Dr Rafi-ud-Din Hashmi’s Literary Criticism in the Context of "Asnaf-e-Adab"

اصناف ادب کے تناظر میں ڈاکٹر رفیع الدین ہاشمی کی تنقید نگاری

Abstract

Dr Rafi-ud-Din Hashmi is recognised as an eminent academic, researcher, and critic in Urdu literature, whose critical discourse is marked by intellectual rigour, judicious evaluation, and profound scholarly perception. This paper investigates his critical standing with reference to his seminal work Asnaf-e-Adab, analysing his comprehension and explication of principal literary forms. The study examines his approach to presenting diverse genres with historical consciousness, interpretive precision, and impartial critical insight. It further underscores his methodology of assessing literary forms through logical reasoning, documentary support, and a cultivated aesthetic sensibility. The research contends that Asnaf-e-Adab functions not only as a primer on literary genres but also as a testament to Dr Hashmi’s developed critical perspective and academic disposition. Employing descriptive and analytical methods, this study identifies the hallmarks of his critical practice and his influence on Urdu literary scholarship. The paper concludes that Dr Hashmi’s engagement with literary genres integrates scholarly discipline with literary appreciation, thereby contributing to both instructional and critical paradigms in Urdu. His work offers an exemplar of genre-oriented criticism and provides a methodological blueprint for scholars rooted in textual accuracy, contextual grounding, and balanced interpretation.