Uluslararası İmam-ı Rabbani Sempozyumu Tebliğleri AZÎZ MAHMÛD HÜDÂYİ VAKFI YAYINLARI No : 03

Editör Prof. Dr. Necdet TOSUN

Sekreterya Furkan MEHMED

Grafik&Tasarım Ahmet DUMAN

Baskı İstanbul - 2018

ISBN 978-605-68070-2-2

"Azîz Mahmûd Hüdâyi Vakfı Yayınları" "Azîz Mahmûd Hüdâyi Vakfı İktisadi İşletmesi"ne aittir.

İletişim: Aziz Mahmûd Hüdâyi Vakfı İktisadi İşletmesi Küçükçamlıca Mah. Duhancı Mehmet Sok. No: 33/1 Posta Kodu: 34696 Üsküdar / İstanbul Tel: 0216 428 39 60 Faks: 0 216 339 47 52 Necessity of a New Critical Edition Of Maktūbāt-i Imām-i Rabbānī Arif Naushahi1

The Collection of Persian letters of Imām-i Rabbānī Shaikh Aḥmad Sarhandī known as Mujaddid -i alf-e thānī (971-1034h/1564-1624) is a very popular and re-� spectable book among Islamic ‘ulamas and Sufi circles especially in - yya order. As I read a quotation of Abdulhakim Arvasi (1860-1943), a Turkish Mujadiddī scholar, saying that after the Holy Quran and Siḥaḥ-i-Sitta the Mak- tūbāt-i- Imām-i- Rabbānī is a pre-eminent book. Maktūbāt was compiled in 3 vo- lumes by three different murīds of Imām-i- Rabbānī. This collection is commonly known as MAKTŪBĀT-i IMĀM RABBĀNĪ (hereafter only Maktūbāt). The de-� tails of these 3 volumes are as following: First volume entitled a chronogram 1025=( ) compiled by Khawja Yār ُد ّرالمعرفت Jadid Badakhshi Tāleqānī in 1025h/1616, comprises 313 letters. compiled by Khawja (نورالخالیق )=Second volume entitled a chronogram 1028 Abdul Hayy bin Khawja Shākir Hesāri in 1028h/1619 comprises 99 letters. compiled ,(ثالث )=and chronogram is 1031 معرفت الحقایق Third volume entitled by Khawja Muhammad Hāshim Keshmi in 1031 h/1622, comprises 124 letters. In pre-printing era we find hundreds of hand-written copies of Maktūbāt. The published catalogues of manuscripts of various libraries of world show the par- ticulars of these manuscripts. Just for an example I can mention here the Union Catalogue of the Persian Manuscripts in Pakistan which shows particulars of 71 manuscript copies of Maktūbāt in different libraries of Pakistan (Monzavi, [1984] III/2002-8). In a supplement of this union catalogue I compiled the particulars of 9 more manuscript copies of Maktūbāt in Pakistan (Naushahi, (under press) ‘Irfān section). In post printing era we also have different editions of Maktūbāt in Sub- continent as well as some other editions published in Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey

1 Prof. Dr. Head of Persian Department Gordon College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 263 Arif Naushahi

(in Turkey it was reprinted by Huseyin Hilmi Isik from Hakikat Kitabevi, Istan- bul, 1397h/1977). The oldest edition of Maktūbāt was printed in Ahmadi Press, Delhi,1288h/1871 (Naushahi, (2012) I/669) and after that in 1290h/1873 in Mur- tazavi Press of Delhi (Ibid, I/669). Munshi Neval Kishor (1836-1895) the most prominent publisher of Oriental books in India, repeatedly printed the Maktūbāt. During the time period of thirty years i.e.1877-1906, he printed 8th time this book (Ibid, I/669). But above mentioned editions are not reliable and authentic. The most reliable and popular edition of Maktūbāt was edited by Nur Ahmad Pasruri Amritsari, which was first published in 9 parts from Amratsar, India during 1327- 34h/1909-15.The facsimile editions of this edition have been re-printed in Pakis- tan and Turkey many times. These are calligraphic editions. An Iranian edition entitled Maktūbāt-i-Imām-i-Rabbānī is composed by computer software, edited by Muhammad Ayyub Ganji-Hasan Zarai, Zahedan, Intishārāt-i Siddīqī, 1383 h.sh./1425 h.q. Two vols. 775+796 pages. Second and third volumes are in one bind. In Zahedan editon of Maktūbāt (vol.1, p. 47), the editor used two Persian manuscripts and one Arabic translation. Persian manuscripts are from Delhi and Karachi (Kitābkhāna-i- Dārul-‘ulūm-i Karachi). But he did not mention the library name and inventory numbers of Delhi ms. He used Peshawar (Pakistan) edition Arabic translation of Maktūbāt. In addition, the editor (Ganji) wrote that (vol. 1, p. 49, footnote: 1), for comparison (dar kar-i mutabaqa-i nuskhaha) he used first volume of Nur Ahmed Amritsari (Karachi edition), and he used a manuscript of se- cond and third volume which was corrected by Muhammad Abdullah Naqshbandi Mujaddidi. This manuscript is in the private library of a friend of the editor (Ganji) in UAE (Emarat-i Muttahida-i Arabi).

Nur Ahmad edition of Maktūbāt: Nur Ahmad was a Muslim scholar of sub-continent with command on Arabic (a town in Sialkot (Pakistan ,پسرورand Persian languages. He was born in Pasror district. He went to Hijaz in 1299 h/1881 and studied in Madrassa-e saulatiya ٔمدرسہ in Mekka and after that he was appointed as teacher in same school where صولتیہ he worked for 6 or 7 years. In Mekka he became a murid of Imdad Allah Muhajer Makki (d.1317h) in and returned to India. In 1315h/1897 he shifted to Amritsar, a city in Indian Punjab. After the death of Imdad Allah he became a disciple of Shah Abualkhair Dehlavi in Mujaddadi Naqshbandi order. He died on 13 Sha’ban 1348h/14January 1930 and buried in Amritsar (Muhammad Musa (1384h)10-15). 264 Necessity of a New Critical Edition Of Maktūbāt-i Imām-i Rabbānī

We should acknowledge the efforts of Nur Ahmad for preparing an authentic edition of Maktūbāt. He himself told that first he collected some manuscripts and printed copies of Maktūbāt, as well Arabic translation by Muhammad Murad Al- Manzilvi published in Egypt. He was busy in comparison of copies for more than 3 years. Then he went to Sarhind and remained for 1 month there for comparison with copy in possession of Sajjada Nashin of Imām-i-Rabbānī shirin. Nur Ahmad explained what he has done: 1. Comparison of manuscripts more than once. 2. Nothing was ignored in case of different versions of each copy. 3. Identification of all mentioned in Maktūbāt. 4. Resolving the difficult words and re-arranging the unclear phrases. 5. Fixing a new table of contents or an abstract of Maktūbāt. 6. Persian translation of Arabic phrases. 7. To dispel the bad and void imagination, he made some comments with some unveiled words. 8. Persian translation of all Arabic phrases, Quranic verses and hadiths on mar- gin. .of all Arabic phrases اعراب گذاری Giving the pronunciation affects .9 10. Some foot notes about the life of persons mentioned in Maktūbāt. Nur Ahmad edited version was completed in 9 parts and it was first printed and published from his own Mujaddadi Press in Amritsar during time period of 1327-34 h./1909-16. According to lunar calendar 100 years has been passed on first edition of Nur Ahmad. Now it is time to revise or revive this edition.

Scheme for a critical edition of MAKTŪBĀT E IMĀM-i- RABBĀNĪ: My scheme or outline for a critical edition of Maktūbāt is in 4 parts. 1. Analytical Preface ٔمقدمہ تحلیلی متن فارسی با اختالف نسخ Persian text with variants .2 تعلیقات و حواشی Comments and Notes .3 فهارس تحلیلی Analytical Indexes .4 265 Arif Naushahi

Preface: This part should include: Life history of Shaikh . Life history of compilers of Maktūbāt and how they compiled the letters. Short history of legacy of compilation of Mashaykh’s letters in Islamic culture. Importance and analysis of Ahmad Sirhindi Maktūbāt as a source of Islamic thought and Persian literature. Survey of works has been done so for regarding Maktūbāt like translations, commentaries, abridgments and analysis. Survey of Important manuscripts and printed editions of Maktūbāt all over the world. Introduction of manuscripts and printed editions used in this particular edition. Method of editing used by editor/editors for this particular edition. Persian Text: Text should be based on one of oldest reliable manuscripts of Maktūbāt and variant should be given at the bottom of page based on some other older manuscripts as well as Nur Ahmad edition. Some recommended manuscripts of Maktūbāt till the end of 11th century hijra are as below. 1. Kabul, Qal’a-y-Javvad, Khanqah-i-Naqshbandiyya. Prof. Mujaddadi, a Pakistani scholar, visited Kabul in 1977 and saw this manuscript of Maktūbāt. According to Prof. Mujaddadi there was an endorsement at the end of this copy that it was corrected by Khawaja Muhammad Ma’sum (d.1079h) son of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi and he wrote some explanatory notes also. Prof. Mujaddadi published photos of some pages of this mss at the end of Maqamat-i-Masumi vol.4, pp.542-44 (Lahore, 2004). Khanqah-i-Naqshbandiyya, Kabul was destroyed du- ring the Soviet Union invention of Afghanistan in 1978 and we do not know where about of this mss (Mujaddadi(2002)58-59). -Islamabad, Ganj Bakhsh library, No.1495, dated 14 Muharram 1056 h. vol.1&2 only. (Monzavi(1984),III/2002). -Karachi, Prof. Nawaz Ali Shawq, 22 Safar 1060 h, exists only after the letter no.57, 41 folios. (Khizr Naushahi,(1993)118). -Karachi, National Museum of Pakistan, No.N.M.1952-1056/5, no date, com- pared by Nur Muhammad b.Shaikh Pir Muhammad Abbasi Sultanpuri in 1065 h. vol. 2 only (Naushahi (1983), 273). -Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh,Habib Ganj collection, No.21/271, cop- 266 Necessity of a New Critical Edition Of Maktūbāt-i Imām-i Rabbānī

no date but with a stamp on title ’’ کاتب الحروف فقیر حافظ ابوالحسن ولد ابو محمد قریشی yist من مواھب اللہ و عطایاہ و مننھ ِہ علی ِعبدہ ابی الحسن النقشبندی page dated 1070 h and a note .vol. II &III ,السندی المدنی عفی عنہ -Islamabad, Ganj Bakhsh library, No: 8794 dated 1079h. vol. 2 only (Monzavi (1984), III/2002-3). - Tashkent, Biruni Oriental Institute Library, No: 482/8 (ff.107b-462a). Copy date: 1079h/1668. No copier mentioned (Samanov (1955), III/334-335). -Tashkent, Biruni Oriental Institute Library, No: 1499, (307 ff.). Copier: Ruhul- lah Sirhindi. Copy date: 1080h /1669(Samanov(1955),III/334-335). -Peshawar, Islamia College Library, No.939, dated 19 Ramadan 1082h (Mon�- zavi (1984), III/2003). -Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, No.University Collection Farsiya mazhab tasavvuf 23(a &b),5 Safar 1098h/30th year of Alimgiri, copyist of last 27 folios is Mir Shukr Allah, vol.II&III. Comments and Notes: This is the most important part of this project. All items which are mentioned in Maktūbāt like Qur’an citations ,hadiths, sayings by reli- gious notables, terms and technical vocabulary, historical events, persons, groups, books, places, Arabic and Persian verses should be commented by authentic and first hand sources. Especially the life history should be given of persons on the receiving end of Imām-i-Rabbānī’s letters. Some commentaries of Maktūbāt and indexes of Maktūbāt are already available. These kinds of books are useful during comments and notes on Maktūbāt. (For details see: Mujaddadi (2002), 64- 69). Analytical Indexes: Maktūbāt should have following indexes: 1. Qur’an citations, 2. Hadiths, 3. Sayings by religious notables, 4. Terms and technical vocabulary, 5. Persons, 6. Groups, 7. Books, 8. Places, 9. Arabic and Persian verses, 10. Letter page number correspondence chart with reference to this particular edition. There are already some indexes of Maktūbāt are available which can help in preparing indexes like: 1. Arthur F.Buehler’s book Analytical Indexes for the collected letters of Ahmad -published by Iqbal Academy Paki فهارس تحلیلی ھشتگانہ مکتوبات احمد سرھندیSirhindi stan, Lahore, 2001. 2. Abu Kalim Muhammad Fāni, Takhrij Ahādis al-Maktūbāt, Khanewal (Paki- 267 Arif Naushahi

stan), 2005. This project needs a full support of an organization taking the responsibly of es- tablishing a board of experts, collecting the copies of Maktūbāt, meeting the other needs of project, facilitating for composing and printing of book and distribution. I think some Turkish based Naqshbandi/Mujaddadi organizations like Hudayi Foun- dation, Ihlas Vakfi and Osman Hulusi Efendi Vakfi can fulfill this demand. References Khizr Naushahi, (1993), Ganjina-y-Shauq, Karachi. MONZAVI, Ahmad (1984), Union Catalogue of the Persian Manuscripts in Islamabad, Iran Pakistan Institute ,فہرست مشترک نسخہ ھای خطی فارسی پاکستان Pakistan of Persian Studies, Vol.III. مکتوبات امام ربانی مرتبہ نور احمد امرتسری،مطبوعہ الھور،نور(Muhammad Musa (1384h کمپمنی جلد اول ۱۳۸۴ م حضرت الحاج موالنا نور احمد پسروری امرت سری مصحح ومحشی مکتوبات شریف کے مختصر سوانح حیات مقدمہ’’ در البینات شرح مکتوبات ،ابوالبیان(MUJADADDI, Muhammad Iqbal (2002 محمد سعید احمد مجددی، الھور،تنظیم االسالم پبلی کیشنز Iran فھرست نسخہ ھای خطی فارسی موزہ ملی پاکستان،کراچی,(NAUSHAHI, Arif (1983 Pakistan Institute of Persian Studies, Islamabad.

Tehran, Miras,کتابشناسی آثار فارسی چاپ شدہ در شبہ قارہ,(NAUSHAHI, Arif (2012 Maktoob,Vol.1 فھرست مخطوطات فارسی پاکستان,(NAUSHAHI, Arif (under press Samanov, A.A. (1955), Sobranie Vostochnikh Rukopisey Akademii Nauk Uz- bekskoy SSR,Tashkent,vol. 3.

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