Hundred Great Muslims

Hundred Great Muslims
J27
Data Saheb who was also a poet has written a number of books including
Kashful Mahjub, Minhajuddin, Kitab Al-Fana-wal-Baqa and Bahr-ul-Kulub. But,
of these, the most outstanding is Kashful Mahjub (The Revelation of Mystery)
which is recognised as the first book on Sufism written in Persian: This has been
translated into several languages, including English and Urdu. Professor Reynold
A. Nicholson rendered the first English translation of the book which was
published in 191 I. A number of Urdu translation of this book were published,
including one by Moulvi Ferozuddin, founder of Ferozsons Ltd., in 1893 and
another by Shaikh Muhammad Iqbal.
A number of eminent Sufi saints, including Nizamuddin Aulia and Syed
Jehangir Ashraf Samnani speak highly of this book. The book, which is divided
into 25 Chapters deals with the multifarious spiritual experiences of the learned
author. In the first chapter, he defines knowledge and classifies it into human
and Divine. The second chapter deals with poverty, the third with Sufism, the
fourteenth discusses various orders of the Sufis and their doctrines and at the
end of the book he justifies Sama (audition). He says, if audition produces, a
lawful and healthy effect on the mind, it is permitted.
Writing in the Preface of Kashful Mahiub, Prof. Nicholson says: "The
object is to set forth a complete system of Sufism, not to put together a great
number of sayings ofdifferent Shaykhs, but to discussand expound the doctrines
and practices of Sufis.
The author's attitude throughout is that of a teacher, instructing a
pupil .... His exposition of Sufi doctrine and practice is distinguished not only
by wide learning and first hand knowledge but also by strongly personal character
impressed on everything he writes".
The author of Punjab-men-Urdu, Mr. Mahmud Sherani has credited Data
Saheb with the origination of Urdu language, by bringing about a synthesis
between Persian and the local dialects.
Data Saheb, died at Lahore in 465 A.H. or 1072 A.C., as given by most of
the historians and was buried there.
Data Saheb, an eminent Sufi saint, scholar, poet and philosopher has
contributed towards bridging the gulf between orthodox theology and Sufism.
The celebrated Saint of Ajmer, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, known as Sultan-ul­
Hind spent forty days of seclusion and meditation at the Shrine of Data Saheb
and it was there that he got the spiritual illumination. The Saint of Ajmer,
standing at Data Saheb's grave expressed himself in verses.
"Thou art Ganj Bakhsh, the bestower of treasures in both the worlds;
"Thou art the manifestation of the glory of God;
"Thou art an accomplished guide for those who are perfect; and
"Thou showeth the way to those who stray."