The man of God is a boundless sea
The man of God rains pearls without a cloud
The man of God is made wise by the truth
The man of God is not learned from book.
(Rumi)
From the 9th century onwards, Sufism has encapsulated Islamic Spirituality. Sufism soon became the name of a mystical path by which people seek the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. Sufism, known as Tassawuf in the Arabic speaking world is a form of Islamic mysticism that emphasis introspection and spirituality closeness with God.
Sufism is much misunderstood by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. While Muslims think that Sufis are innovators in the religion while as non-Muslims think that Sufis offer a peaceful alternative to violent face of Islam and therefore acceptable to them.
Here in this scenario we must appreciate the Author who has come up with a book under the name and style of “WINGS OF LOVE” which is the outcome of Author’s deep research on the subject and also having good hold on the Sufi path, Sufi Tradition, Remembrance of God and way of love from Moulana Rumi to our Sufi writers. The Author seems to be well read about our own Kashmiri Sufis and their sayings.
The Author in this book beautifully intertwines it with his own experience in order to make it approachable towards the readers. Adorned with extraordinary saying of different Sufis in various languages the book consists of 56 chapters with the finest and ideal name of every chapter which gives an additional weightage to the book and makes its contents distinct and appealing.
“Wings of Love” is enlightened with the sayings of Sufis and also gives information about the spirit of Sufism and also tries to offer universal ethics, mediation practices and also its internal spiritual current. The book is started with a chapter “Love and Service are the Paths to Higher Consciousness” which is undoubtedly the wonderful precursory for this subject in whom Author has engrossing the concept of Sufism in two parts: Path of love and Path of service. The chapter is started with the couplet of Dr. Iqbal as;
“O God, guide the soul to that realm where speech may come forth without words,
If you desire to pass beyond name and word you must deliver yourself from selfishness entirely.”
Then same is propped by the saying of Shamas Faqir as;
“The sea is copious with pearls, the diver alone can seize,
The pearl is within the oyster, there is no place for a swimmer.”
The important aspect of the book is that the Author is having a comprehensible understanding of Holy Quran and Hadith, which helped Author to bring the sayings of various Sufis within the ambit of Holy Quran as is evident from the first Chapter as quoted;
That when someone announced that he liked to appear beautiful ( to men that is) the prophet SAW replied by saying God deserves that more than you, which means God loves beauty and if you beautify yourself for him, he will love you.
As such all the chapters are catching the interest yet there are some chapters titled as Recognize your own Galaxy, A Peril to Pearl, Inner Expedition, Cobweb of a Vacant Room, Desire to Devise or Destroy, You have too much and I die for a fraction, Pleasure Is But a Creation of Pains and in last chapter No. 56 Knowledge its connotation and span in the Light of Quran and Traditions which are in itself emollient and anodyne.
The Author has delineated the sayings of Sufis in various languages like Persian, Sanskrit, English and Kashmiri and tends to overlook the importance of heart and sincere emotions. The Author has made emphatic on interfaith dialogue and service to humanity are important aspects of Sufism. ”Wings of Love” is a treasure of love towards Sufism and the Author has tried his expertise to dispense the sayings of Sufis in such a manner so as to keep its soul and spirit cognizant and at the same time became perspicuous and graspable for the readers.
Perusal of this book proffer the intention of the Author who must be a savant which is diversely accurate, as the Author is an oracle on the Sufism who is an eminent and acclaimed avowed as Mushtaque B. Barq. Besides columnist, the author is a Poet and short story writer. His earlier translation work; Mystic voices of Kashmir and Verses of Wahab Khar. He teaches English literature and is associated with various Literary Clubs and Forums. The author was awarded Editor’s choice award for outstanding achievement in poetry by Poetry.com and International library of Poetry in the year 2007. The Author is a regular columnist of Kashmir Images as well.
The book is instrumental not only for the students of Sufism but for the common man who intends to seek the knowledge about the Sufism and in order to understand the sayings of various Sufis. The author has succeeded in bringing Sufi sayings to such a level from which a common mind get allured.
The book review is incomplete if the name of the publisher is not mentioned as the publisher has given the sensational and incredible outer look to the book which is so fascinating, charismatic and mesmerizing for the readers besides its visually crystal clear printing on an exceptionally remarkable paper quality which the reader can perceive while flipping the pages during reading. This well-known reputed publisher has earned name and fame in this field from last more than 150 years who is familiar as Kitab Mahal(Publishers and distributors) which is a unit of Sheikh Bashir Ahmad and Sons, Tajran-e-Kutub.
I deem it my proper to conclude this write up with an advice from the Author as;
There are five thieves stealing time out of our life with each passing moment, they are Lust, Anger, Avarice, Attachments and ego. And if we are ever to find a peace of soul, we must free ourselves from these five crooks.
“Strive to discover the mystery before life is taken from you,
If while living you fail to find yourself to know yourself,
How will you be able to understand?
The secret of your existence when you die”.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Asrar Ali is an Advocate
