The legendary Amir Khusros verse set to strains of Sufi music was the appropriate backdrop for the launch of Sadia Dehlvis book,Sufism: The Heart of Islam (HarperCollins,Rs 650),held at Delhis Le Meridien on Thursday.
The book provides insight into the lives of great Sufi mystics like Baba Bulleshah,Baba Farid,Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti apart from a range of poetry written by them. The book would have been incomplete without these detailed profiles that had a huge impact on people converting to Islam. Since song and dance is such an integral part of Sufism,their poetry adds depth to the book, said Dehlvi. In the book,she has lucidly described the Sufi path with an interesting assessment of Sufisms connect with Muslim and non Muslim societies,in turn also highlighting the widespread misunderstanding about Sufism as a faith which separates it from Islam. Sufism is not an innovation but a continuation of Islam that leads to the Prophet, she added.
Sadias transformation is commendable. Her perspective on Sufism and spirituality is unique, said author Khushwant Singh. Professor Mushirul Hasan,VC of Jamia Milia Islamia,launched the book along with Singh,while artists Arpana Caur and Sudhir Dar looked on.
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