Customer Reviews

Grand Masters of Sufism: Abdul Qadir Geylani, Secret of Secrets and Ahmed er Rifai, Guidance to Mysticism

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After a long journey from Ankara to Baghdad, which took no less than
100 hours, because of floods in Syria and Iraq, I arrived in Baghdad.
I had the intention to visit Sufi places and thus I asked someone to
write down the name of shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani on a sheet of
paper. I showed this paper to several people in the streets of
Baghdad, who only spoke Arabic, but by means of pointing into a
certain direction still could guide me to the dargah of this "Rose of
Baghdad". I paid several visits to the dargah, but was at first
unable to establish a contact with Sufis. After walking once again
away from the dargah, suddenly it was as if I perceived the scent of
a rose. This reminded me of shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani and
immediately I returned to his shrine. A man in Western clothes
approached me there and it appeared that he was a khalifah in the
Qadiriyya order.

Shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani is one of the most important Sufi shaykhs
of all times. It so happens that shaykh Taner Ansari has translated
his "Sirr-al-Asrar" into English as the "Secrets of Secrets". He
added another English translation to the same book. It is the
"Guidance to Mysticism" ("Al-Burhan-ul-Mu'ayyad", lit.: Confirming
Proof) by no one less than shaykh Ahmed er Rifai. The first book has
already appeared in an English translation but its quality was not so
good, so that a new and better translation is always a welcome event.
The English translations of both books are based primarily on Ottoman
Turkish renderings of the original Arabic works.

When looking at the contents the translations of the two books have
been given after a short biography of shaykh 'Abdul Qadir Jilani,
shaykh Ahmed er Rifai and a biography of the translator shaykh Taner
Ansari. The "Secret of Secrets" gives the very essence of Sufism. The
Sufi path is very clearly explained. It contains 24 chapters. Chapter
21, dealing with recitations and prayers related to the path of
seclusion, has not been translated. Shaykh Taner Ansari explains the
why thus: "Since khalwa should be engaged in under the guidance of a
shaykh or shaykha who prescribes practices particular to each
student, the chapter will not be translated here". This attitude of
not translating the chapter demonstrates the atiitude of someone with
practical and inside knowledge of the Sufi path, which is considered
more important than giving a complete translation. As for the
"Secrets of Secrets", you willl be able to read about subjects like
your return to the original source, about several subtle faculties,
about spiritual states and stations, about spiritual practices, about
dreams and many other aspects of the Sufi path.

The translation of "Guidance to Mysticism" was first introduced via
the Internet during weekly talks by shaykh Taner Ansari. He presented
one chapter at a time. The manner in which the shaykh gave his
commentary varied. Sometimes he did a second reading of a chapter
with his commentary and at other times he gave his commentary
throughout a single reading. He felt that some chapters needed no
commentary and others prompted a student question-and-answer session.
The translation reflects the flavour of these online sessions. So you
see the result of a modern day Sufi shaykh in his interaction with
people of modern times, while the subject matter is a classical Sufi
text. This is a way of presenting it for people living in the here
and now.

The book "Grand Masters of Sufism", published by Ansari Publications
(www.qadiri-rifai.org) arrived yesterday at my home. When opening the
book it was as if a nice rose perfume spread in the air. Some roses
give their scent to the desert wind and remain unknown to people. It
is up to you to get acquainted or not with the perfume of the
teachings of the two aforementioned grandmasters of Sufism.

Siraj

Wonderful book ! Mandatory read for any sufi. I would say this book was a key to all the other sufic books I have read. Very well organized and and talks to the point that a novice, gnostic or a seeker needs to look for on the sufic path. This book is enough for a true lover and seeker. Definitely many treasures would unearth from reading, cause I learnt a lot of secrets hidden in this book. One would be in a state of awe after reading with many key questions of the path answered very well. The heart does feel at ease after you have been through this book. Your bookshelf seems rather empty without the addition of these two books in one - another fact observed is that the author has left the traditional sufi terminology intact while has elucidated the inner meanings around them with his commentaries appropriately. I felt that it definitely stands alone as a Sufi Textbook / Treatise for now.

For anyone who is a student of sufism this is quite an accessible and comprehensive book. Shaykh Taner has been shepherding his pupils in this path for many years and gives a seasoned approach to this translation. The phrasing is refreshing and up-to-date.