Book Description

Originally published in 1938. SUFISM ITS SAINTS AND SHRINES. An Introduction to the Study of Suftsm with Special Reference to India BY JOHN A. SUB. PREFACE: At the very outset I desire to acknowledge with deep gratitude the invaluable assistance given to me by my revered friend and counsellor, Rev. L. Bevan Jones, Principal of the Henry Martyn School of Islam ics, Lahore, in the composition of this book in proper English. He has helped unstintingly by going over the whole manuscript, sentence by sentence, correcting and improving its language and thus making its publi cation possible. Without his help and encouragement this book would, probably never have seen the light. I am also deeply indebted to my friend and colleague, Rev. J. W. Sweetman, for kindly re-writing Ch. II, and translating into English the original passages quoted in this book, and also for his generous help in Proofs reading. I also desire to express my great indebtedness to Dr. L. E. Browne, my former colleague and to my friend and benefactor Dr. M. T. Titus for thir most valu able criticism and helpful suggestions most of which have found their way into this book. I am conscious that the subject here dealt with has not received adequate treatment. But in view of the fact that the resources for our knowledge of such parts of it as, the history of the Religious Orders and details of the Saints, are so obscure and at times so unacces sible, readers who are in a position to see the books shortcomings will kindly forgive the deficiencies and favour me with their criticisms. The book claims no originality and no great re search. It is an effort to place before English readers in systematic form, the varied and extensive, though often hidden, material on the subject of Mysticism and Saint worship in Islam, available in Urdu and Persian literature. A word must be added on the system of translitera tion adopted in this book. While it has not been poss ible to give an exact idea of the pronunciation of Arabic and Persian words, the following method has been adopted. The elision of alif is indicated by an apostrophe, e. g., Allul-Hujwiri. The cases where apostrophe is used for hamza or for the elision of alif can easily be determined by persons acquainted with Arabic and Persian. The Arabic ayn is represented by an inverted apostrophe O e. g. Shara The long vowels are represented by a short hori zontal overline, a, I, u, and have approximately the sound of the vowels in the following words father, seen, loot., Diacritical points or lines appear under h, s, z, t, o, th, kh, gh, to represent certain Arabic values. Some few words, however, such as current proper names, are spelled according to usage, e. g., Muhammad, Quran, Islam. In footnotes and headings Arabic or Sanskrit words are spelled in Roman without any diacritical points. J. A. S. March, 1938. CONTENTS PAGE: Chapter-Introduction ... ... 1 I. The early History of ufism ... 6 The derivation of the word ufl The beginning of ufism The earliest form of ufism. II. Later Development of ufism ... 17 Speculative elements in ufism ufism wins recognition in Islam The classic period of Sufism Farldud-Dln, 4 Attar Jalalud-Dm Ruml Sadl Later ufl peots Shabistari Hafig Jami. III. The ufl Gnostic System .....