Wayfarers to God

Written by Habib ‘Ali Zain Al ‘Abideen Al Jifri

Translated by Shaykh Mohamed Mlamli Adam

Published by Guidance media

ISBN 0-9550891-1-5

‘Wayfarers to God’ (Ma’alim as-Suluk) is a translation of a series of Arabic lectures given at Al Zayed University for Women in the United Arab Emirates. Equally relevant to men and women, these lectures are full of wisdom to learn and practise insha-Allah. The shaykh shades light on how to approach Allah SWT, the importance of adhering to the Sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad SAW, impediments to wayfaring and so on. It also discusses about the principal diseases of the heart and most importantly their cures. This book has taught me a lot about self-accounting and how to perceive and deal with our ephemeral world, Alhamdulillah.

While reading this book, there came some moments where I felt very emotional and moved by the way the author talked about certain realities of life. But there also occurred some moments where I was feeling optimistic too, by the grace of Almighty. It puts your entire life into a proper perspective and teaches you how to deal with your short but very crucial time on this earth. As the author says, “Whoever knows that this (death) is the end of his world, know that the most that one will gain from this world is camphor and a funeral shroud with a little perfume that is folded in his shroud, that he will be placed in the dust in a hole. What is this intelligence that he has? Is he pleased that his aspirations, his mind, his consciousness, his thoughts, his lifespan, his time and his effort have come to an end, but that they do not go with him to the grave and no one will accompany him? This is what is incumbent upon man to be alive to, to wake up to. He wakes up to the fact that his connection with this dunya ( world), deceitful and scheming as it is, quick to flee and abandon its companions, treacherous to them, that his only worthwhile connection to it is as a means to attain Allah’s presence, nothing else. Intrinsically, this world is cheap, but can be priceless if it becomes a ladder for one to scale to Allah’s presence as one plans for the Next World.”

The author also talked about Rizq but not as financial provision but as ‘spiritual’ (non-physical) Rizq which has motivated me a lot Alhamdulillah. According to him, the spiritual rizq is the real rizq that is incumbent upon a Muslim to seek from Allah SWT. This rizq has been defines as the light of faith, reliance upon Allah SWT, being pleased with Allah SWT, fear and awe (before Allah), humility and renouncing (this world), hope, unveiling, beneficial knowledge, actions on the basis of beneficial knowledge, sincerity to Allah, teaching people, serving this religion and praiseworthy character. These are all forms of Rizq that Allah SWT bestows upon those He honours! This book is full of wisdom and not easy to grasp in one go. But Insha-Allah you won’t regret reading this book, I can assure you.