t h e r a w h a h

s h a b a n - r a m a d a n 1434j u l y - a u g u s t 2013

3t h e r a w h a h

The centre-piece of the Dawrah is the Rawah. The word rawah linguistically is

applied to an excursion at any time from midday until nightfall, as in the hadith narrated

by al-Bukhr and Muslim: An excursion in the morning (ghadwah) or an excursion

in the latter part of the day (rawah) in the path of Allah is better than this world and

everything it contains. The word also has a connection to the r, the spirit. The

scholars of aramawt traditionally used the name rawah for the lessons they would

give after Ar in which they would focus upon teaching the sciences of the heart and

reading the books of the Imams of Taawwuf. Imm al-addd says in his Adb Sulk

al-Murd (translated as Good Manners): The time following the Ar prayer, if kept

alive, has a powerful affect in attracting provision for the heart.

In this years Dawrah, abb Umar bin af (may Allah preserve him and benefit us

by him) continues the commentary which he began four years ago on Qt al-Qulb,

Imm Ab lib al-Makks foundational work in the science of Taawwuf. He will

also comment on a poem by Imm Ab Bakr al-Adan. Using the book and the poem,

Habib Umar lays out the foundations which every seeker needs on the path to Allah.

He emphasises the importance of sincerity in seeking spiritual process during these

lessons and often repeats that by reading the words of these great scholars we are in

fact sitting in their presence.

The gathering is usually rounded off with the recitation of some of the poetry of the

great Imams of the Path, and then with the poetic supplication mentioned in these

pages. Those attending the session then shake hands with the Shaykh and with each

other, physically reinforcing the bonds that have been established during the gathering.

What follows is a brief biography of Imm al-Adan, followed by a rough translation of

his poem, along with the Arabic text.

5i m a m a l - a d a n i

Imm Ab Bakr al-Adan is a descendant of some of the great B Alaw Imms, from his

father, Imm Abdullh al-Aydars, to his great-grandfather, Shaykh Abd al-Ramn

al-Saqqf, to the Shaykh of the B Alaw Path, al-Faqh al-Muqaddam. His lineage then

goes back to al-Imm al-Muhjir il-Allh Amad bin s, to Imm al-usayn, the son

of Imm Al and Fimah al-Zahr, the daughter of our Master Muammad, the Seal

of the Prophets r.

He was born in Tarm in 851 (1447). His father, Imm al-Aydars, took care of his

upbringing and spiritual progress, along with his uncle, Shaykh Al bin Ab Bakr al-

Sakrn and Shaykh Sad bin Al Madaj. He memorised the Qurn and mastered the

Islamic sciences while still in his youth, which led his father to appoint him as a shaykh

of the inward and outward sciences at the age of 14. From then on his life was spent

teaching and calling to Allah.

In 889, he took up residence in the port of Aden, built a mosque and began to teach.

Students from far and wide came to learn from him and the religious life of Aden

flourished. He had great concern for the common people, especially those not on the

straight path. He said: If I see a believer who Allah has given the ability to perform

that which is incumbent upon him and to avoid enormities then I am content. What

troubles me is when I see a believer who has fallen into disobedience of Allah and into

the traps of the Devil, so I expend my efforts to save him.

He was famous for his noble character and immense generosity, which led him to

accumulate great debts in order to help the needy. One of his companions rebuked him

for accumulating these debts, to which he retorted: Do not come between me and my

Lord, for I have only spent this money seeking His pleasure, and He has promised me

that He will pay back these debts before I leave this life. Every year he set aside money

for students of knowledge and visitors and contributed to many charitable projects,

such as the repair of the mosques of Tarm and the construction of drainage channels

to prevent flooding in Aden and several areas of aramawt.

6His Dwn of poetry and the letters are filled with wisdom and guidance. To this day, his

poems are often recited in gatherings of knowledge and remembrance. He counselled

people to have a good opinion of Allah, which he called the greatest treasure and

Allahs greatest name, and to have a good opinion of Allahs slaves. He said: The

one who has a good opinion of someone will not lose out even if his opinion proves

to be wrong; the one who has a bad opinion of someone will not benefit even if his

opinion proves to be correct.

He remained in Aden until his death in 914 (1508), and thus became known as al-

Adan. He was buried next to the mosque which he established. The sultan of the time

erected a great dome over his grave and built a school next to the mosque, Rib al-

Aydars. The Rib continues to flourish to this day, under the directorship of abb

Ab Bakr al-Adan bin Al al-Mashhr (may Allah preserve him), who has also greatly

revived the annual visit in Rab al-Thn.

7t h e p o e m

1. Whoever does not restrain himself from his lowly caprice will taste abasement

2. If someone lowers himself, his aspiration will be low, even if he is as lofty as

the full moon

3. Every wound can be treated except, my son, wounds caused by the tongue

4. Be gentle in all your affairs, for gentleness makes all things beautiful

5. It is only two things which cause the foolish person all suffering:

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6. Greed and entering that which does not concern him, so beware, O man!

7. Be patient and steadfast in all your affairs, for the patient one receives assistance

in the end

8. Do not go against your time for it will overcome you, but rather walk with it and

time will walk with you

9. Do not be attached to your homeland; wherever your honour is this is your

place

10. True wealth can all be found in taqw everything other than taqw will perish

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11. Through taqw, my son, you will attain safety in this life and the next

12. Let not you sins cause you to despair and maintain a good opinion of your Lord

at all times

13. Always follow up a bad deed with a good deed and seek His assistance, for He

is the source of assistance

14. Do not desire from Allah something which is unobtainable asking Him for

infallibility is madness

15. As long as you live you are destined to struggle, so let your certainty be stronga

and your heart firm

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16. If your certainty in Him is correct then He will protect you, and whatever He

wishes will be

17. If you are someone of certainty the foundation of your taawwuf will be firm

and manifest

18. The secrets of the unseen will become clear in your heart and mere information

will become visible

19. It is inappropriate to say any more after this this is a good place to hold onto the reins

20. May Allah bestow the most complete and perfect prayers and peace upon the Prophet.

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h a h w a r e h t f o d n e e h t t a r e y a r pt y a m u s n i b r a m u n i b d a m h a b i b a h y b

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O Lord, benefit us by that which You have taught us

O Lord. teach us that which benefits us

O Lord, give us, our families and our relatives

And the people of the region male and female

Understanding in our religion

O Lord give us and them the enabling grace to do and say

What pleases You out of Your generosity

And give all of us lawful provision always

And give us God-fearing knowledgeable companions

Grace us with goodness and protect us from all evil

Our Lord, rectify all our affairs

And grant us the joy of Your pleasure

And settle all our debts

Before the Angel of Death and his helpers come to us

And forgive and conceal our faults, O Most Generous of Concealers!

And may the blessings of Allah cover the Chosen One

The one who called us to the truth and good faith

With a Book in which there is healing for people

And may His blessings cover his honoured and noble family

And the Companions, the shining torches

O Allah grant us Your guidance

And make us amongst those who hasten to seek Your pleasure

And do not entrust us to a guardian other than You

And do not make us amongst those who disobey Your commands.

Peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his Family and

Companions. All praise is due to Allah Lord of the Worlds.

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h a h w a r e h t f o d n e e h t t a r e y a r pr i h a t n i b n y a s u h n i b h a l l u d b a b i b a h y b

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O Lord, we admit that we have committed sins

And that we have exceeded the bounds

(Such that) we are on the brink of a blazing fire

So turn to us with a repentance

That washes away every wrongdoing

And conceal our faults

And calm our fears

And forgive our parents and our children

And our family, our brothers and all our friends

And all those we love and our neighbours and companions

And all the Muslims

mn! O Lord, hear our petition!

Out of Your grace, Your generosity and Your favour

Not because of our own actions

Through the Messenger, the Chosen One

Bless us with all we ask for

My Lord, bestow peace and blessings upon him

To the number of every grain

And upon his Family and Companions

As much as rain falls from the clouds

And all thanks and praise be to Allah

In the beginning and the end.

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