Khwaja Abdullah Ansari (1006–1089,) known as Pir-i Herat (Sage of Herat,) was a Persian Sūfī saint, poet, and scholar renowned for his spiritual teachings and contributions to Islamic mysticism.
Born in Herat, Ghaznavid Empire (modern-day Afghanistan,) Ansari was a direct descendant of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He studied Islamic theology and jurisprudence, becoming a prominent Hanbali scholar. His mastery of Arabic and Persian poetry made him a celebrated orator and writer.
His works focus on Sūfī philosophy, devotion, and enlightenment. Notable publications include Munajat Nama (2018, Book of Supplications,) Sad Maidan (1977, Hundred Fields,) Sad Pand-e-Sudmand (1926, Hundred Beneficial Advices,) Tabaqat-us-Sūfīyyah (1963, Ranks of the Sūfīs,) and Tohfat-ul-Mulook (Gift for Kings,) emphasizing love for God, humility, and self-purification.
Ansari’s tomb in Herat remains a pilgrimage site for Sūfī followers and scholars. Notable biographies include Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi’s Khwaja Abdullah Ansari: His Life and Teachings (2015,) exploring his spiritual philosophy, and William C. Chittick’s The Sūfī Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Khwaja Abdullah Ansari (2018,) examining his mystical writings.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Khwaja Abdullah Ansari
If thou canst walk on water, thou art no better than a straw. If thou canst fly in the air, thou art no better than a fly. Conquer thy heart that thou mayest become somebody.
—Khwaja Abdullah Ansari
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