Biography:Syed Waheed Ashraf

Short description: Indian Sufi scholar and poet

Syed Waheed Ashraf
Title	Allama, Shaikhe Tariqat
Personal
Born	(1933-02-04) 4 February 1933
Religion	Islam
Nationality	Indian
Era	Present
Region	India
Main interest(s)	Sufism
Notable work(s)	Sufism, Arabic, English, Urdu and Persian quatrains (Rubai) and Naat, Persian and Urdu literary criticism, Islamic studies

Syed Waheed Ashraf is an Indian Sufi scholar and poet in Persian and Urdu. Ashraf received his B.A., M.A. and PhD (1965) degrees from Aligarh Muslim University. The title of his doctoral dissertation was A Critical Edition of Lataife Ashrafi. After serving at a number of Indian universities (Punjabi University at Patiala, M.S. University of Baroda and the University of Madras), Ashraf retired as head of the department of Arabic, Persian and Urdu at the University of Madras in 1993. Fluent in seven languages (Pahlavi, Persian, Arabic, Urdu, English, Hindi and Gujarati), he writes in Urdu, Persian and English, has written, edited or compiled over 35 books. Ashraf has focused on upholding and propagating the principles and practices of Sufism.

Biography

Parents

Ashraf traces his lineage to a family of Syeds in Kichhauchha Sharif, a small town in the district of Ambedkar Nagar, eastern Uttar Pradesh. He was born on 4 February 1933, the third child of librarian Syed Habeeb Ashraf and Syeda Saeeda. Habeeb worked in the village library; although he was enrolled at Firangi Mahal, a madrasa in Lucknow, he did not complete his education due to the death of his father. He was well-versed in Ilmul Jafar and Ilmul Ramal (Islamic geomancy). Habeeb wrote to his eldest son, Syed Amin Ashraf (who was stationed in Aligarh), six months before his death asking him to be home on 3 February 1972 for his burial.

Syeda Saeeda was the daughter of a Unani doctor in the village. Before her marriage, she assisted her father in the preparation of drugs in his dispensary and acquired a knowledge of Unani medicine (particularly diseases of women and children).

Siblings

Habeeb and Syeda had four sons and three daughters. The two elder sons were Syed Amin Ashraf and Syed Hameed Ashraf. The youngest son (and their fifth child) was Syed Ashraf. Their daughters were Syeda Mahmooda, Syeda Masooda and Syeda Raheen. Syed Amin Ashraf received his PhD in English literature from Aligarh Muslim University, and later taught in the same department. Amin Ashraf is regarded as an accomplished poet in Urdu ghazals. He has compiled three poetic collections – Jadae Shab, Bahare Ijaad and Qafase Rang – and a collection of his papers in a book, Bargo Bar. He has received awards from Ghalib Academy, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy in Lucknow. Several critical essays about his poetry have been published. Their second son, Syed Hameed Ashraf (who died in 1993), studied Shariah at Al Jamiatul Ashrafia Mubarakpur and Darul Uloom Deoband, received B.A., M.A. and M.Phil degrees in Arabic literature from Aligarh Muslim University and taught at a number of Indian madrasas. The title of his M.Phil disseration was, 'Allama Syed Mohammad Murtaza Zubaidi Bilgirami: hayat aur ilmi karname'. Syed Waheed Ashraf learned Islamic theology from his brother, Syed Hameed Ashraf.

Education

Ashraf received his primary education from the village madrasa and graduated from middle school in Baskhari, a small town near his home, in 1948. He received his high-school certificate from Mohd. Hasan Inter College in Jaunpur District. After high school, Ashraf suspended his studies for seven years due to poor health. He then earned his undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees (1965) from Aligarh Muslim University.

Professional career

After receiving his PhD, Ashraf was a temporary lecturer at Punjabi University in Patiala for a year before returning to Aligarh University as a UGC senior research fellow. In 1971, he received a permanent faculty position as a lecturer at M.S. University of Baroda in Gujarat. In 1977, Ashraf joined the University of Madras as a reader in Persian. He became a professor in 1982, and retired as head of the department of Arabic, Persian and Urdu at the University of Madras in 1993.

Spiritual odyssey

Ashraf was devoted to Sufi literature. After completing his education at Aligarh Muslim University, he gave spiritual allegiance (baith) to Syed Qadeer Ahmad Ashrafiul Jilani in Kichaucha Sharif. He was initiated into the Ashrafiya order, and Jilani made him his successor (khalifa). Ashraf delivered lectures on Masnavi Maulan Rum at his home in Baroda.

Works

Books

Sufism and Islamic studies

Urdu

• Hayate Makhdoom Syed Ashraf Jahangir Semnani(1975) Second Ed.(2017) ISBN:978-93-85295-54-6, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India HAYATE MAKHDOOM SYED ASHRAF JAHANGIR SEMNANI (2nd Ed.), 2017 
• Tasawwuf (Part I ) (1988),Reprint (2016) ISBN:978-93-85295-28-7, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India
• Tasawwuf (Part II ) (2020), ISBN:978-93-85295-13-3, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India
• Tafsīr-e-Ashrafi (Iradat), Part I
• Tafsīr-e-Ashrafi (Bayat), Part II
• Qāal-Alashraf
• Qāal-Ussufia
• Me'Rāj Sharīf (2003)
• Roza (1996)
• Mumin (2003)
• Hajje Tamattu (2010)-*Chand Duyain Aur Mukhtasar Aurade Ashrafia (Urdu and Arabic, 2007)

Persian

• Jawahirus-Sulūk (translated and illustrated)
• Latāif-e-Ashrafi and Maktubāt-e-Ashrafi As Sources of History of Medieval India (sponsored by the Indian Council of Historical Research)
• Muqaddema-e-Latāif-e-Ashrafi. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, 1976.[1]
• Latāif-e-Ashrafi, part I (edited and annotated, 2010)
• Latāif-e-Ashrafi, part II (edited and annotated, 2010)
• Latāif-e-Ashrafi, part III (edited and annotated, 2010)

English

• The Exoteric and Esoteric Aspects of Islamic Prayers (2005)

Poetry

Urdu

• Rubai(1987)
• Tajalliyāt First Ed.(1996), Second Ed.(2018) ISBN:978-93-85295-76-8, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India
• Munājāt First Ed.(2002), Second Ed.(2022) ISBN:978-93-85295-36-2, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India
• Āyāt First Ed.(1996), Second Ed.(2020) ISBN:93-85295-12-8, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India
• Saughāt (2005)
• ChaiNama (2016)
• Barakaat First Ed.(2021), ISBN:978-93-84434-62-5, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India

Persian

• Parwaaze Tafakkur (2015)
• Ruba'i: Part I (2010)
• Ruba'i: Part II
• Daryā Bi Qatrah (2009)

Criticism

Urdu

• Fida (Pupil of Ghalib; Co-Author Malik Ram, First Edition 1983))Second Edition (2015)
• Afsar Maudoodi
• Mutalae Afsar Maudoodi (2012)
• Muqaddema-e-RubaiFirst Ed.(2001), Reprint (2019) ISBN:978-93-85295-00-4, Maktaba Jamia Ltd, Shamshad Market, Aligarh 202002, India
• Urdu Zaban Mein Na'at Gū'ī Ka Fan
• Rūh-e-Mahmood
• Tauzeehāt

Persian

• Tafheemāt
• Qasāid-e-Zauqi Vellori (translated, illustrated and edited)

Letters

• Irtibāt-o-Inekaas (Urdu and English)

English

• "The Political and Economic Thoughts of Hadrat Saiyed Ashraf Jahangir", Indo-Iranica, The Quarterly Organ of the Iran Society, Volume 56, March, June, September and December 2003, Numbers 1 to 4. Iran Society, 12 Dr. M. Ishaque Road, Kolkata 700,016.
• "Avicenna's Explanation of Destiny",Indo-Iranica, The Quarterly Organ of the Iran Society,Volume-34: Nos: 1 to 4: March- Dec: 1981: IBN SINA NUMBER Iran Society, 12 Dr. M. Ishaque Road, Kolkata 700,016.
• "Nationalism in Urdu Poetry" Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras, Volume 31 (1982), p. 391.
• "An Introduction to the Persian Poetry of Iqbal" in Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras, Volume 30i (1980), p. 1-14.
• "Modern Persian Prose" Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras, Volume xxviii, part 2 p. 1-8 (1979)
• "Sufism" ,Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras, Volume 32(I) (1984), p. 55-72.
• "The contribution of the House of Qutb-e-Vellore to Persian Literature" ,Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras, pages 1–22, volume xxx part2 (1981)
• "A Scholastic Approach To Some Muslim Religious Movements In India During 14th Century A.H., Annals of Oriental Research, University of Madras, Pages 1–30, Volume xxxi part 1, (1982)

Urdu

• Urdu Mein Naat Goi Ka Fan-Naat Rang- Vol. 14 (اردو میں نعت گوئی کا فن ،- ڈاکٹر سیّد وحید اشرف کچھوچھوی)
• Nafhatul- Uns par Tahqeeki Nazar(1),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Jan. 1966 [2]
• Nafhatul -Uns par Tahqeeki Nazar(2),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Feb. 1966 [3]
• Tareekhe Paidaisho Wafaat Hazrat Syed Ashraf Jahangir Semnani,Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Mar. 1966 [4]
• Tasawwufe Islami Par Ek Hindustani Kitaab(1),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Aug. 1968 [5]
• Tasawwufe Islami Par EK Hindustani Kitaab (2),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Sept. 1968 [6]
• Tasawwuf o Sulluk Shah Hamdani Ki Tahreeron Mein (1),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Jan. 1989 [7]
• Tasawwuf o Sulluk Shah Hamdani Ki Tahreeron Mein (2),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Feb. 1989 [8]
• Khwaja Hafiz Sheerazi Ki Shairi Mein Sulook(1),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Nov. 1991 [9]
• Khwaja Hafiz Sheerazi Ki Shairi Mein Sulook(2),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh, Dec. 1991 [10]
• Iqbal Ki Faarsi Shairi par Ek Ijmaali Nazar(1),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Jan.1995 [11]
• Iqbal Ki Faarsi Shairi par Ek Ijmaali Nazar(2),Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh, Mar.1995 [12]
• Amir Khusro Bahaisiate Faarsi Rubai Nigaar,,Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh, Feb. 2001 [13]
• Abdul Qadir Fakhri Maharban,Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,Oct.2002 [14]
• Hazrat Zauqi Ki Farsi Shairi,Maarif,Darul Musannafein,Azamgarh,May2003 [15]
• Ahmad Raza Ki Farsi Aur Urdu Shairi, Al-Meezan Monthly, Bombay, Imam Ahmad Raza Number, 1976
• Masnavi Asrare Khudi Ki Fikri Buniyaad, Ziyae Wajeeh Monthly, Rampur

Persian

• "Rubaiyaat (Amir Khusro)"
• "Mutalae Hafiz Shirazi Az Hais Zabaano Subk Bayaan", Danish 56-57, 3645(مطالعه خواجه حافظ شیرازی از حیث زبان و سبک) -دانش،57 و 56.*3645