Fifteen Letters
Subtitle: Khamsata 'Ashara Maktuban
Publisher: Islamic Book Trust
Published: 2015
Place of publication: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 108
ISBN-13: 9789670526140
Description: Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani is arguably the greatest figure in the history of Sufism. His teachings have attracted millions to Islam and helped countless Muslims understand the spiritual journey that this great religion represents. The current work consists of fifteen short letters in which the Shaikh describes spiritual experiences and knowledge that are attained through striving against one’s base desires and committed devotion to Allah. They are written in a highly mystical language, using a peculiar style whereby each sentence or group of sentences is followed by a related Qur’anic text. In effect, the letters represent a Sufi experiential interpretation of the quoted Qur’anic verses. While small in size, this exceptionally charming and poetically beautiful work is immensely profound. This translation of the book is based on three manuscripts. The translator, who has previously co-translated into English Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qadir’s Purification of the Mind (Jila’ Al-Khatir), has also added a commentary.
Table of contents: title: The Author; title: The Manuscripts; title: The Letters; title: The Edited Text; title: The English Translation; title: Prelude (Manuscript “S”); title: Prelude (Manuscript “B”); title: Prelude (Manuscript “M”); title: The First Letter; title: The Second Letter; title: The Third Letter; title: The Fourth Letter; title: The Fifth Letter; title: The Sixth Letter; title: The Seventh Letter; title: The Eighth Letter; title: The Ninth Letter; title: The Tenth Letter; title: The Eleventh Letter; title: The Twelfth Letter; title: The Thirteenth Letter; title: The Fourteenth Letter; title: The Fifteenth Letter; title: Epilogue; title: References