Notes 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 .

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.