This book is mainly an account of a Muslim author Taajudin Naqshbandi who accompanied Guru Nanak from Makkah to Baghdad. It is authored by Sant Syed Prithipal Singh ne’ Mushtaq Hussain Shah (1902-1969) and edited & translated by Inderjit Singh.

 

Sant Syed Prithipal Singh (né Mushtaq Hussein) was the only son of Mujafar Hussein, and the grandson of Pir-Bakur Shah of the famous family of Mirpur, Kashmir. The period from 1927 to 1930 was the most revolutionary in his life. During this time, his father decided to go to the Hajj and convinced his son to also go to Makkah-Medina for higher Islamic education. While researching in Medina, Mushtaq Hussein came across a manuscript, Siyahto Baba Nanak Fakir, in a library. An Arabic-Persian writer named Taajudin Naqshbandi wrote this manuscript. Taajudin joined Guru Nanak in his journey for two years around 1510 AD. While living with Guru Nanak, he had kept a diary—the Siyahto Baba Nanak Fakir manuscript—which he had submitted to the library in Medina.

 

This manuscript changed Mushtaq’s life. He adopted Guru Nanak’s path and went on to become the renowned Sant Syed Prithipal Singh. With tremendous personal courage he left his high family and riches and spent his entire life preaching Guru Nanak’s mission.

 

Sant Syed Prithipal Singh wrote a book on Guru Nanak’s pilgrimage to Makkah. He referenced three main books:

 

1) Sihayato Baba Nanak Shah Fakir, a Persian-Arabic manuscript by Taajudin Naqshabandi. This manuscript was discovered by Mushtaq Hussein in 1927, in a library in Medina.

 

2) Twarikhe Arab, by Zainul Abidin of Makkah who became a Sikh of Guru Nanak. In 1929, Mushtaq Hussein met in Makkah Mehboob Rehman, a descendant of Zainul Abidin whose family still followed Guru Nanak ji.
 

3) Guniya-Ut-Salehin, by Pir Abdul Rehman. This Pir met Guru Nanak in Baghdad.

 

It is this book of Sant Syed Prithipal Singh that Sardar Inderjit Singh translates to English. The book is very comprehensive in its account as he references almost all of the known manuscripts on the subject.