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

~ Shaykh Taner Ansari (Author), Shaykha Elizabeth Muzeyyen Brown (Editor, Illustrator), Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari (Editor), Melinda Krokus (Editor), David Sander (Editor)
Key Phrases: holy hadith, protecting friends, egoistic self, Allah the Most High, Grand Masters, Secret of Secrets (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Grand Masters of Sufism brings together in one volume two paramount texts from two of the most influential shaykhs in the history of Sufism. Abdul Qadir Geylani's Secret of Secrets and Ahmed er Rifai's Guidance to Mysticism present key concepts of the Sufi path in profound detail and can each stand alone as a work of unparalleled authority. Together, they comprise a veritable textbook for students of Sufism and all who would seek a deeper understanding of the mysteries of spiritual life.

In this first English translation of Guidance to Mysticism, Shaykh Taner Ansari provides rich commentary that preserves the original text, while at the same time making it relevant to modern sensibilities.

As Pir of the Qadiri Rifai Sufi Tariqa, Shaykh Taner draws on the lineage of his venerable and beloved masters for a unique and authentic translation of these texts. The result of his endeavor is Grand Masters of Sufism, a book wrought in reverence and love.

About the Author

Shaykh Taner Ansari was born in Tarsus, Turkey, to a devout Muslim family of seyyids (descendants of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). He completed his university studies in Michigan, where he helped found the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada. He was initiated into the Qadiri Rifai Tariqa in Istanbul under Shaykh Muhyiddin Ansari, from whom he received his license to teach Sufism. His spiritual lineage also includes the Naqshbandi, Mevlevi and Bektashi orders. After the passing of Shaykh Muhyiddin's successor, Shaykh Nuruddin Ozal, Shaykh Taner assumed the leadership of the Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order worldwide, as his Shaykh had decreed. Under his Shaykh's orders, Shaykh Taner founded a new order, the Ansari Tariqa of the Qadiri Rifai Tariqa.

Shaykh Taner teaches Sufism throughout the United States and abroad. He holds regular lectures and congregational zikr and gives weekly talks internationally through live classes on the Internet. He has spoken about Islam, Sufism and alternative healing in radio interviews, at churches, synagogues, schools and universities, among them Harvard University, Humboldt State University, Napa Valley College and Boston University. He also has given yearly presentations at the Annual Sufism Symposium, presented by the International Association of Sufism, since 1994.

His book on Sufism, The Sun Will Rise in the West: The Holy Trail (Ansari Publications 2000), explains in clear, concise language the mysteries of the Sufi path. What About My Wood: 101 Sufi Stories (Ansari Publications 2005) is a collection of Sufi teaching stories based on real life experiences of his students, his Shaykh and other Sufi teachers.

Shaykh Taner is also a spiritual healer, and is known as Master Taner in that capacity. Along with his wife Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, he has presented healing workshops around the world for healers, health professionals and anyone interested in the healing arts. His Alternative Healing: The Sufi Way (Ansari Publications 2007) contains remedies and health tips for those interested in spiritual healing.

He and his family reside in upstate New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Ansari Publications; First edition (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970318537
• ISBN-13: 978-0970318534
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #678,031 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfume of the Grand Masters of Sufism, December 10, 2008

By	Siraj (Holland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Heart Opener !!!, November 26, 2008

By	Anjum Baig "BAIGA" (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wonderful book !!!! Mandatory read for any sufi. I would say this book was like a key for all the other sufic books I have read. Very well laid out and talks to the point that a novice, gnostic or a seeker needs to look for on the path. This book is enough for a true lover and seeker. Definitely many treasures would unearth from reading this book cause I learnt a lot of secrets hidden in this book. One will be certainly satisfied and would be in a state of awe after reading with many key questions of the path answered very well. I felt that it definitely stands alone as a Sufi Textbook / Treatise for now.