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Ibn-e-Safi (also spelled as Ibne Safi) (Urdu: ابنِ صفی) was the pen name of Asrar Ahmad (Urdu: اسرار احمد), a best-selling and prolific fiction writer, novelist and poet of Urdu. The word Ibn-e-Safi is an Arabian expression which literally means Son of Safi, where the word Safi means chaste or righteous. He wrote from the 1940s in India, and later Pakistan after the partition of British India in 1947.

His main works were the 125-book series Jasoosi Dunya (The Spy World) and the 120-book Imran Series, with a small canon of satirical works and poetry. His novels were characterized by a blend of mystery, adventure, suspense, violence, romance and comedy, achieving massive popularity across a broad readership in South Asia.

Agatha Christie once said, "I don't know Urdu but have knowledge of detective novels of the Subcontinent. There is only one original writer - Ibn-e-Safi."

Biography

Ibne Safi was born on July 26, 1928 in the town 'Nara' of district Allahabad, India. His father's name was Safiullah and mother's name was Naziran Bibi.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Agra University. In 1948, he started his first job at 'Nikhat Publications' as an Editor in the poetry department.

His initial works date back to the early 1940s, when he wrote from India. After the partition of Indian and Pakistan in 1947, he began writing novels in the early 1950s while working as a secondary school teacher and continuing part-time studies. After completing the latter, having attracted official attention as being subversive in the independence and post-independence period, he migrated to Karachi, Pakistan in August 1952. He started his own company by the name 'Israr Publications'.

He married to Ume Salma Khatoon in 1953.

Between 1960 - 1963 he suffered an episode of schizophrenia, but recovered, and returned with a best-selling Imran Series novel, Dairrh Matwaalay (One and a half amused). In fact, he wrote 36 novels of 'Jasoosi Duniya' and 79 novels of 'Imran Series' after his recovery from schizophrenia. In the 1970s, he informally advised the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan on methods of detection. He died of pancreatic cancer on July 26, 1980 in Karachi, which was coincidentally his 52nd birthday.

Works

Ibne Safi’s prose work can be classified into two categories:

Mystery novels
Short stories and articles of humor and mockery

Ibn-e-Safi started writing poetry in his childhood and soon earned critial acclaim. After completing his Bachelor of Arts, he started writing short stories, humor and satire under various names such as “Sanki Soldier” and “Tughral Farghan.” In the Nakhat magazines, he published several satirical articles which commented on various topics ranging from politics to literature to journalism. His early works in the 1940s included short stories, humor and satire.

According to one of his autobiographical essays, someone in a literary meeting claimed that Urdu literature had little scope for anything but sexual themes. To challenge this notion, Ibn-e-Safi began writing detective stories in January 1952 in the monthly Nikhat, naming the series Jasoosi Dunya. In the preface of Jasoosi Dunya's platinum jubilee number (Zameen Kay Baadal - Clouds of Earth), he mentioned those novels of Jasoosi Dunya whose main plot elements were taken from Western literature and which included Daler Mujrim (The Fearless Criminal), Pur-asraar Ajnabi (The Mysterious Stranger), Raqqasah ka Qatl (Murder of the Dancer), Heeray ki Kaan (The Diamond Mine) and Khooni Pathar (The Bloody Stone). He also mentioned some characters which were borrowed from English fiction, such as Khaufnak Hangamah’s (The Terrifying Chaos) Professor Durrani and Paharron ki Malikah’s (The Queen of Mountains) White Queen and Gorilla. He claimed that, other than those novels and characters, his stories were his own creation, and even the mentioned novels had only borrowed ideas and were not translations.

In 1955, Ibn-e-Safi started the Imran Series, which gained as much fame and success as Jasoosi Dunya. In the aforementioned essay, he claimed that all the characters and stories of the Imran Series were original and not borrowed. Ibne Safi’s novels – characterized by a blend of adventure, suspense, violence, romance and comedy – achieved massive popularity by a broad readership.

So strong was Ibne Safi’s impact on the Subcontinent’s literary scene that his novels were translated into several regional languages. It was not unusual for Safi's books to be sold at black market prices in Pakistan and India, where they were originally published every month.

The settings in Ibne Safi's novels are such that the reader is never told the national origin of the heroes. Since Jasoosi Duniya was created before the partition of the subcontinent, the names of the characters and their locales suggest that the novel takes place in India. The advent of the Imran Series came post-partition, and the reader is set up to assume that the narrative is situated in Pakistan. Besides their native countries, the main characters of both Jasoosi Duniya and Imran Series have had adventures around the world – Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Pacific Islands, Zanzibar, South Africa, the United States of America, and various other places. Considering that Ibne Safi never left the Indian Subcontinent, the detailed descriptions he provides of the diverse localities are surprisingly accurate.

Many a time, Ibne Safi created fictitious settings for his stories. The magical web of his writing is so captivating that these fantasy lands have become real in the minds of readers. Avid fans of the author are experts on the people and cultures of Shakraal, Karaghaal, Maqlaaq, Zeroland, and many other imaginary domains. In cities around India and Pakistan, one can find discotheques, bars, night clubs, and hotels named after venues found in Ibne Safi's novels. Some places worth mentioning are: Dilkusha, Fizaro, Niagara, Tip Top, High Circle, etc.

Besides humor and satire he also wrote some short adventures, namely Baldraan Ki Malika (The Queen of Baldraan), Ab Tak Thee Kahaan? (Where had you been?), Shimal Ka Fitna (The Trouble from North), Gultarang, and Moaziz Khopri. In these adventures, Ibne Safi takes the reader to various fictitious lands similar to the ones created by H. Rider Haggard.

Ibne Safi also directed a movie 'Dhamaka' based on his novel 'Bebakon ki talash'. The movie didn't do well.

In 1959, Ibne Safi started writing Aadmi Ki Jarain, a book based on human psychology. However, it remained incomplete due to his illness.

List of his Non-Series Work

Asrar Ahmad
Asrar Ahmad
Pen name	Ibn-e-Safi, Tughral Furghan, Asrar Narvi
Occupation	Novelist
Period	1940 to 1980
Genre	Mystery, Crime, Spy, Adventure
Notable works	Jasoosi Dunya and Imran Series
Website
	http://www.ibnesafi.info

Aadmi ki Jarain (Urdu for The Roots of The Man) - Incomplete
baldaraan ki malikaa (Urdu for The Queen of Baldaraan)
Ab tak thee kahaan (Urdu for Where Had You Been?)
Diplomate murgh (Urdu for The Diplomate Rooster)
saarhe paanch baje (Urdu for Half Past Five)
tuzke do-piazi (Urdu for The autobiography of Do-Piaza) - Incomplete
shumaal ka fitna (Urdu for The Trouble From North)
mata-e Qalb-O-Nazar - Collection of Poetry (to be published)

Quotes from Ibn-e-Safi's books

In Urdu script: آدمی سنجیدہ ہو کر کیا کرے جب کہ وہ جانتا ہے کہ ایک دن اسے اپنی سنجیدگی سمیت دفن ہوجانا پڑے گا۔
Translation: Why should man ever become serious when he knows full well that one day he will be buried along with his seriousness? (Black Picture)

In Urdu script: صرف عمل اور ردعمل کا نام زندگی ہے. منطقی جواز تو بعد میں تلاش کیا جاتا ہے۔
Translation: Life is only action and reaction. The rationalizations are added later. (AdLava)

In Urdu script: حماقت پر افسوس کرنا سب سے بڑی حماقت ہے۔
Translation: Regretting stupidity is the biggest stupidity of them all.

Dhamaka - A film by Ibn-e-Safi

Dhamaka was the only movie written by Ibne Safi. The film was produced by Muhammad Hussain Talpur (aka Maulana Hippie), based on the Imran Series novel Baibaakon Ki Talaash (Urdu for The Search of Straightforwards). Actor Javaid Sheikh (then Javaid Iqbal) was introduced for the first time as Zafarul Mulk, the main character. Maulana Hippie the film producer played Jameson and actress Shabnam played the role of Sabiha. Imran and X-2's team was not shown in the movie. The voice of X-2 was recorded by Ibne Safi himself. Actor Rahman played the role of a Villain for the first time. Actress Saishta Qaiser appeared as a guest artist in the choreography sequence during the famous song by Habib Wali Mohammad, Rah-e-talab maen kaun kisee ka (Urdu for In the path of demands, no one recognizes anyone), based on Ibne Safi's ghazal which was picturised on actor Rahman. The movie was released on December 13, 1974 at Lyric and other cinemas of Karachi (Pakistan).

Poetry

(Note: Most of the English translations of Urdu poetry and titles are literal and do not capture the true essence of the language. Some meaning is definitely lost in translation.)

Ibn-e-Safi was also a poet. He used to write poems under the pen name of “Asrar Narvi”. He wrote in various genres of Urdu poetry, such as Hamd, Naat, Manqabat, Marsia, Ghazal, and Nazm. His collection of poetry, Mata-e Qalb-o-Nazar (Urdu for The Assest of Heart & Sight), remains unpublished.

Following is the list of his Ghazals:

Daulat-e-Gham (Urdu for The wealth of sorrow)
Zahan se Dil ka Bar Utra Hai (Urdu for Heaviness of the heart is unloaded by the mind)
Chhalakti aayay (Urdu for [The liquor] shows up overflowing)
Kuch to ta-alluq ... (Urdu for Some affiliation ...)
Aaj ki raat (Urdu for Tonight)
Baday ghazab ka ... (Urdu for Of much might ...)
Yun hi wabastagi (Urdu for Casual connection)
Lab-o-rukhsar-o-jabeen (Urdu for Lips and Cheeks and forehead)
Rah-e-talab mein kaun kisi ka (Urdu for In the path of demands, no one recognizes anyone)
Kuch bhi to apne paas nahin ... (Urdu for Do not have anything ...)
Aay nigaraan-e-khoobroo (Urdu for O gorgeous sculptures)
Kabhi sawab ki hain ... (Urdu for Sometimes, of virtuousness ...)
Kabhi qatil ... (Urdu for Sometimes killer ...)
Qafas ki daastaan hai ... (Urdu for It is the tale of imprisonment ...)

Following is the list of his Ghazals:

Maan (Urdu for Mother)
Shakist-e-talism (Urdu for Defeat of the magic)
Talism-e-hosh-ruba (Urdu for The breath-taking magic)
Tanhayee (Urdu for Solitude)
Bansuri ki awaaz (Urdu for The sound of flute)

On the morning of May 19, 2009, I visited the graveyard of Paposhnagar, Karachi to offer pray at the grave of great mystery writer of Udru literature Ibne Safi (Asrar Ahmed) who, for decades, had been the favorite writer of millions of his readers. He had written about 244 masterpieces of Imran series and Jasoosi dunya which indeed are the Gems of Urdu literature. “I know you’re there. A breath away's not far too where you are." Ibne Safi was born on July 26, 1928, in the village of Nara in Allahabad District, U.P., India. According to a research made by Zubair Irshad, Ibne Safi’s forefathers came from the village of Nara. Originally they were Hindus of Kaistth clan. Several generations back, their clan leader Raja Vasheshar Dayal Singh had embraced Islam and came to be known as Baba Abdun Nabi. His tomb still exists in what are now the ruins of the village Nara. Ibne Safi obtained his primary schooling in the village school at Nara. When he was only eight years old, he got an opportunity to read first volume of Talism-e-Hoshruba. Although he could not understand the language entirely, the story made a great impact on his creative mind. He then read all seven volumes several times. Ibne Safi started writing at a young age. When he was in seventh grade, his first story appeared in the weekly Shahid, which was edited by Aadil Rasheed. Ibne Safi also started writing poetry when he was in eighth class. He was so impressed by the famous poet Jigar Murad Aabadi that his earlier poetry was on “khumriat” (poetry about the use and affects of alcohol). According to one of his autobiographical essays, someone in a literary meeting claimed that Urdu literature had little scope for anything but sexual themes. To challenge this notion, Ibn-e-Safi began writing detective stories in January 1952 in the monthly Nikhat, naming the series Jasoosi Dunya. In the preface of Jasoosi Dunya's platinum jubilee number Zameen Kay Baadal, he mentioned those novels of Jasoosi Dunya whose main plot were taken from Western literature and which included Daler Mujrim, Pur-asraar Ajnabi,, Raqqasah ka Qatal, Heeray ki Kaan and Khooni Pathar. Furthermore, he also mentioned some characters, which were borrowed from English fiction, such as Khaufnak Hangamah’s Professor Durrani and Paharron ki Malikah’s White Queen and Gorilla. He claimed that other than those novels and characters, his stories were his own creation, and even the mentioned novels had borrowed only ideas and were not translations. Ibne Safi created the Imran Series in 1955 when he migrated to Karachi, where he lived until pancreatic cancer caused his death in 1980 on July 26, on his 52nd birthday. Coincidently, his date of birth and death of death is same i.e. July 26. His characters were as well-known and popular among his readers as legendary fictional characters like Sherlock Homes. In 1960 - 1963 he suffered an episode of schizophrenia, but recovered, and returned with a best-selling Imran Series novel, Dairrh Matwaalay. Inauguration pictures of this novel can be seen in the pictorial section of a wonderful site www.ibnesafi.info which indeed is the one-and-only web site on Ibne Safi being remarkably maintained by Mr. Muhammad Hanif residing in Saudi Arabia. The settings in Ibne Safi's novels are such that the reader is never told the national origin of the heroes. Since Jasoosi Duniya was created before the partition of the subcontinent, the names of the characters and their locales suggest that the novel takes place in India. The advent of the Imran Series came post-partition, and the reader is set up to assume that the narrative is situated in Pakistan. Besides their native countries, the main characters of both Jasoosi Duniya and Imran Series have had adventures around the world – England, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Pacific Islands, Zanzibar, South Africa, the United States of America, and various other places. His son Dr. Ahmed Safi (who is the Managing Director of a Software House and himself is a literary person) told me that when he (Ahmed) visited Italy, he was surprised to see Lake Como as it was so truly depicted by Ibne Safi in one of his best serial Adlava. Considering that Ibne Safi never left the Indian Subcontinent, the detailed descriptions he provides of the diverse localities are surprisingly accurate. Interestingly, technologies which Ibne Safi pointed out in his novels were proved to be real with the passage of time. For instance in his novel Toofan Ka Aghwa in 1957, he has created “Fauladmi” (a robot) who controlled traffic and performed some social works e.g settling minor scuffle between citizens etc and at that time, concept of a robot was not known to the world. Likewise, he did indicate the use of Laser beam and Fai-graz (a type of advanced flying saucer) etc. It may be pertinent to mention that in his novel Jungle Ki Aag (Jasoosi Dunya-37), written in 60’s, villain of the novel has created a machine in which at one end, two to three crippled beggars were thrown inside for getting a healthy and sturdy Gorilla from the other end. Isn’t seems alike with today’s concept of Cloning ? Ibne Safi had a great ability to read and analyze the values prevalent in society and momentum of changes being occurred. In this context, foreword of novel Sitaron Ki Cheekhain, Jasoosi Dunya-92 (written in 1964) may be referred where, in response to a letter, he stated that perda (veil) was supposed to be the icon of dignity, however nowadays, it is antiquated and becomes a symbol of less privileged. Ibne Safi forecasted that hardly after 10 years (i.e. in 1974), this type of social values will be vanished. Needless to say that his apprehensions were proved with the passage of time. One of Ibn-e-Safi's distinguished writing qualities includes formation and development of characters. He has established characters in such a fashion that they appear to be real and materialized. Imran Series has a range of diverse, colorful, and sentient characters. Some of the members of secret service include X2 (played by Ali Imran and Tahir i.e. BlackZero), Juliana Fitzwater, Safdar Saeed, Tanveer Ashraf, Khawar, Choohan, Nomani , Siddeequi, etc. Imran's family includes Karam-Rahman (also mentioned as Abdul Rahman in initial books), Amma Bi, and Surayya. Imran's escorts include Joseph Mugunda, Sulaiman, and his wife Gul-Rukh. Dhamaka was the only movie written by Ibne Safi. The film was produced by Muhammad Hussain Talpur (Maulana Hippie,) based on the Imran Series novel Baibaakon Ki Talaash. Actor Javaid Sheikh was introduced for the first time as Zafarul Mulk, the main character. Maulana Hippie the film producer played Jameson and actress Shabnam played the role of Sabiha. Imran and X-2's team was not shown in the movie. Mr. Zubair Irshad revealed that the voice of X-2 was recorded by Ibne Safi himself. Actor Rahman played the role of a Villain for the first time. Actress Saishta Qaiser appeared as a guest artist in the choreography sequence during the famous song by Habib Wali Mohammad Rah-e-talab maen kaun kisee ka based on Ibne Safi's ghazal which was pasteurized on actor Rahman. The movie was released in December, 1974. However, it was gone flop. The question of Ibne Safi’s literary merit is still unsettled, but it seems as if the tables have already started tilting in his favour. One obvious reason is that those who used to read his novels, hiding themselves from their elders under bed-sheets, are now well into their forties and fifties. They are teachers, professors, writers and parents. But they are also old friends of Safi's like Dr Abul Khair Kashfi (died May 15, 2008), one of the few senior critics of that generation. The sum total of the positive bias of these people is that some of the prejudices against Safi have been lifted but an open acknowledgement of his literary greatness remains to be seen. Mr Kahild Javed (Dehli-India) gave the names of those great western writers who have created detective characters in their novels/works, this includes Edgar Elan Po (1809-1849), Zadig by Voltaire (1694-1778), Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), Human Comedy by Balzac 1799-1850), Adventures of Cabb Williams by William Garden , Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (1824-1889), Bleak House by Clarles Dickens (1812-1870), A Gun for Sale by Graham Green etc. Many literary personnel generously admired Ibne Safi including Poet, Ajmad Islam Amjad, Columnist Hasan Nisar, Writer Bushra Rehman, Indian Poet/Writer Javed Akhtar (in an interview to Ms. Munni Kabir), Dr. Gopi Chand Narang etc. However, at a seminar in Mumbai in 2007, legendary Urdu writer Intizar Husain, who apparently tried to shock the audience with the comment that he ‘had neither read Ibn Safi nor felt he was important enough‘, invited flak for his comments. There was severe criticism of the comment on the stage itself. Several litterateurs reminded Intezar Hussain that though one may be entitled to his personal views, and his literary status apart, Ibn Safi can’t be simply dismissed as just another writer. Foreword of Baichara-baichri (Jasoosi Dunya-89) is indeed a great masterpiece in which Safi talked very seriously and sensitively to his readers. Likewise, in last four pages of Lashoon Ka Abshar (Jasoosi Dunya-29), Ibne Safi brilliantly touched a very sensitive social issue. The villain of the novel Mr. Q was an illegitimate child of his parents. He was finally arrested by the police and given his statement in the court. One must say that what Safi sahib have conveyed while using the voice of Mr. Q is something which is not ever dared to discuss by any other Urdu writer. A few forewords of his novels are remarkably interesting. In the foreword of Sehmi hoi Lerki (Jasoosi Dunya-96), a telephone operator from the city of Tando Adam, Sindh declared the said novel a trash as he thought that the name of the novel does not match with its plot. In response, Safi sahib showed his wit while saying “ Yar Tando Admi sahib, khud hi likh ker perh liya karo”. In the foreword of Raishoon Ki Yelghar (Jmran Series -83), he referred a letter and said “One Maulvi Sahab has discovered nudism in the story, perhaps he thinks that males shouldn’t be instigate with the fragrance of females and they (males) must be killed with the help of D.D.T. (‘D.D.T dal ker bilkul hi mar dejeye kambakhtoon ko’) "I don't know Urdu but have knowledge of detective novels of the Subcontinent. There is only one original writer - Ibn-e-Safi." – Said Agatha Christie once when she stayed at Karachi airport only for half hour for her transit flight. Mr. Zameer Akhtar Naqvi claimed in his book that in the 1970s, Ibne Safi informally advised the Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan on methods of detection. Mr. Badar Munir wrote in an essay on ibne safi that he (badar) used to recite the books of Ibne Safi to a 90 year old lady who was very fond of Safi’s books. The lady was none other but the mother of the founder of Bangla Desh Mujeeb Ur Rehman. Khawaja Nazimuddin, Prime Minister of Pakistan once said for Ibne Safi: “ I like Ibne Safi since he indeed is a sincere, honest and down-to-earth writer”. While commenting on Ibne Safi, Maulvi Abdul Haq (Baba-e-Urdu) said: “ Urdu literature owe a lot to Ibne Safi for his great contribution for Urdu”. Somebody asked poet Rauf Sheikh about the readership of Ibne Safi. Rauf said: “everybody reads ibne safi’s books, however, no one have the courage to admit this”. Finn Theissen, Professor Urdu language and Literature, Oslo University, Norway commended Ibne Safi in a letter to Writer/Journalist Mr. Mushtaq Qureshi (www.ibnesafi.info, opinion section). Finn wrote: “Ibne Safi still has not achieved the position in Urdu Literature that he really deserves. Or you can say that Urdu critics have not recognized his importance. Perhaps we should not be too sad on this because after all what could these critics do to harm Ibne Safi? Everyone knows Ibne Safi and is fond of reading him. On Page 113 of "Raa'ee ka Parbut" Ibne Safi himself says,"Don't worry about what people think of you, always keep an eye on what you are!" We too, would not worry that the critics did not recognize Ibne Safi, we would keep an eye on what he himself was! Dr Christina, who is the senior lecturer at Institute of South Asian Studies, Heidelberg, Germany regretted in a seminar at Mumbai in 2007 that Ibn-e-Safi’s writing was not given enough attention in comparison to so-called serious literature. Indeed, the Books written by Ibn e Safi are considered an intrinsic part of the rich Urdu literature. I think the best farewell salute I could give to the maestro is this: Why should man ever become serious when he knows full well that one day he will be buried along with his seriousness? (Kali Tasweer- Imran Series-26).

By: Rashid Ashraf

Acknowledgements: Mr. Muhammad Hanif- owner www.ibnesafi.info Dr. Ahmed Safi- son of Ibne Safi Mr. Zubair Irshad

Ibn-e-Safi: Difference between revisions