The Madness of the MajáºÅ«bs: Three Sufi Hagiographies in Sixteenth-Century Mughal India
In: Journal of the Economic and Social History of the OrientSearch for other papers by Anurag Advani in
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Abstract
This article explores the phenomenon of madness in sixteenth-century north India among Sufi saints called majẕūbs. By focusing on three Indo-Persian Sufi hagiographies (taẕkirÄt)âÊ¿Abd al-Ḥaqq DihlawÄ«âs AkhbÄr al-AkhyÄr (1591), Ê¿Abd al-S̱amad AkbarÄbÄdÄ«âs AkhbÄr al-Aá¹£fiyÄ (1608), and Ghaus̱ī Shaá¹á¹ÄrÄ« MÄná¸wÄ«âs GulẕÄr-i AbrÄr (1613)âI argue that madness was central to how majẕūbs in the early Mughal period performed their spiritual ecstasy, wisdom, and miraculous behaviors. Majẕūbs also defied Sufi norms through their bodily comportment, and leveraged their insanity to subvert the authority of Mughal and other regional rulers. Therefore, majẕūbs challenge our normative understanding of á¹arÄ«qa-based Sufism in early modern South Asia.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
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| Full Text Views | 212 | 18 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 549 | 51 | 0 |
The Madness of the MajáºÅ«bs: Three Sufi Hagiographies in Sixteenth-Century Mughal India
In: Journal of the Economic and Social History of the OrientSearch for other papers by Anurag Advani in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This article explores the phenomenon of madness in sixteenth-century north India among Sufi saints called majẕūbs. By focusing on three Indo-Persian Sufi hagiographies (taẕkirÄt)âÊ¿Abd al-Ḥaqq DihlawÄ«âs AkhbÄr al-AkhyÄr (1591), Ê¿Abd al-S̱amad AkbarÄbÄdÄ«âs AkhbÄr al-Aá¹£fiyÄ (1608), and Ghaus̱ī Shaá¹á¹ÄrÄ« MÄná¸wÄ«âs GulẕÄr-i AbrÄr (1613)âI argue that madness was central to how majẕūbs in the early Mughal period performed their spiritual ecstasy, wisdom, and miraculous behaviors. Majẕūbs also defied Sufi norms through their bodily comportment, and leveraged their insanity to subvert the authority of Mughal and other regional rulers. Therefore, majẕūbs challenge our normative understanding of á¹arÄ«qa-based Sufism in early modern South Asia.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 1955 | 233 | 20 |
| Full Text Views | 212 | 18 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 549 | 51 | 0 |
