Dr. Ghulam Hussain Zulfiqar Research Centre, Lahore
© Author(s). This article is published as Open Access under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Analysis of Qawaid-e-Ali Sheri by Muhayy-ud-Din Bin Nizam
Qwaed-e Alisheri is annotation of sikandar Nama by” nizami ganjavi the great story teller in mathnavi genre. He wrote khamsa (five treasures) which was welcomed not only in Iran but in subcontinent too. It left deep impact on Persian literature of subcontinent .Amir khusrau the great poet and musicologist wrote khamsa in of Nizami. Sikandernama consists of two parts and in this annotation both parts has been explained in easy and beautiful way. Language of this annotation is very easy as muhayy ud din bin Nizam ud din to convey the inner and original meanings of verses in sikandernameh. Symbolically used words have also been discussed and elaborated beautifully. Literary features of this annotations have been enhanced the beauty of classical writing. A great personality named “Laad Dehlavi (in Mughal emperor Humayon era used to elaborate sikandernameh in court(majalis) and another person named muhayud din bin Nizam ud din used to note down all these explanations on request of Main Alisheri. .
Qwaed e Alisheri, Iran, Subcontinent, Khamsa, Nizam ud din
Copyright (c) 2024 Muhammad Hussain, Dr. Uzma Zareen Nazia (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Identification of Nafs and Its Training: A Comparative Study of Mevlana Rumi and Hadrat Sultan Bahu’s Sayings
Sufism has been a path of peace in every age. This is because Sufism is founded on the training and purification of the self (nafs). A Sufi is one who, after passing through the stages of recognizing and disciplining the self, gains control over it. Therefore, the understanding and training of the self (nafs) has always been among the most important subjects of Sufism, and Sufi masters in every era have emphasized this teaching. Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi (RA) and Hadrat Sultan Bahu (RA) are two great names in the world of Sufism. Both saints rendered their services in their respective times and regions, and compiled poetic and prose works to guide seekers of truth. The present article offers a brief comparative study of the ideas of these two spirituals masters with reference to the recognition and training of the “nafs”.
Sufism, Self (Nafs), Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, Hadrat Sultan Bahu
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Naseem Ur Rehman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Islamic Spiritual Practices and Mental Health: A Neurotheological Approach to Sufism
The intersection of spirituality and neuroscience leads to the emergence of neurotheology, a field dedicated to exploring how spiritual practices influence the brain and mental well-being. Despite the increasing prevalence of mental health challenges globally, culturally sensitive frameworks for addressing these issues, particularly within Muslim communities, remain underexplored. This raises critical questions: How do Islamic spiritual practices, particularly those in Sufism, impact brain function and mental health? Existing literature highlights the psychological and emotional advantages of mindfulness and meditation, yet the transformative potential of Sufi rituals like Dhikr (remembrance of God) and muraqabah (meditation) remains largely untapped in contemporary therapeutic models. By analyzing Sufi practices through the lens of neurotheology, this study underscores the universal applicability of these spiritual traditions in fostering emotional resilience, alleviating anxiety, and enhancing social cohesion. The scope of this research extends beyond individual mental health to addressing cultural sensitivities, promoting interfaith dialogue, and integrating faith-based approaches into global mental health strategies. The objective is to integrate Islamic spiritual traditions with contemporary neuroscientific research, providing evidence-based insights for mental health professionals, researchers, and faith leaders. This exploration holds profound importance for contemporary society, offering a culturally inclusive approach to mental health that can benefit diverse populations. By validating the therapeutic potential of Sufi practices, this study not only enriches our understanding of spirituality and the brain but also contributes to holistic healing and the global discourse on mental well-being.
Neuroscience, Spirituality, Meditation, Sufi practices, Dhikr
Copyright (c) 2025 Fazeel Eayaz, Thameem Ushama, Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Sharif (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The literature of Nama Sahit and traditional Punjabi dress
This study examines various literary works known as clothing namas that reflect the social and cultural aura of British India, considering various articles related to clothing, these writings express profound concerns regarding gender roles, ethical values, class tensions and changing cultural values. The BURQA NAMA for example reveals the contradiction experienced by a woman who intends to wear burqa but restriction imposed on her by her husband to not wear it. KHADDAR NAMA reflects the spirits of swadeshi movement which not only encourages the use of local fabric but also reject to foreign imports. Moreover, the GHAGRI NAMA criticize the moral downfall related to the arrival of modern government facilities such as electricity and water taps. The DHOTI NAMA express the loss of traditional culture as people adopt new fashions morally out of imitation. Finally, the SARHI NAMA focuses the class-based aspiration specifically the lower-class woman wishing to ambulate the dressing style of wealthy woman. Inclusively, these namas show that clothing is not merely a collection of fabric. It is a deeper cultural symbol to which society express issues of identify modernity, cultural ethics and social standards.
British, India, Burqa Nama, Khaddar Nama, Ghagri Nama
Copyright (c) 2025 Fozia Kausar, Dr. Aasma Qadri (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Study on Majam-al-Fawaid by Ghulam Hamdani Mushafi
Ghulam Ali Hamdani Mushafi was a classical and ancient Urdu and Persian poet and writer. He was born in 1748AD in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh and died in 1824 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. After Mir Taqi Mir, Mushafi is the highest in Urdu poetry as a whole. In his poetry, vitality, youth, color, and form are described in a perfect way. Mushafi gained the power to describe chaos and disorder, suffering, pain, love, and especially the diversity and experiences of love in his poetry. All this background becomes clear in his speech. Mushafi's poetry has depicted the chaos and sufferings of his era in essays, poems, ghazals, and other genres. Majma-al-Fawaid is a very beautiful manuscript of Ghulam Ali Hamdani Mushafi, consisting of Persian and Arabic poetry and prose, which is available in the Punjab University Central Library, Lahore. There is only one manuscript of Majma-al-Fawaid and the importance of this manuscript is that it gives us an insight into the life of Mushafi, which is not available anywhere else. Mushafi has collected all that was left of his poetry and named it Majma-al-Fawaid. Colorful topics can be seen in Majma-al-Fawaid. It also includes a few of Magazines of Mushafi. By reading it, we can get an idea of ​​Mushafi's ability in Persian language, how Mushafi has written on various topics in simple and easy words, and Mushafi's temperament can also be gauged from it, and this book also reveals his knowledge and grace.
Mushafi Hamdani, Majma-ul-Fawaid, Amroha, Dehli, Urdu and Persian Literature, Arabic Prosody, Punjab University
Copyright (c) 2025 Iqra Saleem, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sabir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Analytical Study of the Themes of Khazana-e-Jawahar-e-Jalali
Makhdoom Jahanian Jahan Gasht Sheikh Jalal al-Din Bukhari (707–785 AH), is counted among the great Sufis and great scholars of the subcontinent. He not only dedicated himself to the propagation of Islam but also took up the task of spiritual and moral education and training of the common people. He is a renowned saint of the Suhrawardiya and Chishtia lineages. He pledged allegiance to Sheikh Ruknuddin Abu al-Fath in the Suhrawardiyya order and received favor from Sheikh Nasiruddin Mahmud in the Chishtiyya order. One of the important collections of Jalaluddin Bukhari's works is the Khazana Jawahar Jalaliyya. It was compiled by his disciple Fazlullah Abbasi in (781 AH).Khazana Jawahar Jalaliyya is not just a repository of mystical teachings and moral points. It is also an invaluable literary and historical source of the intellectual, cultural and religious milieu of the 8th century AH. As such, it is also an important source of Sufi thought and the socio-cultural events of the Muslim world in the subcontinent.
Makhdum Jahanian Jahangasht; Malfuzat; Khazanat al-Jawahar al-Jalali; Sufism in South Asia; Fazl Allah ibn Ziya al-‘Abbasi
Copyright (c) 2025 Zeeshan Javid, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nasir (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Class, Inequality, and Ideology: A Marxist Comparative Study of The Sweepress and Ghost Kitchen
This study examines how class inequality, economic exploitation, and ideological control shape the lives of marginalized workers in Tariq Rahman’s The Sweepress and Ross Raisin’s Ghost Kitchen. Using a qualitative approach rooted in Marxist literary criticism and supported by Althusser’s theory of ideology, the research investigates how the poor are made invisible, undervalued, and socially restricted in both Pakistani and British societies. The analysis shows that although the two stories belong to different cultural backgrounds, both reveal how economic systems shape human experience and limit social mobility. The study addresses a gap in comparative literature by analyzing a South Asian servant-class narrative alongside a modern Western gig‑economy narrative, demonstrating that exploitation is universal across cultures. The findings highlight that literature works as a mirror of society, revealing how labour, class, and ideology shape the daily lives of ordinary people, while also encouraging readers to question the structures that normalize injustice.
Class, Inequality, Ideological control, Marxist literary criticism
Copyright (c) 2025 Tooba Batool, Wareesha Israr, Suliman Khan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Characterization of Alif Laila: Translated by Ratnath Sarshar
The article by Ratan Nath Sarshar examines Alif Laila (The Arabian Nights) as a narrative corpus that presents a rich diversity of characters, encompassing royalty, merchants, magicians, tricksters, and ordinary individuals. These figures are constructed in striking moral and social contrasts—virtue and vice, loyalty and betrayal, power and vulnerability—offering a nuanced reflection of human nature and societal structures. While many characters possess larger-than-life qualities, their emotional depth, including love, fear, ambition, and hope, renders them relatable. Central to the narrative is Scheherazade, whose strategic use of storytelling demonstrates intelligence, courage, and the redemptive potential of narrative art. Sarshar’s analysis highlights how Alif Laila integrates elements of fantasy with cultural and moral instruction, illustrating the interplay between personal agency, ethical choices, and destiny.
Arabian nights, Characters, loyalty, betrayal, moral instruction, ethical choices, destiny
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Asifa Izzatullah (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Concept of Samaa in Urdu Ghazal: A Brief Review
Samaa is a spiritual as well as cultural activity. In general, recitation of Holy Quran and reading of selected poetic verses in specially arranged private gatherings is called samaa. Being the masters of this art, Sufies have established rules and regulations for the effective commencement of such gatherings. Urdu ghazal is profoundly rich in the use of Sufistic terms. When it comes to the conceptualization and use of the term Samaa, one notices a wide range of emotions associated with this particularly favorite ritual of sufies. This paper aims at describing different dimensions how the Urdu poets have conceived this meaningful term and how did they present it in there poetic verses. It includes several poetic verses written by Siraj Aurangabadi, Imam Bakhsh Nasik, Shakir Naji, Akbar Ilah Abadi, Nawab Mustafa Khan Shefta, Altaf Hussain Hali, Khawaja Haider Ali Atish and Allama Iqbal.
Holy Quran, Samaa, Sufi, Wajd, Khanqah, Urdu ghazal, Siraj Aurangabadi, Altaf Hussain Hali, Allama Iqbal
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Abeera Ahmad, Dr. Baseera Ambreen (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Linguistic Formation in the Fiction of Sami Ahooja
When a short story writer constructs the language of his story. He also attempts to create effective communication within it. At times, this battle with words does not produce positive results and the outcome appears in the form of failure. In Sami Ahuja’s work as well, these symbols are not ordinary elements. In Sami Ahuja’s writing, symbols and abstraction are the result of self-created linguistic experiments. He appears indifferent to how much the inherent qualities of language may have been affected by this approach. Creating a new language by combining a few different words and then applying it was not a scientific process.
Symbols and abstraction, Self-created linguistic experiments, Scientific process.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Maryam Irfan, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Performativity and Soundscape in a Ritual; A Schechner-Crawford Study of Mehfil e Milad’s Performativity and Soundscape
Mehfil e Milad un Nabi (P.B.U.H) is a concept very common in South Asia as the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). It is celebrated all year round and specifically on 12th Rabi ul Awwal in Islamic calendar, the birthdate of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This research paper aims to analyze the soundscape of Mehfil e Milad ritual. The theoretical frameworks used for this purpose are Richard Schechner’s concept of rituals as performances given in his book Performance Studies- An Introduction, and Kate Crawford’s concept of lurkers and listeners from the anthology The Sound Studies Reader. The research has been conducted on selected videos from YouTube. The method used for this research is historiographical method, i.e. research and analysis through the documented records. Taking into account the existing research on space and visuals of Mehfil e Milad, this research paper aims to address the research gap of the contribution of sound to the performativity of Mehfil e Milad. The scope of this research is limited to the analysis of performativity and soundscape in Mehfil e Milad and has no concern about the theological or doctrinal interpretations of Mehfil e Milad.
Mehfil e Milad, Performance, Performativity, Ritual, Soundscape.
Copyright (c) 2025 Noor ul Ain Faraz, Dr. Arooj Ehsan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Aggression as Political Identity: An Attitudinal Analysis of Selected Pakistani Political Parties’ Tweets on 9th May Events
The present study aims to examine how aggression is discursively constructed as political identity in PTI and PML-N tweets related to the 9 May 2023 events in Pakistan. While political aggression on social media is often discussed in terms of incivility or hate speech, less attention has been paid to evaluative aggression expressed through emotions, moral judgement, and event framing, particularly in English–Urdu partisan discourse. A qualitative discourse-analytic design was employed. A total of 34 publicly available tweets (17 PTI and 17 PML-N) were purposively selected and analyzed using Martin and White’s (2005) Appraisal Theory, focusing on Affect, Judgement, and Appreciation. The findings reveal that aggression was systematically organized through evaluative meanings that constructed in-group legitimacy and out-group exclusion. PTI discourse primarily framed aggression as ethical resistance and victimhood, whereas PML-N discourse presented it as state-centered moral authority and criminal accountability. The study highlights and recommends the role of evaluative language in normalizing political aggression and sustaining polarized identities in digital political crises.
Attitudinal Analysis, Aggression, Discursively Constructed, Partisan, Ethics, Legitimacy
Copyright (c) 2025 Samara Anwar, Dr. Tazanfal Tehseem (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Performing Endangerment: Sound, Image and the Staging of Heritage in Indus Blues
Pakistani folk music survives in a social landscape where economic strain, shrinking patronage and anxieties around morality make life harder for musicians. These pressures have led to a growing social suspicion of music and have placed many traditional instruments and performers at risk of disappearance. Indus Blues by Jawad Sharif is an honest documentation of this pressure not through abstraction but by closely tracing the living performers whose art endures even as the social worlds sustaining it erode. Nevertheless, even though the film has been widely discussed as a documentary of cultural heritage, almost no scholarship addresses Indus Blues as a performance text on its own. This study addresses that gap by arguing that Indus Blues functions simultaneously as a documentary. Drawing on performance theory, sound studies, and media scholarship, the paper examines how the film produces a mediated sense of liveness and affective urgency. Methodologically, the study combines historiographic analysis with close media-formal analysis, focusing on the film’s use of ambient sound, silence, multilingual voice, camera framing, and spatial composition. The scope of the study is limited to the film’s representational strategies and does not analyze the real communities beyond what the documentary presents. Still, by reading the film closely, the paper offers new insight into how endangered musical cultures are framed, felt, and performed in contemporary Pakistani cinema.
Copyright (c) 2025 Syeda Salma Batool Naqvi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Breif Life History and Literary work of KhawajaNajamu Din Sulemani Chishti Taunsvi
Khawaja Najamu Din Sulemani Chishti Taunsvi was very important personality of the 19th century. He was born in shekhawati, Rajisthtan, India. His lineage Pedigree reaches to Hazrat Umer(R.A) and his spirtual path merges with Hazrat Khawajah Moeen u Din Chishti Ajmery. He was disciple and khaliph of Hazrat Khawajah Muhammad Suleman Taunsvi. He was the famous sufi, writer and poet. He left his poetic work in the Persian, Urdu and Hindi languages.
Khawaja Najamu Din Sulemani Chishti Taunsvi, Shekhawati, Rajisthtan, India, Urdu, Hindi, Persian
According to historical evidence, the Persian language and culture spread to the Indian subcontinent with the invasion of Muhammad Ibn-e Qasim and later through the Ghaznavid conquests. Many Iranians, including members of the Iranian ruling and military classes, settled in these regions. Through their presence, not only the language but also the culture and civilization of Iran took root and flourished in this land. The celebration of Nowruz in various parts of Pakistan stands as strong evidence of this cultural influence. People not only recognize Nowruz but also celebrate it with great enthusiasm and grandeur, though with some regional variations. In this article, we have briefly discussed the Nowruz celebrations observed in Pakistan.
Persian, Indian, Muhammad Ibn-e Qasim, Nowruz, Celebrations.
The Syrian Conquests and their effects during the Siddiqui Era
Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddique(R.A) the first Caliph, in the early Muslim conquests of the Levant (Syria). It argues that the campaign’s success was not merely a military operation but a result of his firm faith, strategic vision, and exceptional administrative skills. Hazrat Abu Bakr swiftly consolidates the Muslim community by the ending of Ridda war by Following the Prophet’s (ﷺ). He viewed the expedition into Sham as both security and mission to spread Islam. After when initial smaller units set back he launched a large scale multi front invasion. He transfer the military genius Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA) from Iraq to the Syrian front proved decisive, culminating in the pivotal Battle of Yarmuk, it was his strategic decision. No doubt the conquest was largely completed in the era of Caliph Umar’s (RA), its foundation _the planning, army mobilization and initial victories were entirely achievements of Abu Bakr’s brief but transformative leadership. He was the driving force and architect and altered the course of history.
Abu Bakr al-Siddique, Syria, Leadership, Battle of Yarmuk, Islamic Conquest
DISINTEGRATING SELVES: EXPLORING THE POSTCOLONIAL IDENTITY IN BILAL TANWEER’S THE SCATTER HERE IS TOO GREAT
This research paper undertakes a nuanced exploration of identity fragmentation in Bilal Tanweer's The Scatter Here Is Too Great through the lens of Frantz Fanon's postcolonial theory. The novel's portrayal of Karachi's violent and tumultuous landscape serves as a backdrop for the characters' struggles with identity and belonging. Furthermore, the novel’s non-linear narrative structure effectively mirrors the characters' disjointed experiences, revealing the profound impact of colonial history, migration, and displacement on their sense of self. Through Fanon’s concept of alienation, inferiority and dehumanization, this study demonstrates how the novel constructs a postcolonial consciousness haunted by historical trauma and modern chaos. Ultimately, it argues that postcolonial identity is a complex_ evolving construct__dynamically shaped by the intersections of history, memory, and violence.
Postcolonialism, Identity, Fragmentation, Violence, Neocolonialism, Fanon
A Study of Ghulam-Us-Saqlain Naqvi’s Travelogue "Terminus Se Terminus Tak"
Ghulam-Us-Saqlain Naqvi holds a distinguished place in contemporary Urdu prose. He is widely regarded as one of the significant modern writers of Urdu literature. His movements from his ancestral village “Bhirath” (Sialkot) to the metropolis of Lahore, along with his explorations of Lahore’s old quarters during his residence there, kept him in a constant state of creative motion. Alongside this, the characters of his short fiction—who frequently journey back and forth between rural and urban settings—reveal the underlying sources of his narrative art. These very aspects also steered Naqvi toward the non-fictional domain of travel writing. To date, three compilations of his travelogues have been published. His debut travel account, “Arz-e-Tamanna” (1988), presents his journey and observations in the sacred land of Hijaz. The second volume, “Chal Baba Agle Shehar” (1993), records his experiences of England. The third and final anthology, issued in 1997 under the title “Terminus se Terminus Tak”, comprises four travel sketches centered on his journeys across Pakistan. These include: “Koh-e-Bagh Sar Ki Taskheer”, “Lahore se Lodowal Tak”, “Karachi Mein Chaudah Roz”, and “Lahore se Chirat aur Landi Kotal Tak”.
Koh-e-Bagh Sar, Travelogue, History, Civilization, Culture, Society, Satire, Vivid Description, Observations.
Introduction and Analytical Study of "Dewan-e Mufti Imam Bakhsh Watalavi"
Persian poetry in the Indian subcontinent blossomed with the advent of the Ghaznavid conquerors. From that moment, a radiant tradition took root, soon enriched by the genius of poets such as Amir Khusraw, Bedil Dehlavi, and Mirza Ghalib, who elevated the subcontinent to a distinguished place in the vast realm of Persian letters. With the British ascendancy in the nineteenth century, Persian lost its status as the official language, yet the spirit of its poetry endured and preserved in the hearts of Indian people. Among the inheritors of the Persian poetry stands Mufti Imam Bakhsh of Batala, a poet whose Diwan remains a notable contribution to the tradition. His collection encompasses the classical forms of Persian poetry—the Qasida, Na't, Ghazal, Mukhammas, and Tarji'band—each reflecting the aesthetic refinement and spiritual depth of his art. The present study offers an introduction to his Diwan and undertakes an analytical exploration of its poetic and thematic dimensions.
Persian, Ghaznavid, Amir Khusraw, Bedil Dehlavi, Subcontinent, Persian Poetry, Mufti Imam Bakhsh Watalavi, Diwan-e Mufti
Mahatma Gandhi's Concept of Interreligious Tolerance(An Analytical Study)
This research article explores Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of interfaith harmony, emphasizing his vision of religious tolerance as a foundation for peaceful coexistence. Recognized globally as a symbol of nonviolence and truth, Gandhi believed that all religions stem from a common moral and spiritual foundation—truth and nonviolence. Through an analytical and critical approach, this study examines how Gandhi implemented the idea of interfaith tolerance in a religiously plural society like India, and what challenges he encountered in this pursuit. The article also contextualizes the concept of tolerance within Islamic teachings, highlighting verses from the Qur'an and examples from the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) life that promote peaceful interreligious relations. In addition, the study reviews contemporary global and South Asian literature on interfaith dialogue, referencing scholars like John Hick, Hans Küng, and Dr. Mahmood Ahmed Ghazi. The findings suggest that Gandhi’s model of “Sarva Dharma Sambhava” (equal respect for all religions) is a timeless principle that can guide modern societies toward interreligious understanding, national unity, and global peace. The study recommends including such teachings in educational curricula and community programs to build a more tolerant and inclusive world.
Mahatma Gandhi, Concept of Religious Tolerance, Interfaith Harmony, Religious Tolerance, Peaceful Coexistence, Nonviolence
The Islamic Doctrine of Jihad: A Research-Based Analysis of Modernist Views
The concept of jihad in Islamic jurisprudence and political thought extends far beyond the narrow notion of armed conflict, encompassing spiritual, intellectual, social, and defensive dimensions. In modern times, reformist interpretations have sought to redefine jihad within contemporary moral, legal, and political frameworks, often emphasizing its role in establishing justice, resisting oppression, and fostering ethical and intellectual struggle. This article critically examines these modern perspectives, highlighting how they diverge from classical understandings and shift the discourse from traditional jurisprudential boundaries to new contextual readings. While such reinterpretations underscore the adaptability of Islamic thought, they also raise concerns among traditional scholars regarding the neglect of historical and scriptural foundations. The study concludes that a balanced approach is necessary—one that remains faithful to the original principles of jihad while addressing the ethical and political realities of the modern age.
jihad, Islamic jurisprudence, modernists, reform, defensive jihad
Role of Wazir Afzal in the music of Pakistani Punjabi movies
Music is an art form that expresses ideas and emotions through rhythm, melody and harmony. Music can make people of all ages happy, energetic, and alert. The role of musicians is unavoidable in Pakistani Punjabi Films. The great musician Wazir Afzal was deeply rooted in people's culture and was intimately familiar with the diverse music landscapes from Patiala to Jhang and from Jammu to Bahawalpur. Simplicity and emotion delicacy of nuance marked his music which never failed to enthrall and uplift the people. He made his debut as a Sarod player in Karachi but soon moved to Lahore and started playing another musical instrument; Mandolin. This research article, will present definition of music, life and career of Wazir Afzal alongwith the list of Punjabi Films hits. His tunes are memorable for centuries in the voices of vivacious singers like Noor Jahan, Masood Rana, Afshan, Naheed Akhtar, Shoukat Ali, Mehdi Hassan and many more.
Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Landscapes, Nuance, Enthrall, Sarod, Mandolin, Vivacious
The Fundamental key to the teachings of Sufism and the mystical style of Jagar-e-Lakht-Lakht (Autobiography)
Spirituality is an integral part of our life. Spirituality is a separate place from our material world. From the Islamic point of view, Sufism is the path to the satisfaction of spirituality. Good morals are the guiding light for humanity and these good morals are the key to the path of Sufism. The Work of a Dervish is to the share and spread love among humans. He brings society towards the path of God with love. Urdu language and literature evolved with the Islamic teachings and practices of the most revered Sufies. Our forefathers did the work of reforming the Indian society through Sufism. These Sufies casted a great influence on the culture of the sub-continent. The autobiography of our forefathers are the adornment of Urdu literature. In this regard, the Sufi’s style of “Jagar-e-Lakht Lakht”(Autobiography) is highlighted.
Taqlid Pasand, Warta-e-herat, Sahib-e-basirat, Mubtadi, Lala-o-gulfam, Naznin, Tahniyat, Shesha gari, Baqa-e-dawam, Tatbo, Amor-e-Mahsosa, Amor-e-Bataniya, Qalid, Inhamaq
Mīr Muhammadī Bīdār Included in ‘Tazkirat-us-Shoarā by Khairatī La‘l Bē Gigar’: A Research & Crital Study
Mīr Muhammadī Bīdār belongs to Muhammad Shahī era. He was a great poet of Mīr and Mīrzā’s era also. He learned poetic skills from Mīr Dard and Shah Ḥatim in Urdū. Firāq had taught him Persian Poetic Skills. In both languges he excelled and presented remarkable Poetry. He Learned sufism from Molānā Fakhr-ud-Dīn and got khilāfat. In sufism he belongs to Chistī Qadrī linage. Due to sofism`s touch one can easily understand, the depth simplicity and orignality of his poetry. In this article we try to understand the poetic collection of Bīdār in Khairātī Lacl Bē Gīgar`s Tazkirat –us- Shoarā. and different aspects of his life and poetry.
Muhammad Shahī era, Shah Ḥatim, Mīr Dard, Mīr Taqī Mīr. Molanā Fakhr-ud- Dīn
The Politics of Non-Traditional Sexual and Gender Identities in Manto'sFiction: An Intellectual Study on Alternative Identity
This research explores the representation of non-normative sexual and gender identities in the short stories of Saadat Hasan Manto through the lens of alternative identity frameworks. Manto, known for his fearless literary treatment of taboo themes, often depicted characters that challenge binary understandings of gender and sexuality. By moving beyond the moralistic and traditional interpretations of his work, this study applies a theoretical lens that aligns with modern queer discourse — without directly relying on Western terminology — to examine how fluid, marginal, and transgressive identities are portrayed in his narratives. Stories such as "Thanda Gosht," "Hattak," "Ganje Farishtey," and "Toba Tek Singh" are analyzed to uncover how Manto destabilizes fixed notions of masculinity, femininity, and sexual morality. The paper highlights how Manto’s characters reflect social tensions surrounding identity, desire, and the body, particularly in contexts marked by colonial trauma, patriarchy, and censorship. Ultimately, the study positions Manto as a subversive storyteller whose literary voice prefigures contemporary conversations on gender plurality and identity politics in South Asian literature.
Manto, gender identity, sexuality, alternative identities, queer reading, Urdu fiction, social marginality
Special Editions of Mehkan International Magazine (Introduction & literary analysis)
The Pakistani Punjabi journalism is repleted with monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual magazines. But the significant role of quarterly Punjabi magazines is pivotal. "Mehkan International" magazine from Sahiwal city is a great addition in the list of quarterly magazines of shahmukhi Punjabi since 2005. The special editions of this said magazine are hallmark in Punjabi journalism of Pakistan. Its 18 special editions are providing ample knowledge and information about literary, journalistic and cultural personalities or anthologies to the readers with great variety of subjects and matter. This research article will give an introductory insight and literary analysis about these special editions of Mehkan International Magazine.
Journalism, Hallmark, Ample, Anthologies, Insight, Literary analysis
Urdu Fiction and the Economy of Morality: An Analytical Study of the Narrative Formation of Rural Labor in the Fiction of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
This research explores the intersection of rural labor and the moral economy in Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi’s short stories through the lens of narrative analysis. Qasmi’s works, deeply rooted in the socio-economic realities of rural Pakistan, offer rich portrayals of peasant life, class hierarchies, and the ethics of work. The study examines how Qasmi constructs narratives that simultaneously depict the hardships of rural laborers and critique socio-economic systems that perpetuate inequality. By employing the concept of the moral economy, the research investigates the values, norms, and communal ethics embedded within these stories. The narrative analysis focuses on language, symbolism, and character development to reveal the ways in which Qasmi’s fiction negotiates the tension between material deprivation and moral resilience. Through a critical engagement with selected short stories, this study highlights Qasmi’s contribution to Urdu literature as both a literary artist and a social commentator. It argues that his storytelling not only reflects rural realities but also shapes readers’ understanding of economic justice and moral values in a changing society. This work contributes to literary criticism, rural studies, and socio-economic discourse within South Asian literature.
Urdu short story; moral economy; rural labour; narratology; Progressive Writers; close reading.
Language Hybridity in Train to Pakistan : A Post-Colonial Studies
This paper explores the mixing of local languages with English language called language hybridity in Khushwant Singh′s novel, Train to Pakistan (1956) using postcolonial theory to examine the idea of language hybridity as proposed by Home. K Bhabha. By using a close reading analysis method, the researcher analyzes during the study that Khushwant Singh in the novel Train to Pakistan uses different techniques such as code-switching, code-mixing, and multilingualism in English to create language hybridity. By examining character relationships and narrative structure, the research demonstrates how the blending of local and colonial languages represents the struggle between tradition and modernity, colonizer and colonized. The research findings indicate that this linguistic interaction reflects the socioeconomic realities of colonial and postcolonial India, where English is the language of authority and government and Indigenous languages have significant cultural, social, and emotional value.
Hybridity, Language hybridity, Post colonialism, Code switching, code mixing, Train to Pakistan.
Translation, Composition and Analysis in an Actor-Network Framework
This article centers around the two foundational notions of Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network theory, i.e., translation and composition.It seeks to highlight the analytical potential of these concepts for analyzing literary texts, cultural practices, and discursive formations. Based upon the presumption that the presence of nonhuman actants needs recognition, this article argues that it is the composites that act. To argue for this position, this article makes use of historical transformation of the traditions such as the Turban and Horse exchange. What is endorsed, in turn, is that culture, far from being autonomous or fixed, results from material entanglements and negotiations amongst diverse actants - all of whom are not humans. To sum up, with the help of selected excerpts of Punjabi literature, authors intend to stress that culture and art forms are inextricably connected to the material conditions of existence. What matters, henceforth, is to focus on details.
Actor-Network Theory, Translation, Composition, Analytical, Punjabi Literature
Sultan Abdul Hameed II: Islamic Identity, State Institutions and Leadership in an Era of Transition
Sultan Abdul Hamid II (b. September 21, 1842) ascended the Ottoman throne in 1876 as the 34th Sultan at age 34. Orphaned at ten, he was raised by a devout stepmother whose piety and composed demeanor profoundly shaped his character. Educated in the imperial palace, he mastered Arabic, Persian, history, literature, and Sufism while excelling in martial arts (swordsmanship, archery). His keen awareness of global politics and domestic affairs later defined his rule. Upon accession, Abdul Hamid agreed to three conditions from reformist leader Midhat Pasha: Promulgation of a constitution. Consultation only with responsible ministers. Appointment of specific officials as private and chief secretaries. However, once in power, he violated the latter two terms and only nominally honored the first. He appointed anti-reformists to key court positions—Mahmud Celaleddin Pasha as Grand Marshal and "English" Said Pasha as First Aide-de-Camp—bypassing Midhat’s candidate for Chief Secretary. This signaled his centralization agenda. In December 1876, Midhat became Grand Vizier but faced immediate opposition in the cabinet. When Justice Minister Cevdet Pasha (secretly anti-reform) moved to postpone the constitution, Midhat threatened resignation, citing the coup’s sole purpose as constitutionalism. Concurrently, critical articles in İstikbal* newspaper questioning the Sultan’s sincerity provoked Abdul Hamid. Blaming journalist Ziya Bey, he exiled Ziya to Berlin (preventing parliamentary candidacy) and shuttered *İstikbal, crushing dissent. These early actions revealed Abdul Hamid’s strategy: leveraging ceremonial concessions to gain power while systematically dismantling reformist influence through appointments, suppression of press freedom, and isolation of opponents—a prelude to his autocratic 33-year reign.
Abdul Hamid II, Ottoman Constitution, Midhat Pasha, Tanzimat Reforms, Ottoman Press Censorship, 19th Century Ottoman Politics.