Waleed Ziad | Yale Law School (original) (raw)

Dissertation by Waleed Ziad

Research paper thumbnail of Traversing the Indus and the Oxus: Trans-regional Islamic Revival in the Age of Political Fragmentation and the ‘Great Game’ 1747 - 1880. Dissertation. Department of History, Yale University, March 2017. (797 pp)

This dissertation traces the emergence and evolution of trans-Asiatic Muslim revivalist networks ... more This dissertation traces the emergence and evolution of trans-Asiatic Muslim revivalist networks which provided an overarching sacro-cultural framework across the fragile states of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, bridging the socio-intellectual domains on both sides of the Indus and Oxus rivers.
The breakdown of the Mughal, Safavid, and Uzbek empires in the eighteenth century resulted in the fragmentation of the political landscape into petty feuding principalities. Eventually, many of these polities were reduced to buffer states in what came to be known in Western imperial parlance as the British-Russian ‘Great Game’ for dominance of Asia.
In this turbulent period, an intricate network of shrines, khānāqahs (centers for Sufi practice), and madrasas associated with the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi (or Mujaddidiyya) Sufi order proliferated across this region. The order itself originated several generations earlier with Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (d. 1624), a widely revered South Asian theologian and mystic. He was popularly designated as the “Mujaddid” or reviver of the second Islamic millennium. His successors, known as the Mujaddidiyya, are the subject of this dissertation. The Mujaddidi networks of scholar-mystics spanned the Indus and the Oxus, and beyond to Xinjiang, the Volga, and the Ottoman Empire. They influenced some of the region’s principal revivalist and reformist movements, shaping Muslim responses not only to the fragmentation of the great empires, but also to European colonialism. I trace the development of their networks, up to the cusp of Russian, British, and Chinese annexation of South and Central Asia.
This study ultimately asks how the Mujaddidiyya were able to establish a parallel form of popular leadership which transcended local political structures, providing cohesion across much of this politically fragmented region. An investigation of this formative period of the Mujaddidi order is an inquiry into the nature of a ‘fibre’, to use Joseph Fletcher’s term, which held together parts of Eurasia in the pre-colonial and early colonial periods. Furthermore, it reveals the existence of a dynamic sacro-cultural trans-Asiatic domain of exchange, questioning the widely held notion that cities like Peshawar and Bukhara were isolated prior to the twentieth century. Turning to unexplored sources from within Sufi traditions, together with local histories, shrine catalogs, architectural evidence, and European records, this study calls for a fresh conceptualization of political, religious, and popular sovereignty. I argue that the expansion of the Mujaddidi network was a byproduct of two processes.
First, with the breakdown of older empires, local ruling elites in South and Central Asia effectively entrusted scholastic, religious, and social services to trans-regional Sufi orders, whose popular authority appealed to both urban intelligentsia and tribal populations. These Sufis generated institutional networks separate from the fiscal-military institutions of state, and which possessed greater resilience and longevity. In cities like Kabul, for example, the socio-intellectual milieu was drastically transformed in the late eighteenth century as Mujaddidi Sufis fleeing instability in the Mughal heartlands established institutions providing esoteric and exoteric education. These rapidly became hubs for new networks drawing students from as far as Baluchistan and Yarkand.
Second, the Mujaddidiyya relied on Sirhindi’s ontology to represent themselves as a synthetic tradition, both trans-regional and local. Accordingly, they were able to absorb pre-existing sacred communities and spaces, and inevitably became a point of convergence for urban scholarly classes and popular shrine-based Sufism. As Sufi saints, popular poets, and jurists, the Mujaddidiyya assumed the role of arch-intermediaries in a dynamic and fragile environment. They were called upon to mediate between urban and tribal elites and subjects, antagonistic polities, colonial and local authorities, and agrarian and highland communities. They navigated inter-regional trade caravans, and when required, even raised armies. Their institutions served as soup kitchens, caravanserais, and safe-houses, as well as loci for trade, negotiation, and diplomacy. They were also sites for the production and propagation of didactic, polemical, and historical texts which helped define the contours of Sunni Persianate Islam.
Within this study, I employ trans-regional microhistories of two key Mujaddidi lineages as vehicles to challenge persisting paradigms regarding the political landscape of this region and the Muslim world at large. These include Great Game narratives, and the geographical concepts of South and Central Asia, and their “natural frontiers.” I argue instead for the persistence of a Persianate cosmopolis in the pre-colonial period encompassing Iran, Inner-Asia, and South Asia, and situate the Afghan Empire at the center of this zone of exchange. In parallel, I respond to enduring debates regarding Islam in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially around the nature of revivalism and reform. As such, this dissertation provides a foundation for further work to interpret the complex socio-religious dynamics from the colonial period to the present day.

Papers by Waleed Ziad

Research paper thumbnail of “Transporting Knowledge in the Afghan Empire: A Case Study of two Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Sufi Manuals.” In Afghanistan’s Islam, edited by Nile Green. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2016.

Research paper thumbnail of “‘Islamic’ Coins from a Hindu Temple: Reconsidering Ghaznawid Policy towards Hindu Sacred Sites through new Numismatic Evidence from Gandhara.” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient (2016).

This paper examines enigmatic, small, Arabic-inscribed copper coins that were minted or circulate... more This paper examines enigmatic, small, Arabic-inscribed copper coins that were minted or circulated in the environs of a Hindu cave temple complex in northern Gandhara. Based on legends and typology, most of these issues can be attributed to the Ghaznavid period. This new numismatic evidence calls into question long-standing narratives of the Ghaznavid invasion of Hindustan, which posit that the Ghaznavids pursued a uniformly iconoclastic policy toward Hindu sacred sites. The evidence also suggests that the Ghaznavids embraced diverse modes of interaction with the Hindustani frontier zones. These went beyond the well documented raiding expeditions to realize shortterm fijinancial gains. Rather, the Ghaznavids may also have had long-term economic objectives, which necessitated preserving existing sacred institutions and their administrative and fijiscal machinery and patronage networks.

Research paper thumbnail of “‘Disturbances at Bareilli’ in the Spring of 1816: Inter-Communal Religious Authority and Collective Action.” Journal of Persianate Studies, 7, Issue 2 (2014), 189-218.

Journal of Persianate Studies, 2014

In the Spring of 1816, the North Indian town of Bareilli witnessed a series of protests following... more In the Spring of 1816, the North Indian town of Bareilli witnessed a series of protests following the imposition of a House Tax by the East India Company government. Under the leadership of Mufti 'Iwāz, a local 'ālem associated with reformist Sufi traditions, various Muslim and Hindu communities of Bareilli engaged in collective action which culminated in a violent confrontation. Reading court records against the grain, this paper argues that the protests represented a complex form of negotiation framed within Islamo-Persianate paradigms-including symbols, language, and authority structureswhich continued to define modes of popular political expression in the early colonial period. By focusing on Mufti 'Iwāz, the incident provides rare insights into the practical relationship between Muslim orthodoxy, communal dynamics, and political authority. I argue that with the collapse of Mughal rule, the mufti assumed a role as an intermediary between the people of Bareilli and Company officials derived from precolonial conceptions of moral, popular, and spiritual authority shared by Hindu and Muslim communities.

Research paper thumbnail of “Sufism.” In The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity and Nationalism (Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedias in Social Sciences), edited by John Stone, Rutledge Dennis, Polly Rizova. Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Research paper thumbnail of “From Yarkand to Sindh via Kabul: The Rise of Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Sufi Networks in the 18th-19th Century Durrani Empire.” In The Persianate World: Rethinking a Shared Sphere, edited by Abbas Amanat, Assef Ashraf. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2018.

The Persianate World: Towards a Conceptual Framework, ed. Abbas Amanat

Research paper thumbnail of “Coinage and Monetary System.” In The Magnificent Mughals, edited by Zeenut Ziad, 281-301. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2002. (with Aman ur Rahman)

The Magnificent Mughals, Oxford University Press, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of “Abstracts from the Third Seminar on Early Iranian and Central Asian Numismatics in Memoriam Boris Kochnev: Islamic Coins from a Hindu Temple.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 209 (Summer 2011), 7.

Research paper thumbnail of “Empowering Pakistan’s Civil Society to Counter Violent Extremism,” Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice 8(1) (2015), 188–214. (co-author)

Pakistan is one of the most strategically important countries for the United States and the Musli... more Pakistan is one of the most strategically important countries for the United States and the Muslim world. Since 9/11, the United States has focused on securing a more stable and democratic Pakistan that is capable of countering violent extremism (CVE); however, despite investing over $30 billion, Pakistan remains a base for numerous U.S.-designated terrorist groups. In lieu of a robust governmentled strategy, Pakistan's civil society has had to take the lead in CVE. Although civil society organizations (CSOs) have developed innovative peacebuilding initiatives at the grassroots level to counter violent extremism, they must overcome numerous obstacles in creating a nationwide movement. With this challenge in mind, how can the United States and the international community adopt a more systematic approach to strengthen Pakistan's civil society? This Working Group will address this question by assessing the capacity of existing CVE programs in Pakistan, determining good practices in engaging local actors, and identifying regional challenges to implementing programs. This Working Group will also consider how lessons learned in Pakistan can be applied in other countries that are at risk of violent extremism. Finally, the Working Group will develop recommendations for national and provincial strategies to empower civil society as a bulwark against extremism.

Research paper thumbnail of “Hazrat Jio Sahib: How Durrani Peshawar Helped Revive Bukhara’s Sanctity.” In Sufism and Islam in Central Asia, edited by Jo-Ann Gross, Devin DeWeese. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2018.

Sufism and Islam in Central Asia, ed. Jo-Ann Gross, Devin DeWeese (forthcoming)

Research paper thumbnail of “Unpublished Shara’i Dirhem of Aurangzeb.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 188 (Summer 2006), 24.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of “A Recent Find of 18 AE Coins of the Jams of Sindh- 15th C. AD.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 181 (Fall 2004), 19-20.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of “Bronze Imitations of Indo-Greek Drachms from Swat- 4-6 C. AD.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 181 (Fall, 2004), 20-21.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of “The Treasures of Kashmir Smast.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 187 (Spring 2006), 14-33.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2006

An analysis of epigraphic and numismatic evidence from the Kashmir Smast site from the Alchon Hun... more An analysis of epigraphic and numismatic evidence from the Kashmir Smast site from the Alchon Hunnic period (5th-6th C.) and a survey of Alchon Hunnic political and monetary history.

Research paper thumbnail of “An Interview with Mustafa Jemilev.” International Committee for Crimea (Washington, DC). Dec., 2006.

Research paper thumbnail of “Repatriation of Crimean Tatar Youth: The Experience of Ali Chabuk.” International Committee for Crimea (Washington, DC), May, 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of “Islamic Organizations and Challenges in Crimea.” International Committee for Crimea (Washington, DC). Apr., 2008.

Book Reviews by Waleed Ziad

Research paper thumbnail of Review of Revealed Grace: The Juristic Sufism of Ahmad Sirhindi, by Arthur Buehler. Der Islam Volume 89 1/2 (2012), 188-193.

Research paper thumbnail of "A Review of the National Archives, Kabul, Afghanistan.” Dissertations Reviews, 2015.

Dissertation Reviews (online), forthcoming

Research paper thumbnail of Review of The Divine Flood: Ibrahim Niasse and the Roots of Twentieth-Century Sufi Revival, by Rudiger Seesemann. Comparative Islamic Studies Vol. 9, No. 1 (2015), 122-125.

Comparative Islamic Studies, forthcoming

Research paper thumbnail of Traversing the Indus and the Oxus: Trans-regional Islamic Revival in the Age of Political Fragmentation and the ‘Great Game’ 1747 - 1880. Dissertation. Department of History, Yale University, March 2017. (797 pp)

This dissertation traces the emergence and evolution of trans-Asiatic Muslim revivalist networks ... more This dissertation traces the emergence and evolution of trans-Asiatic Muslim revivalist networks which provided an overarching sacro-cultural framework across the fragile states of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, bridging the socio-intellectual domains on both sides of the Indus and Oxus rivers.
The breakdown of the Mughal, Safavid, and Uzbek empires in the eighteenth century resulted in the fragmentation of the political landscape into petty feuding principalities. Eventually, many of these polities were reduced to buffer states in what came to be known in Western imperial parlance as the British-Russian ‘Great Game’ for dominance of Asia.
In this turbulent period, an intricate network of shrines, khānāqahs (centers for Sufi practice), and madrasas associated with the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi (or Mujaddidiyya) Sufi order proliferated across this region. The order itself originated several generations earlier with Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (d. 1624), a widely revered South Asian theologian and mystic. He was popularly designated as the “Mujaddid” or reviver of the second Islamic millennium. His successors, known as the Mujaddidiyya, are the subject of this dissertation. The Mujaddidi networks of scholar-mystics spanned the Indus and the Oxus, and beyond to Xinjiang, the Volga, and the Ottoman Empire. They influenced some of the region’s principal revivalist and reformist movements, shaping Muslim responses not only to the fragmentation of the great empires, but also to European colonialism. I trace the development of their networks, up to the cusp of Russian, British, and Chinese annexation of South and Central Asia.
This study ultimately asks how the Mujaddidiyya were able to establish a parallel form of popular leadership which transcended local political structures, providing cohesion across much of this politically fragmented region. An investigation of this formative period of the Mujaddidi order is an inquiry into the nature of a ‘fibre’, to use Joseph Fletcher’s term, which held together parts of Eurasia in the pre-colonial and early colonial periods. Furthermore, it reveals the existence of a dynamic sacro-cultural trans-Asiatic domain of exchange, questioning the widely held notion that cities like Peshawar and Bukhara were isolated prior to the twentieth century. Turning to unexplored sources from within Sufi traditions, together with local histories, shrine catalogs, architectural evidence, and European records, this study calls for a fresh conceptualization of political, religious, and popular sovereignty. I argue that the expansion of the Mujaddidi network was a byproduct of two processes.
First, with the breakdown of older empires, local ruling elites in South and Central Asia effectively entrusted scholastic, religious, and social services to trans-regional Sufi orders, whose popular authority appealed to both urban intelligentsia and tribal populations. These Sufis generated institutional networks separate from the fiscal-military institutions of state, and which possessed greater resilience and longevity. In cities like Kabul, for example, the socio-intellectual milieu was drastically transformed in the late eighteenth century as Mujaddidi Sufis fleeing instability in the Mughal heartlands established institutions providing esoteric and exoteric education. These rapidly became hubs for new networks drawing students from as far as Baluchistan and Yarkand.
Second, the Mujaddidiyya relied on Sirhindi’s ontology to represent themselves as a synthetic tradition, both trans-regional and local. Accordingly, they were able to absorb pre-existing sacred communities and spaces, and inevitably became a point of convergence for urban scholarly classes and popular shrine-based Sufism. As Sufi saints, popular poets, and jurists, the Mujaddidiyya assumed the role of arch-intermediaries in a dynamic and fragile environment. They were called upon to mediate between urban and tribal elites and subjects, antagonistic polities, colonial and local authorities, and agrarian and highland communities. They navigated inter-regional trade caravans, and when required, even raised armies. Their institutions served as soup kitchens, caravanserais, and safe-houses, as well as loci for trade, negotiation, and diplomacy. They were also sites for the production and propagation of didactic, polemical, and historical texts which helped define the contours of Sunni Persianate Islam.
Within this study, I employ trans-regional microhistories of two key Mujaddidi lineages as vehicles to challenge persisting paradigms regarding the political landscape of this region and the Muslim world at large. These include Great Game narratives, and the geographical concepts of South and Central Asia, and their “natural frontiers.” I argue instead for the persistence of a Persianate cosmopolis in the pre-colonial period encompassing Iran, Inner-Asia, and South Asia, and situate the Afghan Empire at the center of this zone of exchange. In parallel, I respond to enduring debates regarding Islam in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially around the nature of revivalism and reform. As such, this dissertation provides a foundation for further work to interpret the complex socio-religious dynamics from the colonial period to the present day.

Research paper thumbnail of “Transporting Knowledge in the Afghan Empire: A Case Study of two Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Sufi Manuals.” In Afghanistan’s Islam, edited by Nile Green. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2016.

Research paper thumbnail of “‘Islamic’ Coins from a Hindu Temple: Reconsidering Ghaznawid Policy towards Hindu Sacred Sites through new Numismatic Evidence from Gandhara.” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient (2016).

This paper examines enigmatic, small, Arabic-inscribed copper coins that were minted or circulate... more This paper examines enigmatic, small, Arabic-inscribed copper coins that were minted or circulated in the environs of a Hindu cave temple complex in northern Gandhara. Based on legends and typology, most of these issues can be attributed to the Ghaznavid period. This new numismatic evidence calls into question long-standing narratives of the Ghaznavid invasion of Hindustan, which posit that the Ghaznavids pursued a uniformly iconoclastic policy toward Hindu sacred sites. The evidence also suggests that the Ghaznavids embraced diverse modes of interaction with the Hindustani frontier zones. These went beyond the well documented raiding expeditions to realize shortterm fijinancial gains. Rather, the Ghaznavids may also have had long-term economic objectives, which necessitated preserving existing sacred institutions and their administrative and fijiscal machinery and patronage networks.

Research paper thumbnail of “‘Disturbances at Bareilli’ in the Spring of 1816: Inter-Communal Religious Authority and Collective Action.” Journal of Persianate Studies, 7, Issue 2 (2014), 189-218.

Journal of Persianate Studies, 2014

In the Spring of 1816, the North Indian town of Bareilli witnessed a series of protests following... more In the Spring of 1816, the North Indian town of Bareilli witnessed a series of protests following the imposition of a House Tax by the East India Company government. Under the leadership of Mufti 'Iwāz, a local 'ālem associated with reformist Sufi traditions, various Muslim and Hindu communities of Bareilli engaged in collective action which culminated in a violent confrontation. Reading court records against the grain, this paper argues that the protests represented a complex form of negotiation framed within Islamo-Persianate paradigms-including symbols, language, and authority structureswhich continued to define modes of popular political expression in the early colonial period. By focusing on Mufti 'Iwāz, the incident provides rare insights into the practical relationship between Muslim orthodoxy, communal dynamics, and political authority. I argue that with the collapse of Mughal rule, the mufti assumed a role as an intermediary between the people of Bareilli and Company officials derived from precolonial conceptions of moral, popular, and spiritual authority shared by Hindu and Muslim communities.

Research paper thumbnail of “Sufism.” In The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity and Nationalism (Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedias in Social Sciences), edited by John Stone, Rutledge Dennis, Polly Rizova. Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.

Research paper thumbnail of “From Yarkand to Sindh via Kabul: The Rise of Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi Sufi Networks in the 18th-19th Century Durrani Empire.” In The Persianate World: Rethinking a Shared Sphere, edited by Abbas Amanat, Assef Ashraf. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2018.

The Persianate World: Towards a Conceptual Framework, ed. Abbas Amanat

Research paper thumbnail of “Coinage and Monetary System.” In The Magnificent Mughals, edited by Zeenut Ziad, 281-301. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2002. (with Aman ur Rahman)

The Magnificent Mughals, Oxford University Press, 2002

Research paper thumbnail of “Abstracts from the Third Seminar on Early Iranian and Central Asian Numismatics in Memoriam Boris Kochnev: Islamic Coins from a Hindu Temple.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 209 (Summer 2011), 7.

Research paper thumbnail of “Empowering Pakistan’s Civil Society to Counter Violent Extremism,” Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice 8(1) (2015), 188–214. (co-author)

Pakistan is one of the most strategically important countries for the United States and the Musli... more Pakistan is one of the most strategically important countries for the United States and the Muslim world. Since 9/11, the United States has focused on securing a more stable and democratic Pakistan that is capable of countering violent extremism (CVE); however, despite investing over $30 billion, Pakistan remains a base for numerous U.S.-designated terrorist groups. In lieu of a robust governmentled strategy, Pakistan's civil society has had to take the lead in CVE. Although civil society organizations (CSOs) have developed innovative peacebuilding initiatives at the grassroots level to counter violent extremism, they must overcome numerous obstacles in creating a nationwide movement. With this challenge in mind, how can the United States and the international community adopt a more systematic approach to strengthen Pakistan's civil society? This Working Group will address this question by assessing the capacity of existing CVE programs in Pakistan, determining good practices in engaging local actors, and identifying regional challenges to implementing programs. This Working Group will also consider how lessons learned in Pakistan can be applied in other countries that are at risk of violent extremism. Finally, the Working Group will develop recommendations for national and provincial strategies to empower civil society as a bulwark against extremism.

Research paper thumbnail of “Hazrat Jio Sahib: How Durrani Peshawar Helped Revive Bukhara’s Sanctity.” In Sufism and Islam in Central Asia, edited by Jo-Ann Gross, Devin DeWeese. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2018.

Sufism and Islam in Central Asia, ed. Jo-Ann Gross, Devin DeWeese (forthcoming)

Research paper thumbnail of “Unpublished Shara’i Dirhem of Aurangzeb.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 188 (Summer 2006), 24.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of “A Recent Find of 18 AE Coins of the Jams of Sindh- 15th C. AD.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 181 (Fall 2004), 19-20.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of “Bronze Imitations of Indo-Greek Drachms from Swat- 4-6 C. AD.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 181 (Fall, 2004), 20-21.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2004

Research paper thumbnail of “The Treasures of Kashmir Smast.” Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society 187 (Spring 2006), 14-33.

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, 2006

An analysis of epigraphic and numismatic evidence from the Kashmir Smast site from the Alchon Hun... more An analysis of epigraphic and numismatic evidence from the Kashmir Smast site from the Alchon Hunnic period (5th-6th C.) and a survey of Alchon Hunnic political and monetary history.

Research paper thumbnail of “An Interview with Mustafa Jemilev.” International Committee for Crimea (Washington, DC). Dec., 2006.

Research paper thumbnail of “Repatriation of Crimean Tatar Youth: The Experience of Ali Chabuk.” International Committee for Crimea (Washington, DC), May, 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of “Islamic Organizations and Challenges in Crimea.” International Committee for Crimea (Washington, DC). Apr., 2008.

Research paper thumbnail of Review of Revealed Grace: The Juristic Sufism of Ahmad Sirhindi, by Arthur Buehler. Der Islam Volume 89 1/2 (2012), 188-193.

Research paper thumbnail of "A Review of the National Archives, Kabul, Afghanistan.” Dissertations Reviews, 2015.

Dissertation Reviews (online), forthcoming

Research paper thumbnail of Review of The Divine Flood: Ibrahim Niasse and the Roots of Twentieth-Century Sufi Revival, by Rudiger Seesemann. Comparative Islamic Studies Vol. 9, No. 1 (2015), 122-125.

Comparative Islamic Studies, forthcoming

Research paper thumbnail of “A Review of the Peshawar University Library, Peshawar, Pakistan.” Dissertation Reviews, 2016.

Research paper thumbnail of “A Review of the Iqbal Mujaddidi Collection, Punjab University.” Dissertation Reviews, 2016.

Research paper thumbnail of •“A Review of the Ganj Bakhsh Library, Iran-Pakistan Institute of Persian Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan.” Dissertation Reviews, 2014.

Research paper thumbnail of The only review of Revealed Grace in four years (in English)

It is amazing that there is even one review. The translator's preface of this book, uploaded belo... more It is amazing that there is even one review. The translator's preface of this book, uploaded below, was rejected immediately by a prestigious academic press. Unwittingly by exposing my shortcomings as a translator I exposed all those who were not transparent in this regard. I transgressed the norms of the closed guild of academics. Good. I encourage you to do the same.