Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
A Poem in Honour of Sayyiduna'l Imam Qutbu'd-Da`wa wal Irshad
Al-Habib `Abdallah bin `Alawi al-Haddad
(1044-1132 A.H)
may Allah be pleased with him and spread his benefit
"O Allah! Bless us in our Yemen", our beloved Prophet
prayed
So the Lord's blessings gently poured forth from His benevolent aid
Drizzling down from the heavens onto the valley of Hadramawt
Enriching its soil from which the seeds of sacred knowledge would sprout
From east to west spiritual seekers sip from its every stream
Flowing from Zanbal's garden found in the blessed town of Tarim
Each century Allah sends to the Ummah a shining jewel
Sent to preserve the religion, entrusted with its renewal
For the twelfth Islamic century, such a saintly scholar came
Al-Imam `AbdAllah bin `Alawi al Haddad was his name
The light from Allah's Messenger
shone in his every word and deed
He's the quintessential Shaykh in whom you'll find everything you need
Descending from Allah's Prophet
, and those likened to Noah's ark
He would steer the ship upon which those destined for safety embark
His path was that of the pious predecessors, he never strayed
From following the Companions, and Shaykhs like Imam al-Junayd
Shaykh `Abdul Qadir, the Proof of Islam Imam al-Ghazali
Imam as-Shafi`i and the Imams of the blessed Valley
Like Imam al-Muhajir and al-Habib `Umar al-`Attas
Who was the Shaykh of Imam al-Haddad and Shaykh `Ali Ba Ras
From great teachers, Imam al-Haddad received an abundant share
A blessed young sufi sage, whom they made their spiritual heir
He'd been steadfast since his childhood, reciting the Book of Allah
Given to solitude, the Prayer, and studying Sacred Law
Excelling till he became a master of its every science
An independent scholar, the Pillar of Religious Guidance
In him the two seas of inward and outward knowledge united
And to Allah, His Book and His Prophet's
Sunnah he invited
He is the Pillar of Calling to Allah, one surpassing all
In using speech, writing and travelling on foot to make the call
A call to worship Allah with sincerity and not for show
He purified hearts from rust and with the light of faith made them glow
Scholars and laymen, and even those once spiritually blind
Shown the way by a special guide whose inner-sight was so refined
A vast ocean of knowledge and spiritual realities
He followed the Sunnah of teaching to people's capacities
So discerning, he knew the times, and taught people to understand
The methods along the Path of the Companions of the Right Hand
He gave them recitals such as his
Ratib and
Wird al-Latif
And writings he filled with useful advice, comprehensive yet brief
Brimming with blessings his writings are treasures that seekers cherish
Like The Book of Wisdom and
The Lives of Man that Wane and Perish
His poems, precious
Pearls for Discerning and Understanding Minds
What
Sublime Treasures are his answers to questions of many kinds!
A fountain of knowledge for students who sat at his feet and learned
In his benefit to others, it's clear he left no stone unturned
For orphans he was a beacon, for travellers an oasis
He helped the poor and widows, and paid workers beyond their wages
His masjid and home in al-Hawi had a constant stream of guests
So graciously he received them and assisted with their requests
He led mawlid celebrations and visitations that include
Maqams like that of al-Faqih al Muqaddam and Nabi Hud
His Hajj was filled with miracles, it was historic and sublime
How fortunate for those who made the Hajj with the qutb of their time!
Whose each breath was for his Lord till to his Lord his soul ascended
Blessed was his funeral and the multitudes who attended
May his teachings continue to renew our love for al-Islam
O Allah, raise the station in Paradise of the great Imam
And all of his heirs like Habib Ahmad bin Zayn al-Habashi
To Habib Ahmad Mash-hur and all linked to this great legacy!
Al-Fatiha!
Composed by Irshaad Ahmad Rashid
Madrasa Riyada, Toronto, Canada
Rajab 1442 A.H. / Februrary 2021 C.E.
Amongst the many inspirations for writing this poem, is
The Sufi Sage of Arabia by Shaykh Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi, as well as content on iqra.net which was also very helpful in writing the poem's accompanying notes.
O Allah bless us in our Yemen - On the authority of Hadrat Ibn `Umar
that the Messenger of Allah
said, "O Allah bless us in our Sham! O Allah bless us in our Yemen!" They said, `And in our Najd?' He said, "O Allah bless us in our Sham! O Allah bless us in our Yemen!" They said, `And in our Najd?' He said, "Earthquakes are there, and tribulations are there, with it" Or he said, "From it, the horn of the Satan comes out." [At-Tirmidhi]
Our beloved Prophet - i.e. Sayyidina Muhammad
Rain & the Seeds of Sacred Knowledge - It is said that Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq
made a special supplication for the city of Tarim: that it be preserved until the end of time, that water be available in abundance for this desert land, and that scholars come forth from it like shoots after the rain.
Zanbal - the blessed cemetary in Tarim, Yemen and the resting place of Imam al-Haddad
The Ummah - the worldwide Muslim community
Renewal - In Arabic, "Tajdid". Hadrat Abu Hurayra
reported that the Holy Prophet
said, "Verily Allah
will raise for this ummah at the beginning of every 100 years one who will renew its religion for it." [Abu Dawud]
Allah's Messenger - i.e. Sayyidina Muhammad
The Quintessential Shaykh - Shaykh Mohamed Mlamali Adam
has mentioned that Imam al-Haddad
is the quintessential shaykh - here we learn how to befittingly describe Imam al-Haddad
.
Descending - Imam al-Haddad
is a descendant of Imam al-Husayn
whose noble parents are Imam `Ali ibn Abi Talib
and as-Sayyida Fatima az-Zahra
the beloved daughter of the Holy Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad
.
Allah's Prophet - i.e. Sayyidina Muhammad
Those likened to Noah's Ark - i.e. The Ahlu'l Bayt
(the Holy Prophet's
blessed Household). Hadrat Abu Dharr
while holding the door of the Ka`ba, said that he had heard the Prophet
say, "My Family among you are like Noah's ark. He who sails on it will be safe, but he who holds back from it will perish." (Ahmad)
Pious Predecessors - In Arabic, "As-Salaf as-Salih"
. Early Muslims, or the first three generations of Muslims.
The Companions i.e. the Companions
of the Holy Prophet Muhammad
Imam al-Junayd - Al-Junayd ibn Muhammad ibn al-Junayd, Abu'l-Qasim al-Baghdadi
(passed ahead 298 A.H.), one of the most well-known early Muslim saints.
Shaykh `Abdul Qadir - Ghawth al-A`zam Muhyiddin Shaykh `Abdul Qadir al-Jilani
(470-561 A.H), the most well-known wali (saint) in Islamic history.
The Proof of Islam - in Arabic, "Hujjatu'l Islam", the title of Imam al-Ghazali
Imam al-Ghazali - Imam Abu Hamid ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali
(450-505 A.H). He is one of the greatest Islamic scholars in history and is the author of the 40 volume masterpiece Ihya' `Ulum ad-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences) as well as other important books.
Imam ash-Shafi`i - Abu `Abdillah Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi`i
(150-204 A.H.). One of the Four Mujtahid Imams of Sunni Muslim Sacred Law who are Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam ash-Shafi`i and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal
. The four schools of Sunni Muslim Sacred Law are respectively named after them.
The Blessed Valley i.e. the valley of Hadramawt in Yemen
Imam al-Muhajir - Imam al-Muhajir il-Allah Ahmad bin `Isa
(passed ahead 345 A.H.) who migrated from Iraq (and ultimately) to Yemen moving his family and future descendants (the Bani `Alawi) away from bid`a (heretical innovation) and fitna (instigation). Muhajir il-Allah in Arabic means "one who migrates for the sake of Allah".
Al-Habib `Umar al-`Attas - Al-Habib `Umar ibn `Abd al-Rahman al-`Attas
(992-1072 A.H.). A great Muslim wali (saint) who compiled the
Ratib al-`Attas (which is a compilation of recommended additional optional sequenced invocations/recitations). He was one of the main teachers of Imam al-Haddad
.
Shaykh `Ali Ba Ras - Shaykh `Ali bin `AbdAllah Ba Ras
, one of the disciples of al-Habib `Umar al-Attas
and one of the commentators of the
Ratib al-`Attas.
Spiritual Heir - Imam al-Haddad
received the khirqa (cloth or article of clothing symbolizing investiture) from various Shaykhs such as al-Habib `Umar al-`Attas
and al-Habib Muhammad ibn `Alawi as-Saqqaf
.
The Book of Allah - i.e. the Holy Qur'an
Sacred Law - in Arabic, "Shari`ah". It is the Sacred Law of Islam which is based on the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad
.
An independent scholar - in Arabic, "mujtahid" - one who is qualified and is capable of exherting himself to derive legal rulings based on the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah.
The Pillar of Religious Guidance - in Arabic "Qutbu'l Irshad", one of the titles of Imam al-Haddad
Inward Knowledge - e.g. knowledge of the heart, soul and more . . .
Outward Knowledge - e.g. knowledge of the Muslim Sacred Law
Sunnah - The sayings, actions and tacit approvals of the Holy Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad
The Pillar of Calling to Allah - in Arabic "Qutbu'd-Da`wa", one of the titles of
Imam al-Haddad
Sincerity - in Arabic, "ikhlas"
For show - Ostentation in Arabic is "Riya" and is a minor form of shirk (associating partners with Allah
).
Rust and Glow - In Arabic, "Haddad" means "ironsmith". It has been said that similarly to an ironsmith who smelts iron to remove its rust and who makes it glow in the furnace, Imam al-Haddad
purifies hearts and makes them glow and shine with the light of iman (faith).
Inner-sight - In Arabic, "basira". As a child, Imam al-Haddad
experienced the permanent loss of his physical eyesight. Allah
blessed him with great inner-sight.
Ocean - in Arabic, "Bahr"
The Path of the People of the Right Hand - in Arabic, "Tariqatu'l As-habu'l Yamin". This Way to Allah
is distinguished from the Way to Allah
called the Path of Those Drawn Near (Tariqatu'l Muqarrabin).
Hajj - The Pilgrimage to Makkah al-Mukarramah. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Qutb - Spiritual Axis, Pillar or Pole around which everything revolves, the highest rank of a saint.
Mawlid - Mawlidu'n-Nabi is the joyful celebration of the blessed birth of Prophet Sayyidina Muhammad
Visitation - In Arabic, "ziyara". In this context it means to visit a blessed grave.
Maqam - In Arabic, "station". In this context, it means a blessed grave.
Al-Faqih al-Muqaddam - "the jurist and one whose grave is given precedence" that is Shaykh Muhammad bin `Ali
(574-653 A.H.) who is the Qutb of the `Alawiyya spiritual path (tariqa) leading to Allah
.
Sayyidina Nabi Hud - One of the great Prophets sent by Allah
. The blessed maqam of Sayyidina Nabi Hud
is in Hadramawt, Yemen.
Habib Ahmad bin Zayn al-Habashi - 1069-1145 A.H. A great Shaykh
and one of the most notable students of Imam al-Haddad
. He is well-known for his commentary on Imam al-Haddad's `Ayniyyah poem.
Habib Ahmad Mash-hur - Al-Habib Ahmad Mash-hur bin Taha al-Haddad
1325-1416 A.H. A descendant of Imam al-Haddad
. He spread Islam in East Africa and was one of the greatest Shaykhs of the 20th century C.E.