Imam al-Haddad
Encyclopedia
Imam Abd Allah ibn Alawi al-Haddad born in 1634 CE (1044 Hijri).
He lived his entire life in the town of Tarim
in Yemen
’s Valley of Hadramawt and died there in 1720 CE (1132 Hijri).
In Islamic history, he was considered one of the sages. He was an adherent to the Ashari Sunni Creed of Faith (Aqeedah), while in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh
), he was a Shafii.
In spite of being a source of reference among the Sunni Muslims, only recently have his books began to receive attention and publication in the English speaking world. Their appeal lies in the concise way in which the essential pillars of Islam
ic belief, practice, and spirituality have been streamlined and explained efficiently enough for the modern reader. Examples of such works are The Book of Assistance, The Lives of Man, and Knowledge and Wisdom.
were already accustomed to trade in Yemen, and the Portuguese
had captured the island of Socotra
, 350 km off the coast. Muslim expansion had virtually come to a hault. Furthermore, his region of Hadramawt witnessed a simply ruinous period during his life. When Imam al-Haddad was twenty-five, Hadramawt was conquered by the Qasimi Zaydis of Upper Yemen. The Hadramis regained their freedom in 1715 CE; the Imam was eighty-one years of age.
The Imam was tall and fair skinned. Smallpox
caused him permanent blindness before the age of five. This does not seem to have affected his personality or scholarship, or even his look, as no scars remained on his face. “In my childhood,” he testifies, “I was never treated like one who didn’t see, neither in walking nor in playing.” From a young age he was trained as a religious scholar. He also chose the ascetic path, "In the beginning, I spent a long period subsisting on coarse food and wearing rough clothes.”
Earning his livelihood from the plantations he owned, his life was devoted to teaching and writing. Even the Sultans of his day received letters of admonition and counsel from him. He died in his home in al-Hawi, Tarim in 1720, where he is buried today. He had six children, all boys.
), the degree of unshakeable faith in God and Muhammad
. They are void of investigative or dogmatic debates. Furthermore, he does not bring up legal rulings (ahkam fiqhiyya), which would necessitate that his readership be limited to the adherents of his school of law (Shafii). Thus, his works are very well suited, if not purposely designed, for mass readership. His writings are brief because he judged that coming generations would not have time to read large volumes.
'Yaqin' is attained by proper practice of the 'Sunna' in fulfilling obligatory worships and avoiding prohibitions along with sincerity and truthfulness to God. There should be no barriers between the outward forms, the inward essence, and practical applicability of the Islamic teachings. Thus, whoever has knowledge, according to Imam al-Haddad, must teach it to those who need it.
He lived his entire life in the town of Tarim
Tarim, Yemen
Tarim is a historic town situated in the Hadhramaut Valley of South Yemen, South Arabia. Tarim is widely acknowledged as the theological, juridical, and academic center of the Hadhramaut Valley. An important locus of Islamic learning, it is estimated to contain the highest concentration of...
in Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
’s Valley of Hadramawt and died there in 1720 CE (1132 Hijri).
In Islamic history, he was considered one of the sages. He was an adherent to the Ashari Sunni Creed of Faith (Aqeedah), while in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
), he was a Shafii.
In spite of being a source of reference among the Sunni Muslims, only recently have his books began to receive attention and publication in the English speaking world. Their appeal lies in the concise way in which the essential pillars of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic belief, practice, and spirituality have been streamlined and explained efficiently enough for the modern reader. Examples of such works are The Book of Assistance, The Lives of Man, and Knowledge and Wisdom.
Life
Imam al-Haddad lived during Islam’s "Period of Decline", in which its forces of might and beauty seem to have become exhausted. During his life, the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
were already accustomed to trade in Yemen, and the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
had captured the island of Socotra
Socotra
Socotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
, 350 km off the coast. Muslim expansion had virtually come to a hault. Furthermore, his region of Hadramawt witnessed a simply ruinous period during his life. When Imam al-Haddad was twenty-five, Hadramawt was conquered by the Qasimi Zaydis of Upper Yemen. The Hadramis regained their freedom in 1715 CE; the Imam was eighty-one years of age.
The Imam was tall and fair skinned. Smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
caused him permanent blindness before the age of five. This does not seem to have affected his personality or scholarship, or even his look, as no scars remained on his face. “In my childhood,” he testifies, “I was never treated like one who didn’t see, neither in walking nor in playing.” From a young age he was trained as a religious scholar. He also chose the ascetic path, "In the beginning, I spent a long period subsisting on coarse food and wearing rough clothes.”
Earning his livelihood from the plantations he owned, his life was devoted to teaching and writing. Even the Sultans of his day received letters of admonition and counsel from him. He died in his home in al-Hawi, Tarim in 1720, where he is buried today. He had six children, all boys.
Works and Teachings
His works revolve around the attainment of certainty (yaqinYaqin
Yaqin is the Arabic word for certainty, or that which is certain. In Islamic context, it refers mainly to total belief, without any doubt, of Allah as the only and almighty.- External links :*...
), the degree of unshakeable faith in God and Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. They are void of investigative or dogmatic debates. Furthermore, he does not bring up legal rulings (ahkam fiqhiyya), which would necessitate that his readership be limited to the adherents of his school of law (Shafii). Thus, his works are very well suited, if not purposely designed, for mass readership. His writings are brief because he judged that coming generations would not have time to read large volumes.
'Yaqin' is attained by proper practice of the 'Sunna' in fulfilling obligatory worships and avoiding prohibitions along with sincerity and truthfulness to God. There should be no barriers between the outward forms, the inward essence, and practical applicability of the Islamic teachings. Thus, whoever has knowledge, according to Imam al-Haddad, must teach it to those who need it.
List of English Titles
- Mutual Reminding & Good Manners
- The Book of Assistance
- The Lives of Man
- Knowledge and Wisdom
- Gifts for the Seeker
- Sufi Sage of Arabia Unique biography of Imam Al-Haddad
- Sublime Treasures: Answers to Sufi Questions
External links
- Video/Audio from Habib Ali and More
- Prophetic Invocation By Imam AL Haddad
- The Pure and Saintly Ancestry
- Ratib al-Haddad; The Litany of al-Haddad
- Sincere Religious Advices from An-Nasa-ih Din-niyyah
- Love of the Holy Prophet from AD-DA'WA-TUT-TAAMMAH
- The Beginning of the Spiritual Path Risalatu Aadabi Suluk-il-Mourid; The Book of The Mourid
- Imam al-Haddad Fons Vitae translation series
- Online Halaqa teaching Imam al-Haddad books including: The Book of Assistance and Nasaih al-Diniyya
- BaAlawi.com : Ratib Alhaddad In Arabic with Roman Transliteration and Translation in English and Malay (PDF Download Available)
- BaAlawi.com : Qasaaids and Written Works Qasaaids (Poetry/Poems) accompanied by Audio Recitation, Written Works are available for download in PDF Format.