Who Are the Guides?: Spiritual Stations of Naqshbandi Masters

by Muhammad Hisham Kabbani

For 150 years, extremists have battled to obliterate spiritual practices and secret knowledge that has flowed through the veins of Islam for fifteen centuries. This book is the antidote, depicting ancient wisdom of guides of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, passed only from master to disciple. Following Banquet for the Soul (2008), the first volume of GrandshaykhAbd Allah’s Notes Series,Who are the Guides? outlines a spiritual discipline that generates the mind/body/spirit dynamic we crave, in a shallow world dominated by texting, Facebook, and Twitter.

Grandshaykh’s explanations are directed to those seekers who understand the Sufi Way, who have accompanied saints for a long time, who are willing to open their minds and hearts to the intense love of Allah, His Messenger and the spiritual guides, and who seek Oneness with them. Deep spiritual secrets are revealed: of how Creation flows from the Light of Sayyidina Muhammad, the treasures of our divine worship, and how to accelerate our progress on the Path.

Genres: Islam, Religion, Spirituality

206 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

Muhammad Hisham Kabbani was a Lebanese-American Sunni Sufi Muslim scholar belonging to the Naqshbandi Sufi Order. Kabbani has counseled and advised Muslim leaders to build community resilience against violent extremism. In 2012, the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre named him on The 500 Most Influential Muslims. His notable students include the world-famous boxer Muhammad Ali and former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Reviews

[Jonathan Widell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order from Prophet Muhammad to Shaykh Nazim is covered with biographical sketches, collections of sayings, etc. A bit tough to read at first because of the sketchiness of the material but when we get to the 19th century and to the absolutely vital role played by the Naqshbandi Order in the fight against the Russian Army in the Caucasus, the connections to today's struggles in Chechnya are too gripping to let your attention wander for long. I was not aware of the Chechnya connection of the order until I read this book. Fascinating. And, yes I admit, challenging too. The importance of the dhikr (the recitation of the name of Allah) is emphasized from the very beginning. The book closes with an overview of different spiritual practices of the order. One feels privileged to have read this book and be given all this information. Thanks.

[Art Fazil · Rating 5 out of 5]

a gem amongst gems

[Gembongbongky Gembongbongky · Rating 5 out of 5]

spiritual

[Fathima · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Classic. Abook to keep and read over and over again. A book to refer to often!!!