Zubair Qureshi
Former Executive Director of LokVirsa and eminent researcher and academician, Uxi Mufti on Thursday paid rich tributes to Maj Gen (R) Muhammad Tahir for penning down a book on Islamic Sufism tracing its origin and evolution and advocating its contribution to spread of Islam in various parts of the world.
He was addressing as Chief Guest the book launching ceremony. Former Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) and the senior renowned Urdu poet IftikharArif presided over the ceremony.
The book launch organized by the Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) at the Aiwan-e-Quaid, Fatima Jinnah Park was attended by a large number of writers, intellectuals, former colleagues of the general and the print and electronic media representatives.
The book titled ‘Islamic Spirituality & Mysticism’ is the second by Gen Tahir on this subject as earlier his book on Maulana Rumi ‘The Philosophy of Rumi and its Relevance in Present Times’ has also made great inroads not only in the Pakistani literary circles but abroad too.
Uxi Mufti termed the book a landmark addition on such a topic and held the writer has painstakingly written a 680-page book and its each word reflects his deep sense of responsibility and association with his subject.
In the words of the author, Quran is the central theme of the teachings of all Sufis and the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is their inspiration whom Quran calls ‘Siraj-al-Munir’ or the Shining Lamp. The writer has frequently quoted and referred to Fariduddin Attar, Maulana Rumi and Imam Ghazali who according to the writer were great mystics and stressed on the purity of self and deep connection and love with Almighty.
Maj Gen Tahir has also devoted a chapter to the Sufis of this land including Data GanjBux, Baba Farid and even Baba Bulhay Shah and their imprints on the minds of the generations to come.
Uxi Mufti emphasized the book provided a befitting reply to the criticism of Sufism and the NBF should include it in its e-book list. Today, the young generation is told rather fed many negative things about Sufism and Islamic Spiritualism and they should be introduced to such books, he said.
Our colleges and universities should also put this book in their libraries so that students could understand the real spirit of Islamic Spiritualism, he said. IftikharArif also highlighted various aspects of the book and termed Gen Tahir a prolific writer who has earlier written ‘The Philosophy of Rumi.’ It is an insightful introduction of Islamic spiritualism and the writer should be credited for continuing to write highly intellectual and scholarly books.
Those who took part in the general discussion that followed included Chairman of the NPC Mian Muhammad Javed, Senior Vice Chairman Mr Faisal Zahid Malik who is also Chairman & CEO of the Daily Pakistan Observer, former Defence Minister Lt Gen (R) NaeemLodhi, Admiral (R) Aziz Mirza, Maj Gen (RR) OwaisMushtaq, Maj Gen (R) Muhammad Yasin, Maj Gen MuhaammadSiddique, former VC Dr Zia Najam, former Finance Secretary, Abdullah Yousaf, former Secretary ECP, KanwarDilshadHussain, NargisNasir, Managing Director (MD) of the National Book Foundation (NBF) Dr Raja MazharHameed, poet MehboobZafar, Col (R) Sharafat Ali and Director Media of the NPC, HameedQaiser.
The book published by the NBF though costs PKR 1740 but is available at the NBF Book Shop for half price i.e. PKR 870.
