Syed o Sadat Salari Ajam

Dast o Maimar i taqdeer i umam

By: Bashir Ahmad Dar

With the spread of Islam, a new era heralded in almost all the spheres of society in Kashmir. The greatest personality who ushered this ‘revolution’ was that of Amir-i-Kabir, Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA), popularly known as Shah-i-Hamdan in Kashmir. Besides being the great missionary of Islam, he was a Sufi of high order and a versatile writer. But it is a pity on our part that even after the lapse of six centuries we know very little about the multi- dimensional personality of this great luminary- as a Sufi scholar, his missionary activities here and abroad, and more so the majority is probably still ignorant about his works.

No doubt some research works have been undertaken and many books have been penned down about Shah-i-Hamadan, but still very less is known to us about all the events of his life,the hardships he did face enroute and here, his scholarly accomplishments, the members of his caravan who contributed a lot to enrich our society and make it prosperous in every aspect. Though being over -busy and ever- busy in the missionary activities as also in Sufi practices, Hamdani (RA) was the man of letters. His writings prove him to be a great poet and writer and more than a hundred and fifty works in Arabic and Persian are credited to him which highlight his teachings, ideas, message and philosophy with the view to reach to the maximum audience.

It is interesting to note that Moulana Jami, the well know Persian writer, particularly famous for his Naats, in his ‘Nufhatul Uns’, Amir Sultan Hussain, the author of ‘MajalisulUshaq’ and Dr. Mehdi Darakshan in ‘Buzurgan we Sukhan Sarayani Hamdan’, besides many historians and hagiographers have mentioned the titles of the works of this great Sufi. Though many of the titles mentioned in these sources are, without any iota of doubt, the works of Syed Hamdani (RA), there are some which have been attributed to him and no conclusive opinion has not been arrived about the authorship of these ones.

The works of this luminous Sufi are no doubt found in the libraries of the universities all over the world, in the national archives as well as personal libraries but it is still a matter of research to determine the actual number of works of this great Sufi and which of these are his real works. Though it is not possible here to mention all the ones attributed to this great writer, some of the chief works are: Chihil Asrar, ZakhiratulMaluk, Sirat-ul-Talibeen, Risala Dah Qaida, Mirat-ul-Talibeen, Risala Derweshia, Manazilul Salikeeen, Adaabi Murideen, RisalaMunajat, Risala Fatwia,Risala Zikriya, Risala Farsia, Risala Hamadania, RisalaWajoodia, RisalaEitiqadia, Masharibul Azwaaq, Munqabatul Jawahir, Muwadatul Qurba , Sharah Fasoosul Hikam, Asrarul Nuqt, Sharah Qasida-i-Khumria Fardia, Maktoobat, darsoorat-u-seeratiInsan, RisalaIstilahat-i-ilm-ul-Qiyafah, MirataTaibeen, SairulTalibeen, Kitab-u-sabeen-fe-fazail Amirul Mumineen Ali, Raudatul Firdous, Firdausul Akhyar, Manazil-us-Salikeen, Khulasat-ul-Manaqib.

The style of the writings of his works is simple, attractive but at the same time it is adorned with the verses from the Quran as well as........

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