor-e-Tajalli (Urdu Poetry Collection for Divine Light) 7. Diwan-e-Wilayat In Urdu: 1. Khatm-e-Fikr-e-Urdū 2. Nazm-e-Dil-Fareb 3. Toor-e-Tajalli 4. Noor-e-Wilayat In addition to this, Hazrat Aziz Safipuri wrote much prose literature mainly in the form of treatises on spiritual and religious issues as well as on mysticism. Some of his major prose include Sawanih-E-Aslaf, Aqa'id-Ul-Aziz, and Ain-Ul-Wilayat. His religious and mystical writings provided the most significant input among Urdu-speaking people to understand Sufism. Hazrat Aziz Safipuri's Ghazals were regarded as a marriage between Sufi thought and poetic perfection. Unlike most of the romantic and mystical Ghazals of his period, his Ghazals primarily dealt with metaphysical and spiritual themes and thereby differ from the established literary traditions. His Impact and Followers Hazrat Aziz Safipuri was a great scholar, aside from being a spiritual master and a poet. The Hazrat had prominent khulafa (spiritual successors). The following ten people were to work with his teachings as well as literary works. These popular followers are Hazrat Shah Khadim Ali, Hazrat Shah Danesh Ali, Hazrat Shah Faiz Khadim, and Hazrat Shah Lutfi Hussain. He died on 13th Muharram 1347 Hijri (1 July 1928) in Safipur, where he was buried near the eastern gate of his master's tomb. His death ended an era of intense spiritual and literary activity, but his works and spiritual influence continue to inspire generations. Conclusion Hazrat Aziz Safipuri's contributions to Urdu literature and Sufism are immense. His literary contributions, mostly consisting of Ghazals and mystical verses, have helped to enrich Urdu literature and gave mankind a new vision about divine love, knowledge, and internal development in a human's soul. His poetry as well as prose writings inspire students of literary art blended with spirituality. Through individuals such as Hazrat Aziz Safipuri, Urdu literature has grown into and matured a niche of expression for Sufi thought and philosophy. — Syed Amjad Hussain is an Author and Independent Research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is currently working on a book on the History of Sufism in Bihar. ----------- URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/urdu-sufism-rooted-connection-poetry/d/133662 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism