Praise be to Allah, who bestows goodness and generosity, who is unique in the attributes of Pre-Eternity and Everlastingness, the One (Wāḥid), the Unique (Aḥad), the Single (Fard), and the Self-Sufficient (Ṣamad).
May Allah’s mercy, the angels’ seeking of forgiveness, the supplications (dua) of the believers, and security from the hardships of this world and the Hereafter be upon our Master Muḥammad Muṣṭafā (peace and blessings be upon him), whom the Exalted Allah sent as a mercy to the worlds, a perfect exemplar for the God-conscious (muttaqīn), a beautiful model for the righteous, a caller by Allah’s permission, and a radiant lamp. Surely, he is the guide of the imams who lead, the educators who purify souls, and the scholars who act upon their knowledge.
Thereafter, surely the Exalted Allah, by His grace and mercy, has not left the Muslim community to flounder in the darkness of corruption and misguidance, nor to be swept away by materialism and blind sensual currents. Rather, He has prepared, especially until Allah’s command (the Hour) comes, a group who will be aided upon the truth and whom those who oppose them will not harm.
To them, He has granted inheritors of His Messenger who revive the Prophetic Sunnah (Sunnat-i Nabawiyya) and the Muhammadan Etiquettes (Adāb-i Muḥammadiyya). These, through their knowledge, spiritual states (ḥāl), and guidance, benefit people, watch over those who join their company, purify them, and take them by the hand to the degrees of taqwa (God-consciousness) and the stations (maqām) of ihsan (spiritual excellence). Surely, our father, the virtuous, murshid (spiritual guide), gnostic (ʿārif), and shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir ʿĪsā (may Allah’s mercy be upon him), was among those inheritors through whom the Exalted Allah benefited lands and servants. Through them, many people in various Muslim countries have attained hudā (guidance). Now, he has reached the Truth. May the Exalted Allah immerse him in His abundant mercy! May He place him in the highest gardens of Paradise! May the Exalted Allah grant him, for his services, the best reward from Islam and the Muslims!
He left behind generations who travel the path of Islam, iman (faith), and ihsan (spiritual excellence) after him. He left to the Muslim community this great and scholarly work entitled “Ḥaqāʾiq ʿan al-Taṣawwuf.” Other than this precious work, he left no other scholarly book, for he busied himself not with writing lines, but with illuminating hearts with unwavering determination, leaving everything else aside. This fine book has generally been met with the approval of many acting scholars, sincere callers, and enlightened students of knowledge. Thus, it is clear to people that true Sufism (taṣawwuf) is both a program of spiritual taste and a practice in accordance with the sacred law (sharia). For this reason, it is necessary for all Muslims on the path of Truth to be adorned with the station (maqām) of ihsan (spiritual excellence) that realizes the taste of faith, to adopt Prophetic manners, to adhere to the rulings of the sacred law, to purify their nafs (lower selves), and to be freed from attachments and obstacles. The noble Companions (ṣaḥāba) of the Master of the Messengers (peace and blessings be upon him) and the righteous who preceded us (may Allah’s mercy be upon them) were all at these lofty stations.
The reason for our honor in publishing the fifth edition of this book is the interest shown by many virtuous brothers from various parts of the Islamic world. We ask the Exalted Lord that He benefit His righteous servants through this book and multiply the reward of the author. Praise be to the Lord of the Worlds.
The Author’s Heirs