The Kashf al-mahjúb - The oldest Persian treatise on Súfiism

The Kashf al-Maḥjúb, which belongs to the later years of the author’s life, and, partly at any rate, to the period of his residence in Lahore, was written in reply to certain questions addressed to him by a fellow-townsman, Abú Sa`íd al-Hujwírí. Its object is to set forth a complete system of Ṣúfiism, not to put together a great number of sayings by different Shaykhs, but to discuss and expound the doctrines and practices of the Ṣúfís. The author’s attitude throughout is that of a teacher instructing a pupil. Even the biographical section of the work is largely expository. Before stating his own view the author generally examines the current opinions on the same topic and refutes them if necessary.