'Attar: Selected Poems


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Lost Enlightenment


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The forgotten story of Central Asia's enlightenment—its rise, fall, and enduring legacy In this sweeping and richly illustrated history, S. Frederick Starr tells the fascinating but largely unknown story of Central Asia's medieval enlightenment through the eventful lives and astonishing accomplishments of its greatest minds—remarkable figures who built a bridge to the modern world. Because nearly all of these figures wrote in Arabic, they were long assumed to have been Arabs. In fact, they were from Central Asia—drawn from the Persianate and Turkic peoples of a region that today extends from Kazakhstan southward through Afghanistan, and from the easternmost province of Iran through Xinjiang, China. Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Central Asians achieved signal breakthroughs in astronomy, mathematics, geology, medicine, chemistry, music, social science, philosophy, and theology, among other subjects. They gave algebra its name, calculated the earth's diameter with unprecedented precision, wrote the books that later defined European medicine, and penned some of the world's greatest poetry. One scholar, working in Afghanistan, even predicted the existence of North and South America—five centuries before Columbus. Rarely in history has a more impressive group of polymaths appeared at one place and time. No wonder that their writings influenced European culture from the time of St. Thomas Aquinas down to the scientific revolution, and had a similarly deep impact in India and much of Asia. Lost Enlightenment chronicles this forgotten age of achievement, seeks to explain its rise, and explores the competing theories about the cause of its eventual demise. Informed by the latest scholarship yet written in a lively and accessible style, this is a book that will surprise general readers and specialists alike.




Lovers of God


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This book addresses some of the fiercely contested issues about religion and politics in medieval India, especially with regard to the crucial presence of Sufis who styled themselves as friends and lovers of God. Enjoying widespread veneration even in situations of hostility with regard to Islam and Muslims in general, Sufis are central to an understanding of religious interactions and community relations historically. The chapters included in the book can be read as stand-alone pieces focussing on some of the most fascinating as well as contentious themes in medieval Indian history – subjects and issues which are otherwise either left untouched by historians because of their sensitive nature from the point of view of modern day secularism or abused by interested parties in their communal propaganda. When read as a monograph, the volume as a whole attempts to combat all kinds of intellectual absurdities, which mar our understating of the place of Islam in medieval Indian history, especially the significant presence of Sufis who were devoted to the love of God and service to humanity. Historiographically important issues which are also topical in these times of interdependence of religion and politics – the latter exploiting religion for legitimacy and justification of violence, and religion needing political support for expansion and imposition on the gullible – have been dealt in detail, neither bounded by a particular ideology nor by identity politics with its separate blinkers. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.




Anthology of Classical Arabic Poetry


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ANTHOLOGY OF CLASSICAL ARABIC POETRY(From Pre-Islamic Times to Al-Shushtari)Translations, Introduction and Notes by Paul SmithCONTENTS: Classical Arabic Poetry… page 7, The Qasida… 10, The Qit'a… 11, The Ghazal… 12, The Ruba'i… 16, Selected Bibliography… 17: THE POETS (In Order of Appearance) Imra' ul-Qays 17, Zuhair 29, Harith 39, Antara 46, Tarafa 58, Amru 71, Al-A'sha 80, Suhaym 82, Labid 84, Ka'b 96, Khansa 100, Hazrat Ali 102, Ali Ibn Husain 111, Omar Ibn Abi Rabi'a 106, Majnun (Qays ibn al-Mulawwah) 109, Rab'ia of Basra 116, Bashshar 123, Abu Nuwas 126, Abu Tammam 151, Dhu'l-Nun 155, Bayazid Bistami 163, Al-Nuri 163, Junaid 169, Sumnun 171, Mansur al-Hallaj 173, Ibn 'Ata 181, Shibli 183, Al-Mutanabbi 185, Al-Ma'arri 211, Ibn Sina 233, Al-Ghazali 236, Gilani 239, Abu Madyan 243, Suhrawardi 248, Ibn al-Farid 250, Ibn 'Arabi 265, Al-Busiri 278, Al-Shushtari 284. Pages 287.COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'.“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all. ” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.“Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. “Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz.” Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author of his own poems inspired by Hafiz). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages… including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mahsati and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and twelve screenplays. www.newhumanitybooksbookheaven.com




Sufi Cults and the Evolution of Medieval Indian Culture


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Presents various facets of the evolution and spread of the Sufi influence in India and a critical evaluation of the role played by the Sufi saints (belonging to different silsilas) both by way of disseminating the Sufi ideology among the Indian masses and also assimilating and imbibing into their own ideology some of the indigenous spiritual practices and techniques as practised by the Hindu yogis and siddhas, thus paving the way in the process for the establishment of a pluralist society in India on a firm footing. Among the galaxy of Sufi saints who came to India, the four names which stand out prominently are Shaikh Mu’in-ud-Din Chishti, Shaikh Farid-ud-Din Ganj-i-Shakar (Baba Farid), Shaikh Nizam-ud-Din Auliya and Amir Khusrau. Shaikh Mu’in-ud-Din came to India at the close of the twelfth century. On the occasion of his ‘urs, lakhs of people congregate to pay obeisance to the great Sufi master at his dargah in Ajmer. Today the dargahs of the great Sufi masters have become objects of veneration and places of pilgrimage for lakhs of devout people owing allegiance to different religious belief systems. These holy places stand as epitomes of communal harmony and universal love and brotherhood.










Seven Golden Odes of Arabia


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SEVEN GOLDEN ODES OF ARABIA The Mu'allaqat Translations, Introduction Paul Smith The Mu'allaqat is the title of a group of seven long Arabic odes or qasidas that have come down from the time before Islam. Each is considered the best work of these pre-Islamic poets. The name means 'The Suspended Qasidas' or 'The Hanging Poems', the traditional explanation being that these poems were hung on or in the Kaaba at Mecca. These famous ancient Arabic qasidas are formed of three parts: they start, with a nostalgic opening in which the poet reflects on what has passed, known as nasib. A common concept is the pursuit of the poet of the caravan of his love; by the time he reaches their campsite they have already moved on. The second section is rahil (travel section) in which the poet contemplates the harshness of nature and life away from the tribe. Finally there is the message of the poem, which can take several forms: praise of the tribe, fakhr; satire about other tribes, hija; or some moral maxims, hikam. Included with each qasida of each poet is a brief biography plus a list of further reading. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these powerfull poems. CONTENTS: The Introduction... The Mu'allaqat, The Qasida. The Poets... Imra'ul-Qays, Tarafa, Amru, Harith, Antara, Zuhair, Labid. Appendix... Kab's Qasida of the Mantle. Pages... 147. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished.." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Mu'in, Ghalib, Iqbal, Abu Nuwas and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies and 12 screenplays. www.newhumanitybooksbookheaven.com