Fundamental Principles of Tasawwuf

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Fundamental Principles of Tasawwuf : New,
English with Parallel Arabic,
[A5] Paperback - 139 pages,
Mukhtasar Qawa'id al-Tasawwuf,
by Sidi Ahmad Zarruq [d.899h]
Translated and Published by IGI, USA.

Now in Stock & Despatching April 2025

Description :

The science of Tasawwuf is the cornerstone of spirituality, and its practice guides the seeker toward sincerity, self-purification, and nearness to Allah. This abridgment of Sheikh Aḥmad Zarruq's The Principles of Taṣawwuf (Qawa'id al-Tasawwuf,) presents the core principles of Tasawwuf in a systematic manner, with unparalleled clarity.

In this work, the illustrious author distills forty essential principles, or qawaʿid, from his larger work. Taken together, these forty principles allow the reader to gain a proper understanding of Tasawwuf, and thus to navigate the intricate interplay of Iman, practice (ʿamal), and self-awareness. Although Tasawwuf has often been misrepresented and misunderstood - in the author's time as well as our own - Sheikh Aḥmad Zarruq helps us to situate this science in its proper context, in seamless connection with Islamic jurisprudence and theology. The text affirms unequivocally that true spiritual realisation is only attainable through sound understanding of the Shariʿah and ʿAqidah, and vice versa. Thus, true Islam is found in the holistic unity of outward adherence and inward sincerity.

Some key themes of this text include :

*** The relationship between faith, jurisprudence, and spirituality,
*** The perils of extremism in worship and the necessity of balance in religious practice,
*** The conditions for sincerity in remembrance (dhikr), & the transformative power of seeking Allah through His remembrance,
*** The role of mentorship and the necessity of a guide on the spiritual path,
*** Humility, ethical conduct, and adherence to the prophetic way in dealing with oneself and others,

In an era of spiritual confusion and material distraction, this text provides a framework to attain clarity, and to attain sincerity in faith while fully engaged with the practical realities of everyday life. Qawa'id al-Tasawwuf, is as relevant today as it was centuries ago, and this abridgement makes it more accessible accessible to modern readers.

This new bilingual abridgment, with commentary based on the author's writings, renders the wisdom of Sheikh Aḥmad Zarruq more accessible to a modern audience, preserving the essential framework of his thought while elegantly outlining and clarifying its nuances for contemporary readers.

Sidi Ahmed Zarruq :

He is al-Shaykh al-Imam Shihab al-Din Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad b. Ahmad b. Muhammad b. 'Isa al-Barnusi al-Fasi, better known as sidi Ahmad Zarruq, may Allah have mercy upon him. He was born on the 22nd of Muharram, 846 H., (being 7th of June, 1441 Common Era) in Morocco.

Sidi Ahmad Zarruq, also known as 'Imam az-Zarruq,' was a Sunni, 'Ashari, Maliki scholar and Sufi shadhili shaykh from Fes, Morocco. He is considered one of the most prominent and accomplished legal, theoretical, and spiritual scholars in Islamic history, and is thought by some to have been the renewer of his time (mujaddid). He was also the first to be given the honorific title "Regulator of the Scholars and Saints" (muhtasib al-‘ulama’ wa al-awliya’).---G.F.Haddad.