مخطوط حكاية الرسول الطيب (حكايت پاک رسول دی) للحافظ برخوردار:دراسة تحليلية نقدية لمضامينه السيرية واللغوية

The Manuscript Hikayat al-Rasul al-Tayyib (Hikayat Pak Rasool Di) by Hafiz Barkhurdar: A Critical Analytical Study of Its Sirah-Based and Linguistic Dimensions

Abstract

This research paper presents a comprehensive critical and analytical exploration of the Punjabi manuscript titled "Hikayat Pak Rasul Di" (The Tale of the Holy Messenger), a seminal but historically under-scrutinized work attributed to the 17th-century scholar and litterateur, Hafiz Barkhurdar Ranjha. Composed in a sophisticated poetic vernacular, the manuscript represents a remarkable synthesis of classical hagiographic devotion and local narrative traditions, primarily focusing on the sublime character and universal compassion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The study begins by reconstructing the author’s intellectual genealogy and his multifaceted literary contributions, highlighting his pivotal role in the vernacularization of Islamic scholarship within the Punjab region. By translating complex Arabic and Persian concepts into the Punjabi idiom, Barkhurdar acted as a cultural bridge, bringing elite theological discourse into the popular spiritual consciousness. A central axis of this inquiry is the thematic architecture of the manuscript, which underscores the profound concepts of Prophetic intercession (Shafa'at) and divine mercy as the cornerstone of communal hope for the Ummah. Furthermore, the article provides a rigorous comparative analysis between the manuscript’s narrative constructs and the established corpus of canonical Hadith literature. It addresses the theological nuances of the text, examining how the author employs poetic license to amplify the emotional and spiritual resonance of the Sirah. From a philological perspective, the study offers a detailed assessment of the manuscript's linguistic and orthographic idiosyncrasies, meticulously contrasting 17th-century scribal conventions—such as specific phonetic renderings and archaic scriptural connections—with modern Punjabi linguistic norms. The research concludes that while the manuscript incorporates certain narrative elements that may lack direct correspondence in primary canonical sources, its primary functional value lies in its didactic and ethical efficacy. It serves as a potent instrument for moral rectitude and the cultivation of Muhabbat-e-Rasool (Prophetic Love), successfully bridging the gap between rigorous theology and heartfelt popular devotion.