Mirza Mirza

Mirza Iqbal Ashraf an independent thinker and philosopher and a retired professor has taught and lectured on cross-cultural religious and philosophical issues in his native Pakistan as well asin the United States. He taught both graduate and post graduate students at the Colleges and the University in Lahore, Pakistan. He wrote articles on philosophical, religious, and cultural topics for The Pakistan Times, an English daily newspaper, before and since immigrating to the United States. Mirza Ashraf opened his eyes in a Persian-knowing family in the region of India which is now Pakistan. He has been reading and listening to Rumi’s poetry as well as engaging in almost daily philosophical and literary discussions between his grandfather, father and uncles since childhood. His father Mirza Sharqui, an independent thinker, teacher, and scholar of world philosophies, acquainted him at an early age with the works of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Islamic philosophers from al-Kindi to Avicenna and Iqbal. Studying his grandfather’s (Maulana Mirza M. Nazir Arshi) great work Miftah ul Aloom, a highly regarded six-volume extant commentary in Urdu language on the Mathnawi Maulana Rum, Rumi’s Persian poetry and philosophy became for Ashraf the source of his inspiration and a contribution to his profound knowledge and appreciation of his cultural heritage. It helped him further to understand the unique concepts of Rumi’s mysticism and unconditional love. He holds a bachelor’s degree with Honors in Persian literature and Islamic philosophy, and a Master’s degree in English language and literature. His first book, Introduction to World Philosophies: A Chronological Progression is popular in the philosophical circle. He now lives in New York. To contact the author directly online: [email protected]