Ali Hujwiri’s Kashf al-Maḥjūb and Its Punjabi Translation: A Study of Sufi Terminology, Spiritual Thought, and Cultural Transmission

Abstract

This study examines the life, intellectual contributions, spiritual legacy, and literary works of Hazrat Ali Hujwiri (Data Ganj Bakhsh), one of the most influential Sufi scholars and saints of the Islamic world. Particular attention is devoted to his celebrated work Kashf al-Maḥjub, widely recognized as the earliest extant Persian treatise on Sufism and a foundational text in the study of Islamic mysticism. The research explores Ali Hujwiri’s biography, extensive travels, spiritual lineage, scholarly formation, and role in the dissemination of Islamic teachings and Sufi thought in South Asia. The study further analyzes the intellectual structure, major themes, mystical terminology, and spiritual doctrines presented in Kashf al-Maḥjub, including concepts such as Faqr, Marifat, Tawhid, Sama, and the various stages of spiritual realization. Special emphasis is placed on Hujwiri’s efforts to reconcile Sufi spirituality with the principles of orthodox Islamic law and theology. In addition, the article critically examines the Punjabi translation of Kashf al-Maḥjub by Muhammad Sharif Sabir. Through a translation-studies perspective, it evaluates the translator’s methodology, treatment of Sufi terminology, linguistic strategies, and contribution to the transmission of classical Islamic knowledge into Punjabi. The study argues that Sharif Sabir’s translation successfully preserves the spiritual, intellectual, and cultural essence of the original Persian text while making it accessible to a wider Punjabi-speaking audience. The findings demonstrate that Kashf al-Maḥjub continues to serve as an authoritative source for understanding Sufi doctrine, ethics, and spirituality. Furthermore, its Punjabi translation represents a significant contribution to Punjabi literature, Islamic scholarship, and intercultural knowledge transmission. The study concludes that both Ali Hujwiri’s original work and its Punjabi translation play a vital role in preserving and disseminating the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage of Islamic mysticism across linguistic and cultural boundaries.