The Exquisite Pearl

by عبدالرحمن ناصر السعدي, Abu Aaliyah Surkheel Sharif (Translater)

Of all the faculties' man has been endowed with, none excels the heart in importance and nobility. For the heart is both the seat of intelligence and understanding, and the locus of faith and spirituality; it is the quintessential faculty by which man may come to know his creator, and seek nearness and intimacy with Him. The heart's spiritual sustenance lie sin its being receptive to the effusions of divine grace and guidance, without which the veils that cover it will continue to corrupt its primordial purity, gradually rendering it dysfunctional! Each veil- a metaphor for heedlessness, sins and distraction- that is melted away by the rays of faith and spiritual endeavour, allows vital qualities such as love of Allah, as well as hope, fear, remembrance, and reliance upon Him, are referred to in the religious vocabulary as spiritual stations; only when the heart embraces these stations is it said to be truly sound. The Majestic Qur'an 'The day when wealth and sons avail not, save him who brings to Allah a heart that is sound.' This book explains some of the main spiritual stations that the heart is required to embrace as part of its worship of Allah and it's journeying to Him. Each chapter commences with a line of poetry which highlights one of these spiritual stations; each stations is then explained in a clear, lucid style, seasoned with insights by some of the pietists and spiritual masters from the early Muslims. The nature and brevity of this book is such that it may be regarded as a primer to the science of suluk, or Muslim Spirituality.

Genres: Islam, Poetry, Religion

35 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

هو الشيخ العلامة الزاهد الورع الفقيه الأصولي المفسر عبد الرحمن بن ناصر بن عبد الله بن ناصر بن حمد آل سعدي من نواصر من بني عمرو أحد البطون الكبار من قبيلة بني تميم. ومساكن بعض بني عمرو بن تميم في بلدة قفار إحدى القرى المجاورة لمدينة حائل عاصمة المقاطعة الشمالية من نجد، قدمت أسرة آل سعدي من بلدة المستجدة أحد البلدان المجاورة لمدينة حائل إلى عنيزة حوالى عام 1120هـ أما نسبه من قبل والدته فأمه من آل عثيمين، وآل عثيمين من آل مقبل من آل زاخر البطن الثاني من الوهبة، نسبة إلى محمد بن علوي بن وهيب ومحمد هذا هو الجد الجامع لبطون الوهبة جميعاً وآل عثيمين كانوا في بلدة أشيقر الموطن الأول لجميع الوهبة ونزحوا منها إلى شقراء فجاء جد آل عثيمين وسكن عنيزة وهو سليمان آل عثيمين وهو جد المترجم له من أمه. ...للمزيد

Reviews

[Uzma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is the translation of a book that Shaykh `Abd Al-Rahman al-Sa`di wrote in Arabic. It describes the qualities of the people who have made Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala the focal point of their lives. It talks about the steps that one can undertake to draw closer to its Creator.

A short book that will be enjoyed by readers interested in poetry.

[Shahrian Shihab · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent concise book on some of the stations of Suluk/Tasawwuf.

[Tahir · Rating 1 out of 5]

Avoid this book, the translator of this book abu aaliyah surkheel sharif is ahlul biddah..

Instead you can go with series of this poem by Abdul Rahman ibn Nasir al saadi rahimullah explained by shyakh Abdur razzak Ibn Abdul Muhsin al badr hafidullah

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

[Abu’l Salihaat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and short treatise written to describe the chronological and often intersecting manazil (stations) a worshiper may arrive to during their efforts in sulūk or tazkiyat ul nafs. As a work of spirituality centralized around tasawwuf through a strictly traditionalist and sober lens, the book is largely removed of any and all esoteric or mystical language, speculative theology or philosophical undertones. Instead, the poem and its accompanying commentary by Shaykh as-Sa’di (May Allah elevate him) outline a foundational guide for how to track progress within prayer, remembrance and other forms of worship in order to yield desired objectives and sustainable results (reliance, vigilance, humility, love, etc).