The Fragrant Scent on the Knowledge of Motivating Thoughts and Other Such Gems (Sayyid Abu al-Marahim ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Mustafa b. Shaykh al-Aydarus)
Description
ISBN: 9781903682937
Author: Sayyid Abu al-Marahim ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Mustafa b. Shaykh al-‘Aydarus
Publisher: Islamic Texts Society (2016)
Pages: 172 Binding: Paperback
Description from the publisher:
The Fragrant Scent is the first English translation of the work of the great eighteenth-century scholar Sayyid Abu al-Marahim ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Mustafa b. Shaykh al-‘Aydarus. The book is a meditation on the fleeting thoughts that pass through the mind of the spiritual wayfarer; and the author's aim is to provide guidance for those on the spiritual path.
The author describes his treatise as a commentary on Suhrawardi's famous Sufi work; ‘Awarif al-ma'arif; and he draws on a rich selection of authoritative sources to answer key questions about the wayfarer's experiences; including the Qur'an; the hadith; Ghazali; ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani and Abu Madyan. This concise; yet wide-ranging treatise covers topics such as the different types of passing thoughts and their causes; knowledge of the soul and finding the perfect spiritual guide; as well as the necessity of retreat and practicing one's knowledge.
Shaykh al-‘Aydarus was a follower of the Ba ‘Alawi tariqa; a famous Sufi order from Hadhramaut in southern Yemen; known for its piety and careful observance of the Sharia. The Fragrant Scent reflects the Ba ‘Alawi order's emphasis on maintaining a balance between the inner and outer worlds; making the work an accessible entry point to understanding the profound spiritual insights and everyday practice of Ba ‘Alawi Sufism.
Born in Tarim in southern Yemen; Abu al-Marahim was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through ‘Ali and Husayn. He studied the traditional legal and religious sciences with renowned scholars in Yemen; the Hijaz; India and Egypt; where he died in 1192 AH/1778 AD. He attracted many students in the course of his travels; including ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti and al-Murtada al-Zabidi. He is the author of more than 60 works in Arabic; including the present treatise; al-‘Arf al-‘atir fi ma'rifat al-khawatir wa-ghayriha min al-jawahir.