MODERN ISMAILI MUSLIM LITERATURE FROM CENTRAL ASIA

(1930 C.E. TO THE PRESENT)

One of the greatest contributions from Northern Areas of Pakistan is the voluminous work of Distinguished Professor Allamah Nasir al-Din “Nasir’ Hunzai (D. Litt, Rutherford University). He speaks nine languages: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Shina, Burushaski, Chitrali, Punjabi and English. He has translated some difficult works from Persian to Urdu. He has written extensively in Urdu and Burushaski, and has fewer publications in Persian and Turkish. ‘Allamah Sahib’s literature has been translated into several languages. Dr. Faquir M. Hunza’i, Mrs. Rashida Noormohamed-Hunza’i, Ms. Zain Rahim Qasim, Mr. Khan Muhammad and Mr. Gulam Abbas have collectively translated 43 works into English. One of ‘Allamah Sahib’s major works, Qur’ani ‘Ilaj, have been translated into French by ‘Abdur Rahman Rener and a booklet, Sixty Questions, has been translated into Swedish by Svensk Oversattning and Amina Punja. Mr. Habib Rajan has translated 25 works into Gujrati.The full impact of his literature has not been felt because a large body of literature still has to be translated in accessible languages, especially English and is not widely distributed.

Qur’ânic Healing (Qur’ani Ilâj): The second edition of this book is a volume of 168 pages containing two radio interviews, preface, twenty-six articles, an appendix and a book review. ‘Allamah Sahib’s model of human well being includes soundness of body, soul and intellect. Therefore, in order to be fully protected, one has take care of the physical body but pay more attention to the internal (spiritual, ethical, ideological and intellectual) diseases because these internal diseases are subtle and dangerous. The first ten articles explain the principles of Qur’anic healing through piety, voice and Divine remembrance. The most intriguing chapter is ‘Man in the World – World in the Man’ in which ‘Allamah Sahib shows that each human is finite in the physical sphere but is potentially infinite in the spiritual and intellectual worlds because the whole universe in a subtle form is hidden in him. He defines spiritual science and its applications in articles 11 through 18. The last 7 articles describe methods to activate the universe within oneself.

Spiritual Healing (Ruhâni Ilâj): This book is a volume of 108 pages containing a preface and twenty-three articles on the topics of healing the soul. The first article shows that the Qur’an is a spirit and not just a written book. The second article shows that Divine remembrance leads to the satisfaction of heart and is a cure for all kinds on internal diseases such as false fear, inferiority complex, sadness, vanity, ignorance, pride, laziness and mental confusion. There are three articles on dreams. ‘Allamah Sahib shows that dreams are indicators of the state of soul and can be improved through Divine remembrance. There are two articles which list prayers from the Holy Quran and their impact on the development of soul. There are several articles dealing on Personal World and its development through the cycle of renewal, minor resurrection, and heavenly love. The role of Izra’il, the angel of death and resurrection, is described in the article ‘Izra’ili Wisdom’ and is a continuation of the article ‘Germs and power of ‘Izra’il’ from Qur’anic Healing. An article titled ‘Perfect Man’ describes the status of Prophets and chosen and special friends of God and their role in guiding humanity. This book also contains information on the world of subtle particles (soul) and the relationship between the ‘Lower I’ of human beings with the ‘Higher I’.

Healing Through Knowledge (Ilmi Ilâj): This book is a volume of 161 pages containing a preface and thirty-two articles on the topics of healing such as curing bad dreams, anger, insinuation and incubus. Different cures through hunger, rapid Divine remembrance, goodwill and supplication are described. Other articles describe the concept of death before death, Qur’anic wonders and marvels, and the path of Prophets and spiritual health. The last article describes luminous time and luminous prayer, and their impact on the development of the personal world.