Seven Mystical Branches: New

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Seven Mystical Branches : New,
[-A4] Large Hardback - 400 pages,
Sab'a Sanabil [Persian Treatise],
by Qutb Mir Sayyid Abd al-Wahid al-Bilgrami [d.1017h]
Transl. into English by Abdul Hadi Qadiri,
Published by Sufi Pages.

Description :

Sab'a Sanabil, written in 969 AH, stands as an illuminated masterpiece in the realm of Islamic mysticism, authored by Al-Qutb al-Shaykh Mir Sayyid Abdul Wahid al-Bilgrami, rahmatullahi ta'ala 'alayhi. a luminary of the Chishti order and descendant of the noble Ahl al-Bayt through the Zaydi Sayyid lineage.

Within these pages, the depths of tasawwuf (Sufism) and Suluk (spiritual wayfaring) are explored with remarkable clarity and poetic grace. Drawing from the wisdom of renowned mystics like Mevlana Rumi and Fariduddin Attar, may Allah be pleased with them, the author weaves a tapestry of spiritual insight that bridges centuries of Islamic mystical tradition.

Through masterful use of poetry and prose, this text illuminates the subtle dimensions of the mystical path while remaining firmly grounded in Islamic orthodoxy. Essential reading for students of tasawwuf and seekers of spiritual enlightenment, it offers both practical guidance and profound insights into the journey of the soul.

About the Author :

He is Shaykh Mir Sayyid Abd 'al-Wahid al-Bilgrami al-Chishti al-Nizami, rahmatullahi ta'ala 'alayhi. a luminary of the Chishti order. He was born into the distinguished Zaydi Sayyid family, who are descendants of Imam Zayd Shahid, radi Allahu ta'ala anhu [the son of Sayyidina Imam Zayn al-Abidin, radi Allahu ta'ala anhu]. He was born in [912 or 915h] in Sandi, a small village in the Uttar Pradesh provence, near Bilgram, India. He received his basic and advanced education from family tutors and soon excelled amongst his peers.

He became a disciple of Arif-Billah Shaykh Safi 'Abdus-Samad Safipuri al-Chishti al-Nizami, rahimahullah. He mastered the path of Suluk [spiritual wayfaring] and various internal and external sciences under the careful guidance of his Murshid (Shaykh Safi Abdus Samad). As well as the 'Chishti Nizami' silsila, he also received khilafah in the 'Qadiri and Suhrawardi' Orders. Many Islamic scholars have praised Mir Sayyid Bilgrami, as documented in the urdu translation of Sab'a Sanabil by Allama Mufti Khalil Khan Qadiri Barkati, and Asah al-Tawarikh by Taj al-Ulema Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Miya al-Husayni Qadiri Barkati al-Marehrawi, rahimahullah.

It is known that Mir Sayyid al-Bilgrami authored approximately 15 works. He lived for 100 years and passed away on the 30th of Ramadan 1017 After Hijri and lies buried in his hometown in Bilgram, Northern India.

Table of Contents :

---Romanisation Table,
---Foreword,
------First Branch,
------Second Branch,
------Third Branch,
------Fourth Branch,
------Fifth Branch,
------Sixth Branch,
------Seventh Branch,
---Preface,
---Acknowledgements,
---Dedication,

---About the Author,
---Introduction by the Author.

---[1]. First Branch - Aqa'id (Beliefs) and Madahib (creeds),
------Section; Excellence of the four Khulafa,
------Superiority of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq,
------Status of the Pure Sayyid,
------Categories of the Ahl al-Bayt.

---[2]. Second Branch - The Shaykh and the Disciple (Murshid/Murid),
------1st Condition; Shaykh must belong to the Correct Creed,
------2nd Condition; The Murshid must be a practising Alim,
------3rd Condition; The Murshid must be from the Ahl al-Sunnat w'al Jama'at,
------Conditions of a Murshid,
------Regarding shaving the Head,
------Wearing the Khirqah (cloak),
------Regarding Dhikr and Muraqabah,
------Regarding Spiritual Retreat (Khalwa),
------The Morals of the People of Tasawwuf,
------The Stations of Suluk,
------Objection & Clarification regarding Sayyidina Khidr, alayhi salam,
------Sima,
------The Khulafa of Hadrat Makhdum Nasir al-Din Mahmud, rahimahullah,
------The Reverenace for Makhdum Jahaniya, rahimahullah,
------The Khulafa of Shaykh Sa'ad al-Din, rahimahullah,
------The Life of Shaykh Hussain, rahimahullah,
------The Relationship between Scholars and Dervishes,
------The Nature of Bay'ah (Spiritual Allegiance).

---[3]. Third Branch - Renunciation, Contentment with little, and Reliance,
------Abandonment of this World & Reliance upon Allah The Almighty (tawakkul),
------The Surpising Nature of this World,
------Wisdom from Sayyidina Ali al-Murtada, radi Allahu ta'ala anhu,
------Sayyidina Abu Yazid al-Bistami, rahimahullah, on Zuhd,
------The World and the Akhirah as Veils,
------The Seeker of Allah vs The Seeker of the World,
------Spiritual Poverty and the Danger of Worldly Associations,
------Hadrat Malik bin Dinar & Sayyidah Rabi'ah al-Basri, may Allah be pleased with them,
------The Zuhd of Hadrat Imam Da'ud at-Ta'i, rahimahullah,
------Prayer and Solitude,
------Khalifa Harun Rashid's Visitation of the Awliya [the 'Saints' of Allah Almighty],
------The Labourer and the Khalifah,
------Hadrat Da'ud at-Ta'i's message,
------The Meeting with Hadrat Da'ud at-Ta'i,
------Advising Novice Murids (disciples),
------The Three Types of Spiritual Filth,
------Contentment (Qana'at),
------Reliance (tawakkul) and Devotion (tabattal),
------The Story of Hadrat Zun-Nun al-Misri and the Pious Woman,
------The Four Groups in a Person's Life,
------The Example of Prophet (Nabi) Ibrahim, alayhi salam,
------Commentary by Imam al-Qushayri, rahimahullah,
------The Cleansing of the Heart,
------Lessons from the Masha'ikh regarding Companionship,
------The Vision of Allah Almighty,
------Detachment from the Worldly Attractions,
------Tawwakul : Complete Trust in Allah the Almighty,
------Sayyidina Owais al-Qarni's, rahimahullah, Warning!
------The Sacrifice of the Awliya,
------The Path of the Awliya : Purity and Devotion,
------On the True Meaning of Servitude.

---[4]. Fourth Branch - Spiritual Poverty and Conduct,
------Always remaining in Wudu (in a state of ablution),
------Presence during Salah (Ritual Prayer),
------Types of Salah,
------Challenges of Ikhlas (Sincerity) during Salah,
------Fasting and Hunger,
------Reflections on Fasting and Halal (permissible) Sustenance,
------The Importance of Halal Earnings,
------The Spiritual Warning against that which is Haram (Forbidden],
------Staying Awake at Night in Worship,
------About Dhikr,
---------Practices of Dhikr,
---------The Legitimacy of Jehri Dhikr,
---------Dhikr e Khafi (Silent Dhikr),
---------The Virtue and Methodology of Dhikr e Jahr,
------The Second Type of Dhikr :
---------Owaisi,
---------Badla'i,
---------Tayfuri,
---------Kharizi,
------Shaghal Sah Paya in Muraqabah,
------The Muraqabah of Divine Presence,
------Additional Muraqabahs and their Reflections,
------Muraqabah Ma-Ra'aytu,
------Reflections of Muraqabah,
------Benefits of Dhikr in Solitude,
------On Passing Noorani (Luminous) Veils,
------The Adab (Etiquette) of Sincere Character (Akhlaq),
------Fabrication and Sanctity of the Kalimah,
------Commandment on Humility and Patience.

---[5]. Fifth Branch - Concerning Fear and Hope,
------The Code of Fear and Hope,
------Duality in the Human Condition,
------The Excellence of Fear and Hope,
------Reflections on Divine Accountability,
------Warnings from the Awliya Allah,
------Conclusion: A Balance of Fear and Hope,
------Narration relating to : Khawaja Junaid al-Baghdadi, rahmatullahi ta'ala 'alayhi,
------Another Narration,
------Explanatory Reflections,

---[6]. Sixth Branch - Monotheism (Wahdat), Gnosis (Ma'rifah) and Love,
------Wahid Haqiqi,
------The Mystery of Divine Manifestation,
------Divine Revelations and the Boundlessness of Allah's Attributes,
------Journey beyond Humanity (Nasutiya),
------The Expansion of Time in Spiritual Experiences,
------The Narrowing of Space,
------The Five Stations of Existence,
---------Station of Kathif (Density),
---------Station of Latif (Subtlety),
---------Station of Altaf (Greater Subtlety),
---------Station of Ruhaniyah (Spirituality),
---------Station of Ruh-e-Insani (Human Soul),
------Sickness, Death in Unacquaintance, and Truth in Health,
------Divine Light as the Source of All Existence,
------The Vision of Allah Almighty and the Path of Faqr (spiritual poverty),
------Human Powerlessness and Divine Will,
------Divine Encompassment and Human Nature,
------The Reflection of Love,
------Understanding the Station of Love,
------The Amanah [trust] of Alighty Allah.

---[7]. Seventh Branch - Concerning various spiritual benefits,
------A Gift for the Readers, A Sacred Wird (litany); Musabba'at 'Ashar,
------Mathnawi Shams Trabez,
------Mathnawi Attar.

---Mir Sayyid 'Abdul Wahid Bilgrami's summary of Sayr e Masha'ikh,
------Amir al-Mominin Sayyidina Ali al-Murtada, radi Allahu ta'ala 'anhu,
------Khawaja Hasan al-Basri,
------Khawaja Abd al-Wahid ibn Zayd,
------Khawaja Fudayl ibn 'Iyad,
------Khawaja Ibrahim Adham al-Balkhi,
------Khawaja Huzayfa Mir'ashi,
------Khawaja Hubayra al-Basri,
------Khawaja 'Ulu Dinwari,
------Khawaja Abu Ishaq al-Shami,
------Khawaja Qudwat al-Din Abu Ahmad Abdal Farashna,
------Khawaja Nasir al-Din Abu Muhammad al-Chishti,
------Khawaja Nasir al-Din Abu Yusuf al-Chishti,
------Khawaja Qutb al-Din Mawdud al-Chishti,
------Khawaja Haji Sharif al-Zindani
------Khawaja 'Uthman al-Hirwani,
------Khawaja Muin al-Din al-Chishti al-Ajmeri,
------Khawaja Qutb al-Din Bakhtiyar al-Kaki.

---Sab'a Sanabil - A Legacy of the Chishti Saints,
---Epilogue
---Addendum - Qadiri Chishti Waza'if - Risala 'Amal Ma'mul.