Two Sufi Commentaries

Title: Two Sufi Commentaries; The Poem in Ra' Concerning the Sufi Way; The Prayer of Blessing upon the Prophet SAW
Author: Ahmad Ibn 'Ajiba/ Muhammad al-Buzidi/ 'Abd al-Salam ibn Mashish/ Edited, Translated, Annotated, and Introduced by Arjan Post/ Edited, Translated, Annotated by Michael Abdurrahman Fitzgerald
ISBN: 9781891785726
Publisher: Fonsvitae

The current volume contains the Arabic text and English translation of two commentaries by the eminent moroccan Sufi master. Ahmad ibn 'Ajiba (d. 1224/1809).
The first of these is Ibn 'Ajiba's commentary on a poem about the sufi way by his own spiritual mentor. Shaykh Muhammad al-Buzidi 9d. 1229/1814). This work, entitled Sharh al-Qasida al-raiyya fi tariq al-suluk, has up till now only been available in manuscript form. In its twenty-eight lines. Shaykh al-Buzidi sums up the pathwayto spiritual realization, from beginning to end, according to the principles of the Darqawi Sufi order, which had given birth to a spiritual revival in the north of Morocco in the late 13th/17th century that continues to play a major role in North African spirituality up to our times. The English translation is complemented by the carefully edited Arabic text of the commentary as well as an extensive introduction that includes detailed biographies of both al-Buzidi and Ibn Ajiba along with insights into the role of the Tariqa Darqawiyya in their time.

The second commentary in this collection, completed by Ibn Ajiba in late 1210/1796 during his spiritual travels in the north of Moroccco, is on the famous Salat al-Mashishiyya, the Prayer of Blessing upon the Prophet Muhammad attributed to the near legendary saint, Mulay 'Abd al-Salam ibn Mashish, the shaykh of Abu al-hasan al-Shadhili. In addition to the actual commentary, Ibn 'Ajiba's introduction includes practically everything that has been recorded from the earliest Shadhili sources about the teachings transmitted to Imam Shadhili from his shaykh. This present translation, based on a manuscript written by Ibn 'Ajiba himself, includes comprehensive notes on the text and is followed by the only fully edited Arabic version of this work in print.

Taken together, these two works complete a picture of the Tariqa Shadhiliyya Darqawiyya, that ranges from the teachings of one of its principle representatives in the days of its founding in late 13th/18th century back to its spiritual roots in the early 7th/13th century, as seen through the spiritual vision of one of its greatest teachers. Sidi Ahmad ibn 'Ajiba al-hasani, may God be well pleased with him.

Although commentaries have sometimes been disparged for not being original works, readers of these two important commentaries by the great 18th early 19th century Moroccan shaykh, Ahmad b. Ajiba, will discover that they are creative gems. Spiritual seekers will find these works to be inspiring and trustworthy guides to the doctrine and practice of the Sufi path. In addition, scholars will be pleased to see that these translations are excellent resources for enhancing their understanding of the Islamic practice of invoking blessings upon the prophet Muhammad as well as for furthering their grasp of the principles of the Shadhiliya-Darqawiya Sufi order.
-Dr.Alan 'Abd al-haqq Godlas, University of Georgia