SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MALFUZ LITERATURE AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF HISTORY: A CRITICAL STUDY ON THE TADHKIRAT AL-MURAD AS THE EARLIEST MALFUZ COMPILED IN SINDH

• Published in: Journal of the Pakistan Historical Society Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 83 - 99
• Main Author: Naz, Humera
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Karachi Pakistan Historical Society 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Antiquarian materials; Asian literature; India; Islam; Mysticism; Studies; India
• ISSN: 0030-9796

The literal meaning of malfuz is 'words, sayings, utterances or discourses' but it is generally used for the table-talks of Sufi saints or proceedings of their regular periodic meetings, assemblies and audiences given to the disciples and admirers popularly. These are a sort of dialogical compendiums indicative of the interchange and decisions on a variety of subjects, not treated necessarily in all their fullness. The Tadhkirat al-Murad of Hafiz Haji Muhammad Husayn Safa'i alias Shaykh Husayn Safa'i Thattawi is also one of such impressive and spectacular work complied almost five hundred years ago. It is regarded as the earliest extant work of the genre of tadhkirah cum malfuz compiled in Sindh. The Tadhkirat al-Murad can be used as a literary vehicle for expressing Sufi doctrines in the fine hagiography like the other works of its genre. Like a story teller and a source of spiritual guidance regarding the principles of Sufism, the author's creative imagination as well as his spiritual insight draws an interesting and effective sketch of his murshid's life and times.