The Degrees of the Soul: Spiritual Stations on the Sufi Path

by Abd Al-Khaliq Al-Shabrawi, Mostafa al-Badawi (Translator)

This book unlocks the secrets of the seven degrees through which the soul progresses as it travels the Sufi Path to its Lord. It teaches the novice how to transform the Inciting Soul the lowest and most egotistic of the self's manifestations, into the Reproachful Soul, which must then become Inspired, Serene, Contented, and Found Pleasing until it attains the ultimate degree of sanctity and wholeness as the Perfect Soul.

To achieve this progressive purification of the self, special Sufi practices, litanies and attitudes of mind are recommended. Both practical and profound, this book offers a concise manual of Sufi teaching on the Way to spiritual liberation.

The Author:
Shaykh Abd al-Khaliq al-Shabrawi (1887-1947) was employed as a professor at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, and served as a mosque imam, but was best known as a realized master of the great Khalwati Order of Sufis. A tireless worker for spiritual unity and harmony, he was also initiated into the Shadhili and Naqshbandi Orders.

Genres: Islam, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Mysticism, Psychology

90 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 1997

About the author

The Author:
Shaykh Abd al-Khaliq al-Shabrawi (1887-1947) was employed as a professor at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, and served as a mosque imam, but was best known as a realized master of the great Khalwati Order of Sufis. A tireless worker for spiritual unity and harmony, he was also initiated into the Shadhili and Naqshbandi Orders.

Reviews

[Wayfarer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb exposition on the Khalwati Path in particular and the Sufi Way in general; this is how all authentic sufi works are intended to be, free of academic verbosity and superfluousness which plagues much of the modern works on Sufism - an indication that they have nothing much to say of substance and are cloaking themselves in empty vain talk (or words). This work naturally lends itself to multiple re-reads - a sign of a masterpiece.
As always Dr. Mostafa al-Badawi has done an admirable job in translating this work from the original Arabic so masterfully into English - may Allah preserve him for the benefit of this Ummah, ameen.

[Samay Ahadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, although the work is short, it contains a depth that would require at least another reading, and possibly an explanation from a good teacher, to comprehend. In addition to that, it would take years if not decades to master every degree of the soul discussed, and perhaps the third or fourth station would be the only possibility amongst most of us let alone the 5-7. May Allah grant us a lofty station.

[Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most profound book on Islamic perspective of Soul and its different levels. Anyone slightly interested in theological and spiritual narratives of soul must read this book. The terminology was precisely translated into English from Arabic and it made is much more comprehensible for Non-arabic speakers.
To summarize, book thoroughly discusses the first level of soul, "Inciting soul" which is attained when our 'vital spirit" (nafs) befriends our outward, bodily, desires. But when it submits to the dictates of Divine commandments, while still holding onto some of the worldly pleasures which 'vital spirit' desires, we attain "reproachful soul". From what I understood, majority of Muslims, including myself, are upon this stage. Once this "reproachful soul" or "lawwama" detaches itself from the desires of "vital spirit" (nafs) it enters into the world of sanctity, (alam al quds) and this level is now called "mulhamma" or the "inspired" soul. Once the soul is purified from all the worldly desires and attachments, it becomes "contented soul" and the higher once detachment, the higher degree it attains.
The book explores each degree with really fascinating details which requires deep contemplation and the author guides the reader through required steps to attain each level.

[Rizwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting re-read after experience of earlier in the year