AWLIYA of ALLAH (The Friends of God)

  

Also see : 

 QADIRIYA 
 
CHISTIYA 
 
NAQSHBANDIYA 
 
SUHRAWARDIYA 
 
SUFISM IN PAKISTAN 
 
SUFISM IN INDIA
 AL-QUSHAYRI 
 
AL-HUJWERI 
 
AL-GHAZALI 
 
GHAWTH AL-A'ZAM  FARID AL-DIN ATTAR 
 
MU'IN AL-DIN CHISTI 
 
IBN AL-ARABI  
 
RUMI 
 
AL-HADDAD 
 
IMAM AHMAD RAZA 
 
ABDUL ALEEM SIDDIQUI 

  

Page Last Updated : 8th December 2011 

  

 FREINDS OF GOD : Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, & Servanthood

  Paperback - 368 pages, 6 x 9 inches, 30 b/w photographs                                               by John Renard

Description : Prophets, saints, martyrs, sages, and seers--one of the richest repositories of lore about such exemplary religious figures belongs to the world's approximately 1.3 billion Muslims. Illuminating some of the most delightful tales in world religious literature, this engaging book is the first truly global overview of Islamic hagiography. John Renard tells of the characters beyond the Qur'an and Hadith, whose stories of piety and service to God and humanity have captured hearts and minds for nearly fourteen hundred years. Renard's thematic approach to the major characters, narratives, social and cultural contexts, and theoretical concepts of this remarkable treasury of tales, based on material ranging from the eighth to the twentieth centuries and from countries ranging from Morocco to Malaysia, provides insight into the ways in which these stories have functioned in the lives of Muslims from diverse cultural, social, economic, and political backgrounds. The book also serves as a useful and evocative tool for approaching the vast geographical and chronological sweep of Islamic civilisation.

Contents :

List of Illustrations
Preface
Introduction: An Overview of Islamic Hagiography

I. STAGES IN THE LIVES OF GOD'S FRIENDS
1. Beginnings Both Humble and Spectacular
2.Conversion and Asceticism on the Road to Sanctity
3. Dreams and Visions, Visitors and Voices: God in Touch with His Friends
4. Miracles and Marvels: God Working through His Friends
5. Mere Mortals: Friends and the Human Condition

II. FRIENDS OF GOD IN CONTEXT 
6. Friends and Their People: Society and Service to Communities
7. Founding Friends: Authority, Institutions, and the Economics of Intentional Community
8. Where God's Friends Walked: Revered Sites and Ritual Settings
9. Friends in Our World

III. FRIENDS IN THEORY: UNDERSTANDING THE STORIES 
10. Literary Dimensions: Genre, Function, and Hermeneutics
11. Theological Dimensions: Hagiography, Faith, and Controversy

Notes
Index

 
Review : 
"I know of no other work in Western scholarship and pedagogy of Islamic studies with the scope and depth of Friends of God. Renard does not only provide well organised, richly detailed, absorbing, and delightful coverage of the best known literature on Muslim saints and sainthood, but he also brings the reader into modern and contemporary contexts where the subject continues to be of considerable personal and communal spiritual importance. This book is new and urgently needed in today's world, whether in the university or across the global landscape of adult reflection on Islam and Muslims. "--- Frederick Mathewson Denny, author of An Introduction to Islam and Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of Colorado, at Boulder

  

 
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The A to Z of SUFISM                                                              by John Renard

Paperback XLV + 351 = 396 Total pages

 
With more than 3,000 entries and cross-references on the history, main figures, institutions, theory, and literary works associated with Islam's mystical tradition, Sufism, this dictionary brings together in one volume, extensive historical information that helps put contemporary events into a historical context.

Additional features include:  

· chronology of all major figures and events  

· introductory essay  

· glossary of 400 Arabic, Berber, Chinese, Persian, and Turkish terms  

· comprehensive bibliography  

Ideal for libraries, as well as students and scholars of religion.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Renard is professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University, where he has taught Islamic studies, history of religion, and comparative theology since 1978. 

 
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Tales of Gods Freinds - Islamic Hagiography in Translation    
Paperback - 432 pages                                                                                by John Renard

  

This remarkable collection gathers a breathtakingly diverse selection of primary texts from the vast repertoire of Islamic stories about holy men and women—also known as Friends of God—who were exemplary for their piety, intimacy with God, and service to their fellow human beings.

  

Translated from seventeen languages by more than two dozen scholars of Islamic studies, these texts come from the Middle East, North and sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and China and Southeast Asia. Historically, they begin with the eighth century and include samples from medieval, early modern, and modern Muslim societies.

  

Expertly edited and introduced by John Renard, Tales of God's Friends serves as a companion volume to Renard's Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood.

Review: "The works of Islamic mysticism are a crucial genre of Islamic piety, and the lives of the awliya (friends of God) have been and continue to be a crucial way in which the theoretical insights of Sufism are embodied and communicated to a wider audience. Traditionally, these genres would be deciphered by a living Sufi master. Here John Renard acts as our Sufi guide, transporting us to the marvelous world of Islamic piety."—Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Northern Carolina

 
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The Scholars of the Sufis - They are the Genuine Followers of the Salaf

Paperback - 210 pages                                                        by Shaykh Abd al-Hadi Kharsa

  

The Scholars of the Sufis -

They are the Genuine Followers of the Salaf

Written by the erudite scholar, Sufi educator, ascetic, and author of many books, Sayyidi al-Shaykh `Abd al-Hadi b. al-Hajj Muhammad b. Salih al-Kharsa al-Dimashqi al-Salihi al-Shadhili al-Hanafi

The translation and publication of the present book, `Ulama’ al-Sufiyya Hum al-Salafiyya al-Haqiqiyyun is a welcome event for seekers of spiritual guidance and self-purification in our time. This praiseworthy effort offers to the English-speaking public a contemporary explanation of the immutable principles of Sufism, which are one and the same with the three principles of Religion: submission [islam], faith [iman], and excellence [ihsan]. The book contains Shaykh `Abd al-Hadi’s carefully presented anthology of the wisdom of the Sufi masters of old and their summations of doctrine [`aqida] and of the various spiritual diseases and spiritual stations and states of the wayfarer. They were gleaned from the bio-sapiental classics of the genre such as Tabaqat al-Sufiyya, the Luma`, the Risala, the Ihya’, and can be found in later works such as Tabaqat al-Awliya and al-Kawakib al-Durriyya fi Tarajim al-Sufiyya.

The vehemence of the title—shown in the emphatic-exclusive personal pronoun and translatable as ‘The Scholars of the Sufis: [Only] They are the Genuine Followers of the Salaf!’—is a reminder of the tireless efforts of the last two hundred years of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama`a scholarship demonstrating the Islamic orthodoxy of tasawwuf and denouncing the heresy of Wahhabism and pseudo-Salafism.

It is its unique gems that make `Ulama’ al-Sufiyya stand out such as, for example, the title’s emphasis on knowledge: it is never about the Sufis at large but about their Gnostics; as for would-be-Sufi [mutasawwif] claimants who are nescient of the Shari`a or not even concerned by it: they are also heretics and completely undesirable no matter how big they grow their beard, turban, jubba, or voice! This is a theme stressed by many of our salaf al-salih [pious predecessors]. ---Shaykh Gibril Fouad Haddad

  

CONTENTS

---Biography and Introduction by Shaykh Gibril Fouad al-Haddad    [11]
---Preface     [25]

CHAPTER I 
---The Way of the Latter Day Sufis: Positives and Negatives  [29]

CHAPTER II 
A Concise description of the Sufi Path:  the Introdcution to Al-Luma' by Dr. 'Abd al-'Halim Ma'mud & 'Taha 'Abd al-Baqi Surur   [35]
---An Abridgement of the Introduction to al-Luma' by Abu Nasr 'Abdullah b. 'Ali al-Sarraj al-'Tusi   [37]

CHAPTER III 
---An Exposition upon the Science of Sufism, the Way of the Sufis, and their Rank according to the upright people of knowledge  [39]

CHAPTER IV 
---Refuting the Claim that the Sufis are an ignorant folk & that their science is unsubstantiated in the book or the Prophetic Reports     [45]

CHAPTER V 
---The Special Endownment and exclusive possession of Religious Sciences   [47]

CHAPTER VI 
---Concerning the name of the Sufis and Why they were given that name   [51]

CHAPTER VII 
---Refuting those who argue that the term Sufi is an innovated name that was not mentioned in the time of the Salaf  [53]
---Affirmation of Inward Knowledge  [54]

CHAPTER VIII 
---What is Sufism and what are the Qualities of the Sufis?  [55]

CHAPTER IX  SELECTION OF THE WORDS OF THE SUFIS ON SPIRITUAL STATIONS & TRANSIENT STATES
---DIVINE ONENESS [TAWHID] [59]
---THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES [ 60]
---THE QUR’AN  [62]
---THE BEATIFIC VISION [62]
---THE PROPHET’S VISION [62]
---PREDESTINATION AND THE CREATION OF ACTS  [63]
---ABILITY  [63]
---ACQUISITION [KASB]   [64]
---BEST INTERESTS [A'LA.]  [65]
---INTERCESSION, THE TRAVERSE, AND THE ETERNALITY OF PARADISE AND HELL  [65]
---MAJOR SINS, PRAYERS BEHIND THE SINFUL, AND BELIEF REGARDING THE COMPANIONS [66]
---REBELLION, TORMENT IN THE GRAVE, AND MUNKAR AND NAKIR  [66]
---DEATH, PROVISION, AND ARGUMENTATION ABOUT THE RELIGION [67]
---LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, RECOMPENSE, AND WORKS  [67]
---GNOSIS [MA'RIFA]  [68]
---THE SPIRIT [RU']  [69]
---THE ANGELS AND MESSENGERS [70]
---CONCERNING THE FAULTS ASCRIBED TO THE PROPHETS  [71]
---THE MIRACLES OF THE SAINTS  [71]
---THE TWO TYPES OF SAINTHOOD  [72]
---FAITH [IMAN]  [73]
---THE LEGAL SCHOOLS [AL-MADHAHIB AL-SHAR'IYYA]  [73
---EARNING LIVELIHOOD  [74]

CHAPTER X

THE SCIENCES OF THE SUFIS:
---THE SCIENCES OF TRANSIENT SPIRITUAL STATES  [75]
---THE UNVEILING OF THOUGHTS  [75]
---REPENTANCE [TAWBA]  [76]
---SCRUPULOUSNESS  [76]
---RENUNCIATION [ZUHD]   [77]
---POVERTY  [77]
---PATIENCE [.ABR] [78]
---HUMILITY [79]
---FEAR AND HOPE [79]
---PIETY [TAQWA] [79]
---SINCERITY [IKHLAS] [80]
---GRATITUDE [SHUKR] [80]
---RELIANCE [80]
---SATISFACTION [81]
---CERTITUDE [81]
---REMEMBRANCE OF THE DIVINE [DHIKR] [82]
---INTIMACY [UNS] [82]
---CLOSENESS [82]
---CONNECTION [ITTI.AL] [83]
---LOVE [83]
---WITNESSING AND VIGILANCE [84]
---LONGING FOR THE DIVINE  [84]
---SOLACE  [84]
---DIVESTMENT AND SEPARATION  [84]
---ECSTATIC RAPTURE [WAJD]  [85]
---OVERMASTERY [GHALABA]  [85]
---DRUNKENNESS  [86]
---SOBRIETY [86]
---ABSENCE AND PRESENCE  [86]
---GATHERING AND SEPARATION  [87]
---ANNIHILATION AND SUBSISTENCE  [87]
---THE REALITIES OF GNOSIS  [88]
---THE SEEKER AND THE SOUGHT  [88]
---SPIRITUAL STRUGGLES AND WORKS  [88]
---TEACHING THE PEOPLE  [89]
---PIOUS ENDEAVOURS [89]
---AUDITION [SAMA.] [91]

CHAPTER XI

---Mention of their statements and actions that illustrate their firm adherence to the book and the Sunnah   [93]

CHAPTER XII

---THEIR MANNERS AND CHARACTER   [97]
---ON THE PROPER ETIQUETTE OF RITUAL PURIFICATION   [97]
---ON THE PROPER ETIQUETTE OF PRAYER   [98]
---ON THE PROPER ETIQUETTE OF THE ZAKAT [100]
---ON THE PROPER ETIQUETTE OF FASTING   [101]
---ON THE PROPER ETIQUETTE OF THE HAJJ   [102]
---ON THE PROPER ETIQUETTE OF TRAVEL AND RESIDENCE   [105]
---ON COMPANIONSHIP   [106]
---ON KNOWLEDGE   [106]
---ON FOOD   [107]
---ON CLOTHING   [108]
---ON EARNING A LIVELIHOOD [108]
---ON SITTING   [109]
---ON HUNGER  [109]
---ON THE ETIQUETTE OF THE SPIRITUAL WAYFARERS   [110]
---ON RETREAT [KHALWA]   [110]
---ON FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE   [111]

CHAPTER XIII 
---TESTIMONIES FROM SOME OF THE IMAMS AND SCHOLARS REGARDING SUFISM AND ITS ADHERENTS, AND A CLARIFICATION THAT THE IMAMS AND WELL-CONSIDERED NOTABLES HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED IT FROM THE TIME OF THE SALAF TILL TODAY  [113]

---IMAM HASAN AL-BASRI  [113]
---IMAM SUFYAN AL-THAWRI   [113]
---IMAM ABU HANIFA AL-NU'MAN   [114]
---IMAM MALIK B. ANAS [115]
---IMAM AL-SHAFI'I   [117]
---IMAM AHMAD B. HANBAL  [118]
---SHAYKH AL-ISLAM .IZZ B. .ABD AL-SALAM [121]
---SHAYKH AHMAD B. TAYMIYYA  [123]
---IMAM ABU ZAKARIYYA YAHYA AL-NAWAWI  [125]
---IMAM IBN QAYYIM AL-JAWZIYYA   [126]
---IMAM ABU BAKR B. AL-.ARABI AL-MALIKI  [127]
---IMAM AL-SHATIBI   [127]
---IBN HAJAR AL-HAYTAMI  [128]
---IMAM AL-SUBKI  [128]
---IBN AL-.AJJ  [129]
---IMAM AL-JURJANI   [129]
---IMAM ABU QA.IM AL-NA.RABADHI  [130]
---SHAYKH AHMAD AL-DARDIR   [130]
---IMAM IBRAHIM AL-BAJURI  [130]
---'ALLAMA AL-AKH.ARI AND AL-DAMNAHURI  [131]
---'ALLAMA IBN ZAKARI   [131]
---IMAM AL-SHABARKHITI AL-MALIKI   [132]
---'ALLAMA .ABD AL-MAJID AL-SHARNUBI 133]
---'ALLAMA SHAYKH MUHAMMAD BAYRAM AL-KHAMIS, MUFTI OF TUNIS [134]

CHAPTER XIV

---A Sample of Narrations and Stories from the Scholars of the Sufis mentioned by Imam Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami in Tabaqat al-Sufiyya   [135]

---Conclusion  [151]
---Beneficial Books  [152]
---Appendix 

BIOGRAPHIES

---Abu Nasr al-Tusi  [155]
---Hudhayfa b. Yaman  [155]
---'Umar b. al-Khattab  [155]
---Wasiba b. Ma'bad  [156]
---Abu Hurayra  [156]
---'Ali b' Abi Talib  [157]
---Hasan al-Basri  [159]
---Sufyan al-Thawri  [160]
---Junayd al-Baghdadi [161]
---Abu Ja'far al-Qassab [162]
---Ruwaym b. Ahmad  [162]
---Abu Muhammad al-Jariri [163]
---'Amr b. 'Uthman al-Makki  [163]
---'Abd al-Wahid b. Zayd  [164]
---Abu Ya'qub al-Razi   [164]
---Dhu al-Nun al-Misri  [165]
---Abu Bakr al-Farghani  [165]
---Abu al-Husayn al-Nuri   [166]
---Abu Sa'id al-Kharraz   [167]
---Hasan b. 'Ali b. Abi Talib  [168]
---Abu Turab al-Nakhshabi [168]
---Yahya b. Mu'adh [169]
---Abu al-'Abbas al-Adami  [169]
---Sahl b. .Abdullah al-Tustari  [171]
---Abu 'Abdullah al-Nibaji   [172]
---Abu Yazid al-Bistami  [172]
---Abu Bakr al-Shibli   [172]
---Sari al-Saqati  [173
---Ibrahim al-Khawwas  [174]
---Abu al-Hasan al-Qannad  [175]
---Harith al-Muhasibi  [175]
---Abu 'Abbas Ahmad b. Masruq   [176]
---Ahmad b. 'Ata al-Rudhabari   [176]
---Sumnun al-Khawwas  [177]
---Abu 'Amr al-Zujaji  [177]
---Abu 'Uthman al-Hiri  [177]
---Ahmad b. Muqatil   [178]
---Ja'far al-Khuldi   [178]
---Abu al-'Abbas b. Surayj [  179]
---Tha'lab [180]
---Ibrahim al-Harbi  [180]
---Abu Sulayman al-Darani  [180]
---Sa'id b. al-Musayyib   [181]
---'Abdullah b. Mubarak   [182]
---Ibrahim b. Adham [183]
---Bishr al-Hafi    [183]
---Ibn al-Jalla’ [184]
---Abu Bakr al-Kattani [185]
---Abu Ishaq al-Qarmisini [186]
---Abu Hafs al-Haddad [187]
---Ibn Salim [187]
---Abu 'Ali b. al-Katib [188]
---Ibn al-Hajj   [189]
---Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya [189]
---Imam Abu Hanifa [189]
---Imam Malik b. Anas  [190]
---Qadi 'Iyad' [192]
---Abu Ishaq al-Shatibi  [192]
---Imam al-Shafi'i   [192]
---'Abd al-Wahhab al-Sha'rani   [194
---Imam Al-Nawawi   [195]
---Imam Ahmad b' Hanbal  [195]
---Abu Hamza al-Baghdadi  [196]
---Yahya b. Ma'in   [197]
---Ahmad b. Abi al-Hawari [197]
---Al-Munawi   [198]
---Al-Ghazali  [198]
---Mahruf al-Karkhi  [198]
---Ibn Khaldun [199]
---'Izz b. 'Abd al-Salam [199]
---Al-Subki [200]
---Al-Suyuti  [200]
---Al-Suhrawardi  [200]
---Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili  [201]
---Abu al-Qasim Al-Qushayri  [201]
---Ahmad b. Taymiyya [201]
---'Abd al-Qadir al-Jaylani [202]
---Fudayl b' 'Iyad [202]
---Hammad al-Dabbas [203]
---Abu al-Bayan [204]
---Hafiz al-Maqdisi  [205]
---Abu Bakr b. al-'Arabi [205]
---Ibn Hajar al-Haytami  [205]
---Al-Jurjani  [205]
---Al-Dardir   [206]
---Al-Bajuri   [206]
---Al-Akhdari   [206]
---Al-Damnahuri    [206]
---Ibn Zakari   [207]
---Mayyara   [207]
---Al-Shabarkhiti  [207]
---Al-Sharnubi    [207]
---Muhammad Bayram al-Tunisi [207]

---Bibliography   [209]

 
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