A Sufi's quest for spiritual identity is distinguishable from the external scholars, radical reformers, politico-religious activists and average Muslims whose belief in the fundamentals of Isloam in a given religious environment is simply literal or even superficial in certain cases. This dictionary intrinsically portrays the abiding contribution of numerous Sufis of South Asia to Islam and history. The work is based on a research spanning a period of 27 years. Besides giving the Sufis of Kashmir their due place, it also contains an account of a good number of Sufis of other regions as well. Sufism was viewed as a religion of pristine spirit and simplicity, emphasizing individual ethical responsibility as its essential ingredient. Did the Sufis` abiding influence on individual and social conciousness not ensure the genuine spiritual and historical traditions of Islam in South Asia? This biographical dictionary seeks to answer this question in the face of waning modern politico-religious threats to Islamic spirituality.
