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This is the blessed biography of a prominent personality of Islam and a leading light in the sphere of Sufism and knowledge of Allah. Sayyid Shaikh Muhammad al-Muhammad al-Kasnazan al-Husayni is the Master of Tariqa ‘Aliyya Qadiriyya Kasnazaniyya, one of the largest Sufi Tariqas with followers throughout the world. Tariqa Kasnazaniyya, as the name is usually abbreviated, traces its roots to the source of all Sufi ways, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Our Shaikh is a descendant of the Prophet (PBUH) from both parental sides.

This biography of Shaikh Muhammad al-Muhammad al-Kasnazan is written in a unique way. It is presented in the context of explaining the Sufi approach to drawing near to Allah. At the same time, the book expounds Sufism, which represents the spiritual side of Islam, through the history of our honourable Shaikh. Being an excellent example of a Sufi life, our Shaikh’s biography explains Sufism and the Sufi way explains his life.

Through the study of the life of a practising man of divine knowledge, this book combines a general theoretical description of the spiritual side of Islam and an introduction to a specific practical Sufi system. It shows that Islam is knowledge and practice, thought and application, reason and heart, and a companion and an accompanied one. In essence, Islam is an experience of spiritual companionship: “May I follow you so that you teach me of that which you have been taught of guiding knowledge”? (al-Kahf 66).

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Book Details

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Table of Contents

Preface

   A) Sources

   B) Methodology

   C) Contents

   D) Presentation

1 Ṭarīqa: The Way to Allah

   1.1 Iḥsān

   1.2 Ṣuḥba (Companionship)

   1.3 Purification Ṣuḥba

   1.4 Knowledge of the Self

   1.5 The Muḥammadan Inheritor

   1.6 Obedience in Ṣuḥba

   1.7 The Spiritual Touch

   1.8 Ṭarīqa and Sharia

2 The Ṭarīqa ʿAlīyya Qādiriyya Kasnazāniyya

   2.1 The Shortest Way to Allah

   2.2 Imām ʿAlī Ibn Abī Ṭālib

   2.3 Shaikh ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Gaylānī

   2.4 Shaikh ʿAbd al-Karīm Shāh al-Kasnazān

   2.5 The Kasnazānī Shaikhs

   2.6 The Chain of Shaikhs

3 Muḥammadan Karāmas

   3.1 Muʿjiza

   3.2 Karāma

   3.3 The Function of Karāmas

   3.4 Source of Karāmas

   3.5 The Diversity of Karāmas and their Causes

   3.6 Darbāsha

   3.7 Spiritual Dispensation

4 Noble Lineage

5 In the Care of a Spiritual Father and a Pious Mother

6 Eduction and Self-Learning

7 Defending the National Rights of the Kurds

   7.1 Shaikhs of the Ṭarīqa and Resistance to Injustice and Aggression

   7.2 Historical Background of the Modern Kurdish Movement in Iraq

   7.3 The Role of Shaikhs ʿAbd al-Karīm and Muḥammad al-Muḥammad in Launching the Kurdish Movement in Iraq

   7.4 Shaikh Muḥammad al-Muḥammad’s Military Activity

8 Family Life

9 Being Chosen for the Shaikhdom of the Ṭarīqa

   9.1 Divine Appointment — Not Human Acquisition

   9.2 The Designation of Shaikh Muḥammad al-Muḥammad al-Kasnazān

   9.3 Shaikh Muḥammad al-Muḥammad’s Designation of His General Deputy

10 Shaikh of the Ṭarīqa

11 Muḥammadan Traits

   11.1 The Necessity of Refined Manners for Spiritual Leadership

   11.2 Prophetic Traits in Shaikh Muḥammad al-Muḥammad al-Kasnazān

      11.2.1 Attractive Personality

      11.2.2 Strategic Thinking

      11.2.3 Multitasking

      11.2.4 Working Hard

      11.2.5 Modesty

      11.2.6 Love for Children

      11.2.7 Softheartedness

      11.2.8 Helping the Poor and Needy

      11.2.9 Charitableness Towards Orphans

      11.2.10 Caring for the Mentally Ill

      11.2.11 Compassion Towards Animals

      11.2.12 Forbearance, Restraint, and Forgiveness

      11.2.13 Cheerfulness of Countenance

      11.2.14 Generosity

      11.2.15 Giving Gifts

      11.2.16 Interfaith Dialogue and Religious Tolerance

      11.2.17 Loyalty

      11.2.18 Joking

   11.3 Promoting Prophetic Manners

12 Preaching

   12.1 Increasing the Number of Caliphs, Training Them, and Sending Them to Preach     

   12.2 Delivering Sermons

   12.3 Literature

   12.4 Attributes of Kasnazānī Preaching

13 The Takya

   13.1 The Ṭarīqa’s Head and Heart

   13.2 The Shaikh’s Takya

   13.3 Moving the Shaikh’s Takya to Baghdad

   13.4 Karāmas of Building Takyas

      13.4.1 The Ramādī Takya in Iraq

      13.4.2 The Khartoum Takya in Sudan

      13.4.3 The Bangalore Takya in India

14 Dhikrs

   14.1 The Means to Reach Allah

   14.2 Specific Dhikrs

   14.3 Kasnazānī Dhikrs

   14.4 Kasnazānī Dhikrs in the Era of Shaikh Muḥammad al-Muḥammad

      14.4.1 Perennial Dhikrs

      14.4.2 Daily Dhikrs

      14.4.3 Prayers of Peace and Blessings Upon the Prophet (PBUH)

      14.4.4 Dhikr Circle

      14.4.5 Temporary Dhikrs

      14.4.6 Individual Dhikrs

      14.4.7 Ḥizb al-Wāw

   14.5 The Shaikh’s Dhikrs

15 Riyāḍa (Spiritual Exercising)

16 Khalwa (Seclusion)

   16.1 Al-Kasnazāniyya Khalwa

   16.2 Shaikh Muḥammad al-Muḥammad al-Kasnazān’s Seclusions

   16.3 Supernatural and Spiritual Experiences

17 Political Persecution Against the Ṭarīqa in Iraq

   17.1 The Spread of the Ṭarīqa and the Obedience of Dervishes to the Shaikh

   17.2 The Ṭarīqa’s Sources of Income

   17.3 Harassment From the Authorities

   17.4 Personal Persecution

   17.5 Migration from Baghdad

   17.6 Migration from Sulaymāniyya

18 Achievements

   18.1 Reconstruction of Holy Sites

      18.1.1 Visiting Holy Sites

   18.2 The Muḥammadī Calendar

      18.2.1 Converting Hijrī to Muḥammadī Dates

      18.2.2 Converting Muḥammadī to Hijrī Dates

   18.3 The Solar Date of the Birth of the Prophet (PBUH)

   18.4 The Muḥammadī Shamsī Calendar

      18.4.1 Converting Gregorian to Muḥammadī Shamsī Dates

      18.4.2 Converting Muḥammadī Shamsī to Gregorian Dates

   18.5 Al-Salām University College

   18.6 Prophetic Odes

19 Interests

Epilogue

Biographical Timeline

Glossary

References

   A) Classical and Old Works

   B) Modern Works

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