Unrovelling The Enigma - Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism is an exciting new piece of research which examines Sai Baba of Shirdi from the standpoint of Islamic mysticism - the Deccani Sufism of 19th century Maharashtra - in order to resolve the mystery surrounding the saint.
 
Sai Baba is consistently described by his Hindu biographers as a 'Muslim faqir' and a mystic, which, by definition, makes him a Sufi. However, no previous researcher has examined him thoroughly in this light.
 
The author assumes that the reader will have some familiarity with previous biographies of Shirdi Sai Baba, and she reviews incidents, anecdotes and sayings of the hagiography surrounding Sai Baba, in the light of the goals, practices and stories of the Sufis from the golden era of Sufism, and discovers that an amazing similarity and correspondence begins to emerge.
 
Immediately the more puzzling aspects of the saint's actions and sayings fall away, and Sai Baba himself becomes more understandable, attractive and lovable.

In the book, Dr. Warren brings two new pieces of scholarship to the subject. First she elucidates the English translation of part of the works of some 17th and 18th- century Maharashtrian Sufi poet-saints - their contribution having hitherto been neglected by scholars. Their lives and writings echo the life and teachings of Sai Baba. Secondly, she includes the English translation of the previously untranslated Urdu notebook, jotted down by Abdul, Sai Baba's faqiri pupil, from teachings
based on the Qur'an given to him by his pir Sai Baba.
 
Both these contributions allow us to look into a world hitherto closed, and expand our awareness of the famous miracle-worker of Shirdi.
 
While Sai Baba has attained a universal appeal, transcending any one sectarian religious tradition, it is necessary to understand his Sufi origins in order to obtain a deeper and fuller appreciation of the enigmatic saint of Shirdi.