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Rana Safvi

@ranasafvi.bsky.social

770 followers 270 following 120 posts

historian, translator, author deeply committed to India's rich cultural heritage and diverse civilizational legacy. Author of the Delhi trilogy and In Search of the Divine: Living Histories of Sufism in India, A Firestorm in Paradise

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Mar 26

peace
@metmuseum.org

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 16

The Neem ki Haveli was in a terrible condition like many other havelis in Old Delhi.
Atul Khanna restored it & now along with Kathika has become a beautiful destination for cultural activities.
I had a book discussion there with Aishwarya Jha a few months ago & today a presentation on Ghalib

Reposted by Rana Safvi

Dr Jennifer Howes @jhowesuk.bsky.social · Feb 14

Crouching tiger, running camel. Wall painting in the 18th century Bagore Ki Haveli, Udaipur.

A wall painting which has wrapped around an architectural protrusion. On the right is a man riding a camel, while on the left, a tiger sits on top of a sill.

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 14

on Valentine's Day here are 21 Urdu words for love, noted by Prof Shamsur Rahman Faruqi.
These convey different shades and stages of (sexual/sacred) love. They are in no particular order. And words for lust, etc. are not listed
youtu.be/z82ySUzJQZo?...

on Valentine's Day here are 21 Urdu words for love, noted by Prof Shamsur Rahman Faruqi sahib

YouTube video by Rana Safvi

youtu.be

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 14

what is ishq-e haqeeqi : and it doesn't have anything to do with Valentine's Day
( a simple beginner's explanation-. For more details read my book
In Search of the Divine)
youtu.be/I7CfzX7TcEA?...

what is ishq-e haqeeqi : and it doesn't have anything to do with Valentine's Day

YouTube video by Rana Safvi

youtu.be

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 14

The Shias celebrate it as the birthday of the 12th Imam- The Mehdi

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 14

it is a night when one’s deceased ancestors are commemorated. Nazar and Fatiha is done and sweets distributed.
‎People use the night to atone for the sins of their ancestors and save them & themselves from hellfire.
‎In many countries including India Muslims would celebrate with fireworks.
‎

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 14

On the night, Muslims worldwide ask forgiveness for their sins from the all-merciful Allah.
‎It derives from the Arabic words bara’ah (forgiveness ) and shab (evening )
‎Due to the virtues of the night, it is one of the holiest nights in Islam.
‎

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 14

‎Shab-e Barat

‎“Verily, My Mercy prevails over My Wrath.”~ Hadith e Qudsi

‎Shab e Baraat – This blessed night starts at sunset on the 14th of Shaban and ends at dawn on the 15th of Shaban. .
‎
‎image: courtesy Pergamon museum – Princess Zebunnisa celebrating Shab e Barat

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 12

my version of nihari

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 12

the awadh version of rohu, with methi and dahi

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 11

Hakim Ajmal Khan’s Last Resting Place: in a forgotten corner of Delhi
ranasafvi.com/hakim-ajmal-...

Hakim Ajmal Khan’s Last Resting Place: in a forgotten corner of Delhi

Hakim Ajmal Khan a philanthropist, freedom fighter, famous hakeem and nationalist is a well known personality. So I was very surprised when I was told that his grave was In one corner of The Hazrat…

ranasafvi.com

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 11

Death is a great leveler
157th birth anniversary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a philanthropist, freedom fighter, famous hakeem and nationalist is a well known personality.
He sleeps forgotten in one of Delhi's bastis, his grave in a 2 gaz space in what was once his family qabristan.

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 7

Maula ki zamanat mein diya

ranasafvi.com/what-is-imam...

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 7

‎It is under the central arch & is made of golden sandstone ( sang-e bassi) and marble.
‎it was in the year 1829 by Mirza Salim, son of Akbar II.
‎What fascinated me was the marble jali around it which is very similar to the jali around the cenotaph in Taj Mahal.

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 7

one of the oft overlooked gem of the Jama Masjid, Delhi is the makabbar.
‎This is the station for the Mukabbir, he who asists the Imam by giving the time by which the various motions in the prayer are regulated., repeating the formula, Allahu Akbar (اللہ اکبر) in prayers.

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 4

as per a schedule that Dr Ali sent me, I think so. I didn't specifically enquire about it

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 3

apne armonon ke bojh tale daba huwa
#wanderingsindelhi

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 3

*khan not shah

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 3

Will be signing
my book in
Penguin India stall
at the World Book Fair
4 Feb, 25
1 pm
Please come

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 3

with me!

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Feb 3

At the dargah of
Hazrat Inayat Shah (1882–1927 CE), a Chisti Sufi
he travelled west in 1910.
& established the Sufi order in 1914 & taught
‘universal Sufism’, which became International Sufi Movement in 1923.
Sufism, acc to him, is based on ‘Tauheed’ & unity
of religious ideals, love and harmony

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Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Jan 29

his work is very good. His painting of the tragedy of Karbala is iconic & much copied.

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Jan 29

I couldn't fond the date of the work but Mahmoud Farshchian was born in 1930, still active.

Rana Safvi @ranasafvi.bsky.social · Jan 28

image Makhzan al-Asrār by Niẓāmī Folio 3v
from the net