Letters from a Sûfî Teacher

THE THEOSOPHY OF ISLAM.
SHAIKH SHARFUDDÎN MANERÎ OR MAKHDÛM-UL-MULK .
Translated from the Persian by BAIJNÂTH SINGH
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On his initiation, Sharf-ud-dîn lived for many a long year in the woods of Bihiâ and the Râjgiri Hills. In his later days he adopted Bihâr (now a subdivisional town) as his residence, at the request of some of his friends and disciples. He died on Thursday, the 6th of Shawwâl, 782 Hijra, in the opening years of the 15th Century A. D. His titular name is Makhdûm-ul-Mulk , 'Master of the Kingdom or the World.' He was equally proficient in secular learning and esoteric Knowledge, and possessed superhuman powers. His tomb at Bihâr is still resorted to as a place of sanctity by a large number of devout Mahomedans. He wrote many works, of which three only have yet been published. These are:—
(1.) Maktûbât-i-Sadî , a 'Series of a Hundred Letters' (or rather essays on definite subjects) addressed to his disciple Qâzî Shams-ud-dîn in 747 Hijra.
(2.) Maktûbât-i-Bist-o-hasht , a 'Series of 28 Letters', being replies to the correspondence of his senior disciple, Mozaffar , the prince of Balkh .