At the end of this section, it will please me to mention the virtue of our shaykh, the great educator, ʿārif billāh (knower of God), murshid (spiritual guide), my master Muḥammad Hāshimī (may Allah have mercy on him), who brought the spiritual meanings and divine ḥaqīqas (inner realities) we have explained so far to this precious land and manifested them as a living example. Indeed, the souls of his murīds (disciples) and students tell us these things, and their lives, filled with dhikrullāh (remembrance of God) and true worship, bear witness to them. Likewise, his contemporaries among the great Saadat al-ʿUlamāʾ (the noble scholars) also testify to this. For this reason, I conclude my book by narrating a portion of his pleasant memory and beautiful life.
Birth: The venerable master, great murshid, my master Muḥammad Hāshimī (may Allah have mercy on him) was born to two righteous parents. Both were from the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet’s family), descending from Ḥasan b. ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with them both). The shaykh was born in the city of Sabta, affiliated with Tlemcen, the most famous city of Algeria, on Saturday, 22 Shawwal, 1298 AH. His father was among the scholars of that city and served as its judge. When he passed away, he left behind young children, of whom the shaykh was the eldest.
The shaykh attended scholarly gatherings for a time. He worked diligently and regularly in their path to increase his knowledge. Then, fleeing the French colonial rule that prevented the people of Algeria from being present in the scholarly assembly, he emigrated to Damascus with his shaykh Muḥammad b. Yellis. During their migration, they arrived in Damascus via Tangier and Marseille on 20 Ramaḍān, 1329 AH. They stayed in Damascus only a few days. Then, coming to Turkey, he resided in Adana, while his shaykh Ibn Yellis remained in Damascus. Two years later, the shaykh returned to Damascus, reunited with his shaykh Ibn Yellis, and continued to attend his discourses.
When his shaykh Muḥammad Yellis saw in him knowledge, maʿrifa (gnosis, experiential knowledge of God), benevolence, and excellence in service among students, he granted him general permission for the wird (regular litany). When the great murshid Aḥmad b. Muṣṭafā ʿAlawī came to Damascus from Algeria for Hajj, due to the passing of his shaykh Muḥammad b. Yellis, he granted him special permission (to transmit the greatest name and general guidance).
Life and character: The shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) was adorned with the character of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). In all his words, states, character, and actions, he followed our Prophet. He received complete inheritance from the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). He was humble and became renowned for this. Among the greats of his era, none surpassed him in humility.
Activities of invitation and guidance: His house was like a qibla (direction of prayer) for scholars, students, and visitors. He never tired of meeting them. Despite his weak body, he regularly attended scholarly and dhikr gatherings held in mosques and homes. He granted permission for invitation and guidance to those who benefited from him. The shaykh’s spiritual influence spread throughout Damascus, Aleppo, all the cities of Syria, and every part of the Islamic world.
Works: “Miftāḥ al-Jannah,” “al-Baḥth al-Jāmiʿ wa-l-Barq al-Lāmiʿ,” “al-Durra al-Bahiyya,” “al-Ajwiba al-ʿAshara,” “Sharḥ Naẓm ʿAqīdat Ahl al-Sunnah,” and others…
Many scholars received Sufism (taṣawwuf) lessons from Shaykh Hāshimī—only Allah knows their number. He spent his life in education, jihād, and the spiritual training of people, never tiring of this. In his words, deeds, and states, he was upright in the sharia (the sacred law) of the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him). At the end of his life, he advised: “Do not depart from the Book and sunnah.” This testifies to how faithfully he inherited from the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him).
The great shaykh passed away on Tuesday, 12 Rajab, 1381 AH, corresponding to 19 December 1961 CE.
(We have written the life of the shaykh briefly so as not to weary the reader or lengthen the book; those who desire more should refer to the original Arabic. Translator)