Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah,

     Naqshbandiya Foundation for Islamic Education (NFIE), a non-profit organization dedicated to educate people about the humanity, beauty and the spirituality of Islam, has initiated a translation project with the grace of Allah (SWT).  As part of our mission to increase awareness of the humanistic side of Islam, we have decided to undertake the publishing of works that we feel will greatly enhance the understanding of Islam in America.  Some of the projects that we are undertaking are:

     • The translation of Ma Huwa’t Tasawwuf, What is Sufism, from Arabic into English by a well-known Muslim translator, Muhtar Holland.  There are a lot of misconceptions about Islam and also Sufism, the aim of this book is to enhance the understanding of Sufism and traditional Islam.  The book was originally written in Kurdish by the eminent scholar, Sheikh Amin Ala ad-Din an-Naqshbandi and subsequently translated into Arabic by Dr. Muhammad Sharif Ahmad.  The author goes into great detail into what is Sufism and how does it fit into the context of traditional Islam.

     • Compiling a master index, Makhtubat-Imam-i Rabbani, the compiled letters of Ahmed Sirhindi by Dr. Arthur F. Buehler.  These letters shed an important light into the life of this great Sufi scholar, who redefined Tasawwuf,s role in society with the goal of following in the footsteps of Prophet(SAWS).  *This work will be published this fall by the Iqbal Academy based on funding already received from the NFIE.

     • The publication of a journal, Sufi Illuminations (Risala-yi-Anwar as Sufiyya) – an academic journal dedicated to the study of Islam and Sufism.  The Editor of this journal will be Prof. Qamar-ul Huda, Theology Dept.-Boston College.  He will be joined by an advisory board, comprised of Dr. Arthur Buehler (Louisiana State Univ.), Dr. Vincent Cornell (Univ. of Arkansas-Fayetteville), Dr. Alan Godlas (Univ. of Georgia), Dr. Marcia Hermansen (Loyola Univ.), Dr. Kenneth Honerkamp (Univ. of Georgia), and Dr. Abd al-Hakim Murad (Cambridge Univ.-England).

The goal of the Naqshbandiya foundation is to raise $30,000 for these projects Insha’Allah in 2002.   Your generous donations will be much appreciated and are tax deductible, (Tax ID # 37-1303679).  May Allah (SWT) bless you and your family with His mercy and peace.   Amin!

Wa’salaam,
Sheikh Mohammad Masum Diyai Naqshbandi – Religious Advisor   
Ahmed H. Mirza MD- Secretary, NFIE