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Abstract

Hall-e-Masnavi is a valuable interpretative commentary on selected couplets of Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī’s Masnavi Ma‘navi, authored by Sheikh Muhammad Afzal Illah Abadi, a distinguished scholar, poet, and writer of his time. Known for his deep erudition and spiritual insight, Sheikh Afzal was affiliated with the Naqshbandi Sufi order, and the characteristics of this spiritual lineage are distinctly reflected in his interpretation. Unlike literal or purely philological commentaries, Hall-e-Masnavi emphasizes the inner dimensions of Rūmī’s thought, harmonizing mystical concepts with the teachings of the Naqshbandi tradition. The manuscript of this work, catalogued as No. P-Pi-VI-IH 350p, is preserved in the Central Library of the University of the Punjab. It offers a comprehensive introduction to the six books (daftars) of the Masnavi, with a focus on their spiritual structure and thematic unity. This article presents a descriptive account of the manuscript, highlighting its organization, scribe, and textual features. Specimens from both the opening and conclusion of each of the six books are included to illustrate its unique style and exegetical approach. The transcription of the manuscript was undertaken by Hazrat Shah Ghulam Haider, whose careful scribing further adds to the manuscript’s historical and literary value. By bringing this interpretative tradition to light, the present study seeks to situate Hall-e-Masnavi within the broader framework of Indo-Persian literary heritage and Sufi exegesis, thereby contributing to the understanding of Rūmī’s reception in South Asia.