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 from Pakistan. The word Ibn-e-Safi is an Arabic 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 independence 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 characterised by a blend of mystery, adventure, suspense, violence, romance and comedy, achieving massive popularity across a broad readership in South Asia.
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, Na`at, Manqabat, Marsia, Ghazal, and Nazm. His collection of poetry, Mata-e Qalb-o-Nazar (Urdu for The Assets of Heart & Sight), remains unpublished.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 recognises 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 ...)
- 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)
List of his non-series work
- 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?)
- Diplomat murgh (Urdu for The Diplomat 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)
Novels
- Allama Dahshatnak
- Alfansey
- Khatarnak Lashein
- Sanpon Ke Shikari
- Khofnak Imarat
- Purasrar Chikhen
- Larkiyon Ka Jazirah
- Neley Parindey
- Batil Qiyamat
- Jaron Ki Talash