Grand Masters of Sufism: Abdul Qadir Geylani, Secret of Secrets and Ahmed er Rifai, Guidance to Mysticism
Shaykh Taner Ansari was born in Tarsus, Turkey, to a devout Muslim family ofseyyids(descendants of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). He completed his university studies in Michigan, where he helped found the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada. He was initiated into the Qadiri Rifai Tariqa in Istanbul under Shaykh Muhyiddin Ansari, from whom he received his license to teach Sufism. His spiritual lineage also includes the Naqshbandi, Mevlevi and Bektashi orders. After the passing of Shaykh Muhyiddin's successor, Shaykh Nuruddin Ozal, Shaykh Taner assumed the leadership of the Qadiri Rifai Sufi Order worldwide, as his Shaykh had decreed. Under his Shaykh's orders, Shaykh Taner founded a new order, the Ansari Tariqa of the Qadiri Rifai Tariqa.Shaykh Taner teaches Sufism throughout the United States and abroad. He holds regular lectures and congregationalzikrand gives weekly talks internationally through live classes on the Internet. He has spoken about Islam, Sufism and alternative healing in radio interviews, at churches, synagogues, schools and universities, among them Harvard University, Humboldt State University, Napa Valley College and Boston University. He also has given yearly presentations at the Annual Sufism Symposium, presented by the International Association of Sufism, since 1994.His book on Sufism,The Sun Will Rise in the West: The Holy Trail(Ansari Publications 2000), explains in clear, concise language the mysteries of the Sufi path.What About My Wood: 101 Sufi Stories(Ansari Publications 2005) is a collection of Sufi teaching stories based on real life experiences of his students, his Shaykh and other Sufi teachers.Shaykh Taner is also a spiritual healer, and is known as Master Taner in that capacity. Along with his wife Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, he has presented healing workshops around the world for healers, health professionals and anyone interested in the healing arts. HisAlternative Healing: The Sufi Way(Ansari Publications 2007) contains remedies and health tips for those interested in spiritual healing.He and his family reside in upstate New York.