حضرت مجدد الف ثانی کے شیخ فرید کے نام مکاتیب کا موضوعاتی مطالعہ

A Thematic Study of Imām Aḥmad Sirhindī’s Letters to Shaykh Farīd (Maktūbāt-e-Imām Rabbānī)

Abstract

The commentaries and abridgments of the letters of Ḥazrat Imām Rabbānī were compiled in order to elucidate his intellectual and doctrinal discussions. Much attention was devoted to this aspect of the Maktūbāt, yet little effort was made to understand them from the perspective of the maktūb ilayhim (addresses). These letters are addressed to spiritual personalities, scholars, and nobles. Ḥazrat Mujaddid Alif-Thānī provided guidance for all these groups. Among the nobles, a prominent name is Shaykh Farīd. In the Akbari era, none equaled his stature. Ḥazrat Mujaddid wrote twenty-two letters to Shaykh Farīd. A careful study of their content reveals that subjects related to intellectual, social, political and tasawwuf are extensively discussed, the salient point is that, at no place is the emphasis on adherence to the principles of Sharī‘ah and emulation of the Prophetic way, was neglected. Moreover, the exhortation toward serving humanity is also kept constantly in view. From these letters, principles of Islamic preaching (Dʿawa), as well as methods grounded in wisdom and prudence, also emerge.