The Sufi Courtyard takes you on a journey through the famous and lesser-known dargahs of Delhi. From the first Sufi centre established in Mehrauli by Khwaja Qutub Bakhtiar Kaki during the early days of the Delhi Sultanate to later nineteenth century Sufi retreats in the city, the author explores the spiritual, cultural and historical legacy of the Delhi Sufis, making this book as much about Delhi as it is about Sufism.
For centuries, the dargahs of Delhi have attracted large numbers of devotees belonging to different countries, faiths and backgrounds who seek spiritual solace and grant of their wishes. The magnetism of dargahs emanates from the personalities of the extraordinary Sufis buried in the premises. Through a simple narrative, Sadia Dehlvi brings to life the philosophies and stories of their lives.
About the Author Sadia Dehlvi is a well-known columnist whose writings for over thirty decades have focused on women, culture, heritage and Muslim communities. Both on television and in print media, Dehlvi articulates moderate and enlightened narratives of Islam. She frequently speaks on the subject in schools, universities, seminars and other national and international forums. Dehlvi is the author of Sufism: The Heart of Islam (HarperCollins, 2009) and is currently working on a book that tells stories of Delhi as experienced by her family.