Amina Shah (librarian)

Amina Shah (1918-2014) was a British writer and folklorist. While not primarily known as a librarian, she dedicated a significant portion of her life to the preservation and dissemination of traditional stories, particularly Sufi teaching stories. She was a key figure in the work of her brother, Idries Shah, in presenting Sufi ideas to a Western audience.

Born in London to an Afghan father, Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah, and a Scottish mother, Amina Shah traveled extensively throughout her life, collecting and translating oral traditions. She wrote and edited several books on folklore, including "The Tale of the Four Dervishes" (translated from the Urdu), "Folk Tales of Central Asia," and "Tales from Afghanistan." These works aimed to introduce readers to the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia and the Middle East.

Amina Shah's contributions are valued for providing access to often-overlooked oral traditions and for her role in the broader intellectual movement surrounding Sufism in the West.