Maqamat I Eishan Hazrat Shaikh Yaqoob Sarfi Ra

The book is English translation of the book written in Persian verse in 1011 AH/1602 AD by a great Sufi Saint of Kashmir Khwaja Habibullah Nowshehri about the stations of his preceptor Hazrat Shaikh Yaqoob Sarfi (RA)- the unparalleled scholar saint of Kashmir. The book describes the aspects of Shaikh Yaqoob's in esoteric and exoteric knowledge and the miraculous events that occured during his travel to Afghanistan, Central Asia, Arabia and Indian subcontinent in 16th century AD. The book was first translated in to Urdu language and now in English for the readers conversant with English language.

This Masnavi covers the subject of the stages of preceptor and is written in 1011 AH. Although it is not the complete biography of Hazrat Shaikh Yaqub Sarfi in poetry, yet we get reliable information about some important spiritual and physical aspects of his pious life as the author himself too has been his cherished Khalifa. This book reflects successfully the all told physical and spiritual personality of the praised one and is looked upon with the eyes of great faith.

The book was written in Persian language by the author Abul Hasan Kubravi lately translated in to Urdu language by Dr. Sayida Ruqaya HOD Persian Deptt. University of Kashmir and subsequently translated in to English by Sayid Ashraf Shah for the benefit of English readers. The book contains the biographies of the saints with their spiritual lineages. The book has been dedicated by the author to the great spiritual saint Shaikh Ashraf Fatehkadli known as Asha Baba to people.

The book that comprises of three volumes covers a research work of three decades, by way of collection of centuries old handwritten manuscripts mostly in Arabic and Persian languages and getting these translated in to Urdu and now in English.Vol I covers History of Unique way of introduction of Islam in Kashmir, description of fourteen Sufi Orders and those common in Kashmir. Vol. II covers the translation of a 150 year old Persian poetry manuscript that is based on the miraculous acts performed by the saints mentioned therein and Vol. III describes the brief life sketches of these saints and those of their perceptors collected from different available sources.

Part I of this book deals briefly with the history of Islam and Part II describes the unique way of advent of Islam in Kashmir starting with the arrival of two Sahabis (companions of the Prophet Muhammad SAWS) in Kashmir in Prophets time on their way to China along the Silk Route and subsequent arrivals of saints and Sayids resulting in to the mass conversion of people to Islam.

The book covers the incidents in the life of the author from his childhood till date, spanning about eight decades. These incidents were recalled during his stay in UAE in 2014 and were subsequently update to present date 2021 at Srinagar. Many of the incidents were hair-raising witnessing narrow escape from death. It is bound to make an interesting reading for all sections of people.