Selected Letters of Imam Al-Haddad

Imam 'Abd Allah ibn 'Alawi al-Haddad, of Hadramawt in southern Yemen, is generally considered one of the great spiritual masters of Islam. Widely believed to have been the Mujaddid or Renewer of Islam for the 12th/18th century, Imam al-?add?d is one of the leading figures in the illustrious tradition of the Ba 'Alaw? Sayyids, scholars and shaykhs.In addition to the wealth of treatises and litanies (awrad) that he left to posterity, the Imam wrote hundreds of letters to disciples,...
More Description

Imam 'Abd Allah ibn 'Alawi al-Haddad, of Hadramawt in southern Yemen, is generally considered one of the great spiritual masters of Islam. Widely believed to have been the Mujaddid or Renewer of Islam for the 12th/18th century, Imam al-?add?d is one of the leading figures in the illustrious tradition of the Ba 'Alaw? Sayyids, scholars and shaykhs.In addition to the wealth of treatises and litanies (awrad) that he left to posterity, the Imam wrote hundreds of letters to disciples, followers and fellow scholars, to local sultans and governors, and to other individuals both in his region and elsewhere in the Muslim world. These letters provide unique insights into the Imam's learning, his wisdom, and his personality. They reflect his relationships with family, friends, rulers and others, his life and times, and his reactions to current events. Also notable is his frequent use of verses to highlight points with extra force and eloquence; these are translated in full. Selected Letters of Imam al-Haddad presents a representative choice of this precious material, expertly translated together with full annotations and a glossary of technical terms. It will be of interest to anyone concerned with the literature on the spiritual path and its masters in Islamic tradition.