by Ibrahim Muhammad Hakim ash-Shaghouri
The purpose of this book is to educate the reader about some of the beliefs of Sufis and their practices, and to demonstrate how they are in full accordance with the Shari’a. Tasawwuf, from the very beginning, has always been integral to the Din, functioning as the realization and implementation of the pillar of Ihsan in the being of the Muslim.
Tasawwuf is neither a madhhab, nor a sect, nor an ideology, nor a cult, nor a foreign import, nor an heretical invention. It is a science concerning the reality of Allah, His Messenger, and the self, transmitted faithfully and without interruption from the Prophet himself, upon him be peace. It is the belief of the writer that the current corruption of the Ummah and its degradation is a direct result of – among other things – the crumbling away of the pivotal pillar of Ihsan as realized through the practice of Tasawwuf and its principles. In the words of one Muslim leader, Syed Zayn al-Abedin: “Many calamities have befallen the Ummah during the last 200 years, but one of the worst has been the rejection of Tasawwuf. We find ourselves without coherent leadership and following self-proclaimed scholars who teach a dry, literalist and legalistic religion cut off from its traditional and spiritual heritage. In some cases, this develops into a harsh and uncompromising political ideology, with violent results. While we understand the sources of this ideology, we cannot condone its methods or attitude. Islamic civilization, which was remarkably stable and united for over 1200 years, is now in a crisis of disunity.”
This volume contains many answers, rebuttals, and explanations carefully researched and presented from the Qur’an, authentic hadith, and the wisdom of many Islamic scholars. It is a textbook for anyone who is seeking the heart of Islam which has been hidden far too long from the general understanding of the people.
169 pages, softbound. $19.99
Table of the Contents | |
Introduction | 5 |
Topic: The Light of the Prophet (asws) and his special distinctions | 8 |
Hadith of the Wali | 25 |
Miraculous Knowledge of the Unseen | 26 |
Vision of the Prophet (asws) in a wakeful state | 31 |
Topic: Tawassul and Tabarruk | 35 |
Hadiths about Tawassul | 36 |
Multiplying and Dividing the Oneness of Allah | 47 |
Hadiths about Tabarruk | 49 |
Seeking blessings through the Prophet’s (asws) grave | 52 |
Topic: The Graves of the Righteous and Practices Connected to Them | 54 |
The Life of the Grave and the Hearing of the Dead | 54 |
Visiting Graves to Gain Blessings | 65 |
Reciting Qur’an at graves and donating it as a reward | 85 |
Topic: Understanding Innovation (Bid’a) in Islam | 89 |
Topic: Audible Group Dhikr in Masajid | 105 |
Compiling Ahzab and Awrad | 114 |
Prayer Formulas (Ruqya) and Amulets | 123 |
Topic: Commemorating the Birth (Mawlid) of the Prophet (asws) | 127 |
As understood by the scholars | 134 |
Did the Sahaba commemorate his birth? | 136 |
Topic: Seclusion (‘Uzla) and the Spiritual Retreat (Khalwa) | 138 |
Topic: Extra Worship in Rajab and Sha’ban | 145 |
Topic: The Integral Place of Tasawwuf in Islam | 150 |
Miscellaneous Topics | 155 |
Kissing the Hands and Feet of Righteous Scholars | 155 |
Hadith of the Lesser and Greater Jihad | 157 |
“Nothing contains Me but the heart of My believing servant” | 159 |
Special Knowledge and Gnosis | 160 |
Shaykh al-Akbar Ibn al-‘Arabi and the ‘Oneness of Being’ | 165 |
al-Khadir (alayhi salam): Is he still alive? | 169 |
Hadiths about the Family of the Prophet (asws) | 170 |
Conclusion | 172 |