Ashraf Jahangir Semnani
Indian Sufi saint
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani[1] (Urdu: سلطان سید مخدوم اشرف جہانگیر سمنانی) (1285–1386)[2][3][4][5] was an Iranian Sufi saint from Semnan, Iran. He was the founder of the Ashrafi Sufi order. He is India's third most influential Sufi saint after Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer and Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi.[6]
- Jahangir
- Mehboobe-Yazdani
- Qudwatul Kubra
- Sultan
- Ashraf Jahangir
- Makhdoom-e-Simnani
Ashraf Jahangir Semnani | |
|---|---|
| |
| Title |
|
| Personal life | |
| Born | 1289 CE (688 AH) Semnan (in modern Iran) |
| Died | 1425 CE (28 Muharram 808 AH) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Muslim leader | |
| Based in | Kichaucha, Northern India |
Period in office | Late 12th century to 13th century |
| Predecessor | Alaul Haq Pandavi |
| Successor | Abdur-Razzaq Nurul-Ain |
His father Sultan Ibrahim Noorbaksh was the local ruler of Semnan.[7]
Early life
After his father's death, Semnani then aged 17, became the ruler of Semnan. He was said to be inclined towards mysticism. He enjoyed the company of Ruknuddin Ala ul Daula Semnani.[8]
At the age of 23, Semnani abdicated his throne in favor of his brother Sultan Muhammad. Thereafter, Semnani migrated to Bengal in order to meet Alaul Haq Pandavi.[9][8]
Travels
After performing the obligatory pilgrimage to the Islamic Holy sites in Mecca and Medina, Semnani traveled to Gulbarga and Sarandib in South India.[8]
Meeting with other Sufis
Semnani met with various known Sufis of his time, including Shah Madar, Mir Sayyid Ali Hamdani, Hafez Shirazi, Bande Nawaz and Sultan Walad.[8]
Writings
Semnani was the author of the seminal Sufi text "Lataif-e-Ashrafi" ("Noble Subtleties"), a comprehensive encyclopedia of Sufism that explores practical and theoretical topics as well as theological, literary, and historical issues.
Written as oral discourses, the book contains two volumes.
Volume 1 explores Islamic theology, focusing on Tawheed (Divine Oneness). It includes a defense of Sama (Sufism) (music) as a spiritual tool. Volume 2 describes Sufi practices, ethics, and mystical states.[10]