'Attar: Selected Poems


Book Description




A Two-Colored Brocade


Book Description

Two-Colored Brocade: The Imagery of Persian Poetry




Delhi By Heart


Book Description

A sensitively written account of a Pakistani writer's discovery of Delhi Why, asks Raza Rumi, does the capital of another country feel like home? How is it that a man from Pakistan can cross the border into 'hostile' territory and yet not feel 'foreign'? Is it the geography, the architecture, the food? Or is it the streets, the festivals and the colours of the subcontinent, so familiar and yes, beloved... As he takes in the sights, from the Sufi shrines in the south to the markets of Old Delhi, from Lutyens' stately mansions to Ghalib's crumbling abode, Raza uncovers the many layers of the city. He connects with the richness of the Urdu language, observes the syncretic evolution of mystical Islam in India and its deep connections with Hindustani classical music - so much a part of his own selfhood. And every so often, he returns to the refuge of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the twelfth-century pir, whose dargah still reverberates with music and prayer every evening. His wanderings through Delhi lead Raza back in time to recollections of a long-forgotten Hindu ancestry and to comparisons with his own city of Lahore - in many ways a mirror image of Delhi. They also lead to reflections on the nature of the modern city, the inherent conflict between the native and the immigrant and, inevitably, to an inquiry into his own identity as a South Asian Muslim. Rich with history and anecdote, and conversations with Dilliwalas known and unknown,Delhi By Heart offers an unusual perspective and unexpected insights into the political and cultural capital of India.




Sufism and Indian Mysticism


Book Description

Contributed articles.




The Persian Mystics


Book Description

Rumi (1207-1273) was a Persian jurist and theologian best known for being perhaps the finest of all Sufi poets. His writings have been widely translated and remain especially popular in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Though written from a Sufi perspective, Rumi's poems on spiritual growth-here collected and edited by F. Hadland Davis and first published in 1907-cross all cultural and religious bounds, and can still be heard today in many secular and religious settings. The Persian Mystics: Jalalu'd-din Rumi includes selections from some of Rumi's most famous works, the "Divani Shamsi Tabriz" and the "Masnavi," as well as passages on his life and work, and the origin and nature of Sufism. FREDERICK HADLAND DAVIS is also the author of The Persian Mystics: Jami (1908) and Myths and Legends of Japan (1912), both available from Cosimo.




The Book of Dara Shikoh


Book Description

THE BOOK OF DARA SHIKOH Life, Poems & Prose Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Dara Shikoh (1615-1659) was the oldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan of Mughal India and was known to be a loving husband, a good son and loving father. He was a fine poet, his poems having the influence of Sufism to which he was dedicated. He used 'Qadiri' as his takhallus or pen-name. His Divan of ghazals, ruba'is and qasidas in Persian was not the only work he left us, his five prose works on Sufism and mysticism are popular in India even today. His Majma al-Bahrain or The Mingling of the Two Oceans (included as an appendix) is an explanation of the mystical sameness of Sufism and Vedanta. He also translated the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Yoga-Vasishta into Persian. He was defeated after leading an uprising against his cruel, fundamentalist brother Emperor Aurangzeb and was brutally killed in 1659. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and the meaning of these beautiful, powerful, always mystical poems. This is the largest translation of his poems into English. Introduction: The Life, Times & Works of Dara Shikoh, Three Sufi-Poets Who Knew & Influenced Dara Shikoh, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry, Two of the Poetic Forms Used by Dara Shikoh. Five Appendixes including Introduction to his trans. to the Upanishads and exhibition of paintings on his life. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" Illustrated 276 pages. 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."I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University."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 from 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 and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. New Humanity Books amazon.com/author/smithpa




Ruba'iyat of Dara Shikoh


Book Description

*RUBA'IYAT OF DARA SHIKOH* Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Dara Shikoh (1615-1659) was the oldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan of Mughal India and was known to be a loving husband, a good son and loving father. He was a fine poet, his poems having the influence of Sufism to which he was dedicated. He used 'Qadiri' as his takhallus or pen-name. His Divan of ghazals, ruba'is and qasidas in Persian was not the only work he left us, his five prose works on Sufism and mysticism are popular in India even today. His Majma al-Bahrain or The Mingling of the Two Oceans is an explanation of the mystical sameness of Sufism and Vedanta. He also translated the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Yoga-Vasishta into Persian. He was defeated after leading an uprising against his cruel, fundamentalist brother Emperor Aurangzeb and was brutally killed in 1659. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and the meaning of these beautiful, powerful, always mystical poems. This is the largest translation of his poems into English. 148 pagesCOMMENTS 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."I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University."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 over 80 books of Sufi poets from 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 and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. Published by New Humanity Books amazon.com/author/smithpa




Akbar Ahmed


Book Description

Published for the first time, these two plays give unique insights into Muslim society.




Two Master Sufi Poets and Friends of Delhi -Amir Khusrau and Hasan Dehlavi


Book Description

TWO MASTER SUFI POETS & FRIENDS OF DELHI AMIR KHUSRAU & HASAN DEHLAVI Selected Poems & BiographiesTranslation & Introduction Paul SmithIn Delhi in the 13th century the great Sufi Master Nizam al-Din Auliya of the Chistiyya order had two famous disciples who were also poets: Amir Khusrau, the 'Parrot of India' and Hasan Dehlavi, the 'Sadi of India' who remained close friends all their lives. Amir Khusrau composed over 90 books and was a musician who invented the sitar as well as being an historian, and many other occupations... a truly 'universal man'. He too eventually became a Spiritual Master. He was influential on Hafiz of Shiraz who copied his ghazals and was probably the founder of the Urdu language. He composed ghazals, ruba'is, many masnavis and in most other forms of Persian poetry. Hasan Dehlavi born in the same year as Khusrau was a supreme master of the ghazal and also composed a famous book of stories and sayings of their Spiritual Master, Nizam al-Din Auliya. The large selection of poetry translated of both poets is in the correct rhyme structure & meaning. Introduction: The Spiritual Master of the Two Poets, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry, Some of the Persian Poetic Forms Used by the Poets, Biographies & Selected Bibliographies. Large Format Paperback, 7" x 10" 355 pages.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. " 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."I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). "I have never seen such a good translation and I would like to write a book in Farsi and introduce his Introduction to Iranians." Mr B. Khorramshai, Academy of Philosophy, Tehran.Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Bulleh Shah, Shah Latif, Mansur Hallaj, Yunus Emre, Mu'in, Ibn Farid, Lalla Ded, Mahsati, Abu Said, Ghalib, Nazir, Iqbal, Inayat Khan and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, children's books, biographies and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com




Prince Dara Shikoh & His Niece Princess Zeb-un-nissa


Book Description

PRINCE DARA SHIKOH & HIS NIECE, PRINCESS ZEB-UN-NISSA (MAKHFI) Two Sufi Poet-Martyrs under the Fundamentalist Mughal Emperor of India, Aurangzeb Lives & Selected Poems Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Dara Shikoh (1615-1659) was the oldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan of Mughal India and was known to be a loving husband, a good son and loving father anf Sufi uncle to his neice 'Makhfi'. He was a fine poet, his poems having the influence of Sufism to which he was dedicated. He used 'Qadiri' as his takhallus or pen-name. His Divan of ghazals, ruba'is and qasidas in Persian was not the only work he left us, his five prose works on Sufism and mysticism are popular in India even today. His Majma al-Bahrain or The Mingling of the Two Oceans (included as an appendix) is an explanation of the mystical sameness of Sufism and Vedanta. He also translated the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and Yoga-Vasishta into Persian. He was defeated after leading an uprising against his cruel, fundamentalist brother Emperor Aurangzeb and was brutally killed in 1659. This is the largest translation of his poems into English. Introduction: Life, Times & Works of Dara Shikoh, Sufi-Poets Who Knew & Influenced him, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry, Two of the Poetic Forms Used by Dara Shikoh & ''Makhfi'. Four Appendixes including Introduction to his trans. to the Upanishads and exhibition of paintings on his life. Makhfi (1638-1702) pen-name meaning 'concealed', was Zeb-un-Nissa the beautiful and talented oldest daughter of the strict Muslim Emperor of India, Aurangzeb. She was imprisoned for 20 years for her Sufi views and conspiring with a brother (Dara Shikoh) against him. Her ghazals and ruba'is in Persian are deep, spiritual and at times truly heartbreaking. The correct forms and spiritual meaning are preserved in this large selection of both unique poets poetry. Introduction on her Life & Times, Selected Bibliography. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" Illustrated 317 pages. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets from 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, Seemab, Huma, Iqbal, Ghalib, Jigar, Baba Farid, and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com