Sufism A Wayfarer's Guide and Naqshbandi Way

by 'Ala ad-Din an-Naqshbandi, Shaikh Amin; Ahmad, Muhammad Sharif; Holland, Muhtar

• ISBN13: 9781891785832
• ISBN10: 1891785834
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-01
• Publisher: Fons Vitae

Summary

Unlike most English-language books on Sufism--which tend to reflect on the sociocultural orientations of the modern West--this account provides a window into the living Sufism of the Khalidi-Naqshbandi of Kurdistan. In this sense, Sufism is quite unique as it contextualizes the practice both historically and within the Islamic religious milieu. With reviews on the 25 stations experienced by Sufis, from repentance to servanthood, this reference also discusses 15 common altered states of consciousness as well as technical terms, praiseworthy and blameworthy attributes, and the Naqshbandi path. Given its comprehensive content, this book offers a solid basis upon which to understand authentic Sufi practice.

Author Biography

Shaikh Amin 'Ala ad-Din an-Naqshbandi was the paramount Naqshbandi shaykh in Kurdistan and great-grandson of Mawlana Khalid, the founder-figure of the Khalidi-Naqshbandi Sufi lineage. Dr. Muhammad Sharif Ahmad was a professor at Baghdad University, a member of Iraq's scientific committee, and a deputy minister. Muhtar Holland was a well-known translator of Sufi books, including Rashahat-i ayn al-hayat.

Table of Contents

Dedication	p. v
Preface	p. xi
Foreword	p. xiii
Preface of the translator [from Kurdish into Arabic], Professor	p. xxi
Foreword	p. xxiii
Foreword	p. xxv
Author's Introduction	p. xxxi
The Reality of Sufism [Haqiqat at-Tasawwuf]	p. 1
First Section: The technical term Tasawwuf [Sufism]	p. 1
Second Section: Sufism and philosophy [falsafa]:	p. 4
The Knowledge of certainty ['ilm al-yaqin]	p. 6
The eye of certainty ['ain al-yaqin]	p. 6
The truth of certainty [haqq al-yaqin]	p. 6
Third Section: Islamic Sufism and Islamic Law [Shari's]	p. 14
Fourth Section: Sufism in the sayings of its great Shaikhs	p. 17
Fifth Section: Sufism in the experience of Imam al-Ghazali	p. 28
Responses to questions about Sufism and its problems:	p. 40
When did Islamic Sufism originate?	p. 40
How can we establish the compatibility of Islamic Sufism with Islamic Law [Shari's]?	p. 42
What is the method [minhaj] of Sufism?	p. 53
The spiritual stations [maqamat] of Sufism:	p. 73
Repentance [tawba]	p. 74
Reversion [inaba]	p. 78
Abstinence [zuhd]	p. 80
Pious caution [wara']	p. 83
Contentment [qana'a]	p. 84
Patience [sabr]	p. 85
Thankfulness [shukr]	p. 89
Absolute trust [tawakkul]	p. 92
Submission [taslim]	p. 95
Good pleasure [rida]	p. 97
Reckoning [muhasaba]	p. 101
Fear and hope [khawf wa raja']	p. 101
Poverty [faqr]	p. 105
Truthfulness [sidq]	p. 108
Vigilant awareness [muraqaba]	p. 112
Beneficence [ihsan]	p. 115
Nearness [qurb]	p. 119
Sincere devotion [ikhlas]	p. 122
Annihilation [fana']	p. 126
Perpetuity [baqa']	p. 126
Affirmation of Oneness [tawhid]	p. 135
Disengagement [tajrid]	p. 143
Segregation [tafrid]	p. 143
Affirmation of Incomparability [tanzih]	p. 146
Servitude ['ubudiyya]	p. 147
Spiritual states [ahwal]	p. 151
Constriction [qabd]	p. 151
Expansion [bast]	p. 151
Obliteration and establishment [mahw wa ithbat]	p. 153
Sobriety and inebriation [sahw wa sukr]	p. 153
Absence and presence [ghaiba wa shuhud]	p. 153
Ardent yearning [shawq]	p. 157
Intimacy [uns]	p. 159
Ecstasy [wajd]	p. 160
Majesty [jalal]	p. 164
Beauty [jamal]	p. 164
Perfection [kamal]	p. 168
Pure affection [mahabba]	p. 172
Gleams, dawnings, and sparkles [lawa' ih wa tawali' wa tawami']	p. 178
Attraction [jadhb]	p. 179
Receiving [warid]	p. 179
Technical Terms of the Sufis [mustalasat]	p. 180
Spiritual exercise [riyada]	p. 180
Dedicated striving [mujahada]	p. 180
Disclosure [kashf]	p. 185
Charismatic talents [karamat]	p. 185
Light [nur]	p. 188
The heart [qalb]	p. 191
The self [nafs]	p. 198
Remembrance [dhikr]	p. 202
Illumination [ishraq]	p. 209
Direct witnessing [mushahada]	p. 210
The realm of Divinity [Lahut]	p. 211
The realm of Humanity [Nasut]	p. 211
The realm of Omnipotence [Jobarut]	p. 211
The realm of Sovereignty [Malakut]	p. 211
The four basic elements ['anasir]	p. 212
The saint [wali]	p. 212
The seeker [murid]	p. 215
The deputy [khalifa]	p. 219
Praiseworthy attributes	p. 222
Love of what is best for people [hubb al-khair li'n-naa]
Sincerity [ikhlas]
Humility [tawadu']
Generosity [jud]
Truthfulness [sidq]
Trustworthiness [amana]
Contentment [qana'a]
Compassion [rahma]
Modesty and propriety [haya' wa adab]
Affection for human beings [mahabbat annas]
Courage [shaja'a]
Reliability [thiqa]
Tolerance [hilm]
Readiness to pardon ['afw]
Respect for family ties [silat ar-rahim]
Striving for what is good [as-sa'y li' l-kahir]
Thankfulness for blessing [shukr an-ni'ma]
Self-denial and altruism [nukran adh-dhat wa 'l-ithar]
Fidelity [wafa'].
Blameworthy attributes	p. 223
Envy [hasad]
Ostentation and hypocrisy [riya' wa nifaq]
Arrogant pride, vain conceit and delusion [kibr wa 'ujb wa ghurur]
Miserliness [bukshl]
Lying [kadhb]
Betrayal of trust [khiyanat al-amana]
Greedy pursuit of wealth or prestige [takalub 'ala 'l-mal awi 'l-jah]
Cruelty [qaswa]
Insolence [waqaha]
Antipathy to one's fellow human beings [karahiyyat an-nas]
Cowardice [jubn]
Lack of reliability ['adam ath-thiqa]
Anger [ghadab]
Vengefulness [intiqam]
Severance of family ties [qat' ar-rahim]
Slander [namima]
Ingratitude for blessing [kufran an-ni 'ma]
Love of the self [hubb adh-dhat].
The Naqshbandi Spiritual Path [Tariqa]	p. 224
The Eleven Axioms of the Naqshbandi Spiritual Path	p. 252
The Naqshbandi Chain of Transmission [Silsila]	p. 265
When was this Spiritual Path called "Naqshbandi"-and why?	p. 268
The Life of Baha' as-Din an-Naqshband	p. 271
Sources	p. 278
An Appendix of Photographs	p. 281
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