Cleansing the Muddy Waters of the Soul - Q-News July 2006, Issue 367

So-called spiritual manuals are a dime a dozen. Cheaply published, poorly researched, badly written, they are the grist and fodder of “Islamic” publishing houses the world over. Qaiser Latif finds that Habib Ali’s latest book is a refreshing departure from the norm.

Wayfarers To God is, as the blurb on the back informs us, a book based on a translation of a series of lectures delivered by Habib Ali al-Jifri (may Allah preserve him) at the Al Zayed University for Women in the United Arab Emirates. The first thing that strikes the reader is that the translation is extraordinary. It manages to convey a sense of being in the lecture room whilst still feeling that one is reading a book. The translator (Shaykh Mohamed Mlamali Adam) has done an admirable job as the language used is easy to follow. It has an elegant simplicity and yet is certainly not simplistic. It is obvious that the translator has strived to convey the meaning of the Habib’s words rather than to display his own erudition. As a result the book reads beautifully and has a majestic flow.

The book itself is divided into seven chapters and an epilogue where each chapter is a distinct lecture. The chapters can be read randomly although one would think that the full benefit would be derived from reading the book from beginning to end. This is because Habib Ali is truly a master of his science and he develops his theme gracefully and rationally; each lecture is a summary of the preceding one and the foundation of the succeeding one. He ends with perfect symmetry; the book concludes with the point it begins with.

In an age when slogans and sound bites masquerade as knowledge, Habib Ali makes two seemingly simple points - we have to turn to Allah with total sincerity and the source of all our righteous actions are only through His Enabling Grace. Habib Ali then uses the rest of the book to prove this through commentary, thought provoking anecdotes of the pious predecessors, and by way of some especially illustrative analogies for the modern reader. Being a spiritual guide, Habib Ali, then shows the impediments for the wayfarer, helps to diagnose the diseases underlying these impediments, prescribes the cure, and finally offers practical advice to combat them.

The book begins with a note of hope. Habib Ali says the fact that one is reading the book is an indication that Allah is summoning one to His presence. However, as one reads further the wing of fear takes flight as Habib Ali begins to rhetorically question the reader’s spiritual state and one is forced to brutally reflect upon one’s own spiritual condition. After this awakening the Habib takes the reader by the hand and guides him through the ascending stations from sincere repentance (tawba) to excellence in works of worship (ihsan). Along the way the Habib examines modern bones of contention such as the concept of bida, clarifies misconceptions relating to tasawuf, and cleanses other muddy waters such as the nature of Zuhd (abstinence).

The interesting thing about ‘Wayfarers To God’ is how Habib Ali has added many layers to the ideas. To one who is approaching these ideas for the first time they are plain and simple. For those further along the path there are many familiar themes which at times are presented in a new light. For those who have been on the path for a while this is an indispensable hand book as it summarises the salient features of the path. For all of the above this should become a well thumbed and dog eared book; a testimony to having read the book over and over as with each reading new insights are found.

Although Habib Ali delves deeply into the points he is making the language is never overbearing. The result of this type of language is that the text is open to all comers and does not require any academic background. In fact the only prerequisite to deriving benefit from this book is complete sincerity.

Habib Ali shows that adherence to the sunnah and surrendering one’s affairs to Allah are the ways to achieve tranquillity. It is the lack of this tranquillity that has led to all types of dysfunctions in society especially within the family. In this sphere the book has much to offer the modern wayfarer. Ultimately, this is an essential book for all those who wish to purify themselves; who want to excel in their slavehood; who wish to do so not according to their whims and desires but according to the desire of Allah and His Beloved Messenger (Allah’s peace and blessings upon him and his family).