All thanks and praises are due to Allah, our Creator, Educator and Sustainer for inspiring us to produce this humble publication to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the Urs Mubarak celebration by the Rumani family.

Our aim in producing this publication was twofold. Firstly we wanted to use this occasion of Urs to reflect on the meaning and significance of the various rituals associated with it. We cannot create an enchantment and a love for these celebrations if we do not know what its meaning and significance is all about. We live in an era where there is so much skepticism and the lack of proper communication skills on the part of those who hold our traditions dear to their hearts has not helped the situation either; hence we have to be convincing in our arguments why our spiritual lives need to be anchored in certain beliefs, understandings and actions.

There is a huge intellectual task upon our shoulders to answer the critics and the skeptics. At the same time there are many who are honestly searching for true guidance. If the life and mission of the Servants of Allah, whose Urs we are celebrating, was to help connect each Soul with its Creator, what better way do we have to show our love and deep affection for these Awliyah Allah than to emulate them in their humanism.

Simultaneously this 40^th Urs celebration is also an occasion for us to acknowledge the sacrifices of our parents who lovingly and selflessly strove to establish for us a particular spiritual heritage. We take great pride in what they have bequeathed for us.

We also realize the responsibility of upholding this trust, adding value to it and ensuring that our own offspring will benefit from it in years to come.

It is with these thoughts in mind that we present to you, the reader, this collage of articles reflecting on a number of themes relating to the Urs of Khwaja Gharibun Nawaz.

We hope Insha-Allah that this will be the forerunner of many more publications in the future. We call upon all to participate in this endeavor. After all we are only trying to fulfill the first commandment of the Qur'an, Iqra, to read or recite.

It is our most fervent prayer that through reflection, writing and publication we can add another dimension to the celebration of the Urs of the Friends of Allah.

Whatever benefits you gain from these pages dear reader is due to the Mercy and Generosity of Allah; whatever the faults therein is a reflection of our human weakness. We beseech you to remember us in your duas.