Book Name – Bihar Aur Sufivad
Author – Syed Amjad Hussain
Published – 27 April 2025
Publisher – Rajmangal Prakashan
Language – Hindi
At a time when the intellectual heritage of India has become a rather vital ground for debate and discourse, Syed Amjad Hussain’s “Bihar aur Sufivad” presents itself as an important intervention. Released by Rajmangal Prakashan on 27 April 2025, this book is a monumental work that presents an expansive and intimate picture of Sufism’s coming, growth, and current avatar in Bihar. Blending academic rigor with personal devotion, Hussain offers not merely facts but a living tradition and thus bridges an important lacuna in the study of Indian Sufism.
The book is organized into seven well-thought-out sections, each dealing with an important element of Bihar’s Sufi culture. The first, Islam aur Sufivad (“Islam and Sufism”), acquaints readers with the advent of Islam in India, the nature of Sufism, and its spread into Bihar’s soil. The Foreword by Dr. Mohammad Sajjad Alam Rizvi, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of History Department, Presidency University, Kolkata, establishes an academic and contemplative tone for the book.
The second part, Sufi Silsila (“Sufi Orders”), carefully deals with the development of various Sufi orders in Bihar—Qadri, Chishti, Suhrawardi, Naqshbandi, Warsi, Husami, and numerous others. Interestingly, most of the chapters in this part begin with a poem or couplet (sher), establishing a spiritually evocative atmosphere and inviting readers into the intense emotional and metaphysical world of Sufism.
The third and most persuasive section, Sufi Sant (“Sufi Saints”), collects 20 rich biographies of saints from the well-known Hazrat Shaikh Sharfuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri and Hazrat Imam Muhammad Taj Faqih Hashmi to the lesser-known but equally important ones such as Hazrat Makhdoom Aadam Sufi, Hazrat Makhdoom Zakiuddin Maneri, and Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Aamu’n. Again and again, every chapter begins often enough with one or two shers, offering a poetic incantation before plunging into extended narrative — a delicate strategy uniting historical prose with Sufi beauty.
Moving into rapt devotion, the fourth part, Manqabat, is a poignant tribute of verse to Sufi saints. This chapter starts with two couplets penned by the renowned Urdu poet Hashim Raza Jalalpuri in tribute to Syed Amjad Hussain and his work. Then, the manqabats and ghazals contain five original pieces by Hussain himself and emotional contributions from Wasif Alam Moazzami, Tariq Mohiuddin Sharmila, and others. The balance between academic depth and poetic tribute is a hallmark strength of the book.
The fifth chapter, Sandarbh Suchi (“References”), presents a comprehensive list of sources quoted from Arabic, Persian, Urdu, English and Hindi texts. Hussain’s adherence to primary research is witnessed in his prolific fieldwork—dargah visits, khanqah visits, and the examination of rare manuscripts, boosting the book’s academic integrity.
The sixth part, Tasveer (“Pictures”), offers pictorial insights with photographs of shrines, khanqahs, and relics. The photographs provide an emotional and contextual richness, enabling readers to visually relate to the world the book paints.
The concluding part, Samiksha Evam Vichar (“Reviews and Reflections”), collects felicitatory remarks and reflective appreciations from leading personalities like Maulana Ghulam Rasool Balyawi, Professor Sunil Jaglan, Dr. Shujaat Ali Quadri, Dr. Sabir Raza Rahbar Misbahi, Dr. Maulana Shahid Raza Khan, Ashwin Chitle Afraad, Md Modassir Ashrafi, Sahil Razvi, and Peerzada Syed Firozul Hasan Chishty, etc.
Stylistically, “Bihar aur Sufivad” is largely scholastic, but narrative and poetic touches are admirably interwoven, especially through the opening couplets that adorn most chapters. Hussain’s writing is clear but unpretentious, enjoying equal appeal among students, researchers, and spiritual seekers.
Another great strength is the book’s ecumenism: Hussain respects Sufism in its pluralistic and rich varieties, transcending sectarian divisions to celebrate the universal spirit of love, tolerance, and adoration.
If there is a small problem, it is that the depth and scope of information, particularly in the biographies, demand careful and thoughtful reading. But for any serious student or scholar, this richness is not an obstacle but a gem.
Finally, Bihar aur Sufivad is a gargantuan effort to the cause of Sufi research in India. Syed Amjad Hussain’s magnificent weaving together of history, poetry, faith, and pioneering research forms a tome that will strike a chord with readers through the ages. It is no ordinary book; it is an oblation, an offering—made to the immortal spirit of Sufism.
A classic must-read for students, researchers, poets, and seekers alike.
