Writing On Water ( A Case Study Of Shafi’i Kadkani’s Book On Abu’l Hasan Kharaqani )

Abstract

Dr.Muhammad Reza Shafi’iKadkani, Professor of Tehran University, Iran is a worldlyrenowned scholar of Persian and Sufi Literature. In a series of books about great Sufis of Islam and Persia he presented a Persian book about Abu’lHasanKharaqani(d.425 /1033) entitled NEVESHTEH BAR DARYA (WRITING ON WATER or RIVER),Published by Sokhan,Tehran,2005 in a series of publications “from the heritage of Iranian Sufism”.The book comprised of 7chapters:
1. A comprehensive preface by author about life history, sayings and teachings of Abu’lHasanKharaqani and his place in Islamic mystics.
2. An extract from Persian text of TazkeratulAuliya of Attar Nishaburi about Kharaqani.
3. Persian text of an old treatise Zekr e Qutabalsalkin about Kharaqani.
4. A summary of Noor’l ‘uloom, a 7th century Hijra book about Kharaqani.
5. Some editions from a rare manuscript of TazkeratulAuliya of Attar Nishaburi about Kharaqani.
6. Kharaqaniwas quoted by others (from Qushairi to Jami(.
7. Commentaryof NajmuddinRazi on a quotation by Kharaqani: Dr.Kadkani concluded his book with some detailed notes, indexes and bibliography. The book is agreat scholarly effort by author about life history and teachings of Abu’lHasanKharaqani and latest research work on Abu’lHasanKharaqani.