Fifteen Letters

by Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Muhtar Holland (Translator)

This book consists of 45 discourses that were given by Shaikh ‘Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani in his school in Baghdad. These discourses, like the ones found in some of his other books, would have been transcribed by some of his listener. There are a number of surviving manuscripts of the book. The language of Shaikh ‘Abd Al-Qadir’s discourses is often permeated by symbolic references, metaphorical images, and poetic expressions. This style, which is characteristic of the Shaikh’s discourses, reflects a number of facts. First, the Shaikh often speaks about spiritual matters that are completely unfamiliar to the layperson and which the language is incapable of describing with accuracy. These, in the Shaikh’s words, are states, stations, visions, and experiences that “no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and has never occurred to any human being.” Second, the Shaikh’s words spring as much from his heart as from his mind, describing feelings as well as thoughts. He is forced to use common words to describe feelings that are known only to those who have had those spiritual experiences. No language is equipped enough to describe these feelings, in the same way that no words can assist in describing color to one born blind because it requires visual experience. Third, the Shaikh often speaks about secret and intimate spiritual issues that he does not want to or cannot fully disclose, thus wrapping his words in metaphors. The words of Shaikh Al-Jilani do not describe one spiritual state and are not targeted at one person. They paint a fascinating picture of a myriad of spiritual states and stations and apply to people of very different beginnings, paths, and ends. The destination is the same, but the routes are different. Also different wayfarers end their journeys at different points. What is good for someone might not good for another, and what is required of two different people might be completely different, even though both have the same goal. This is why understanding the Shaikh’s words and their applications is a science in its own right. As Sufis “The ways to Allah are as many as the creatures.” The words of the Shaikh remain as relevant to the seeker of the truth and nearness to God as they were when he uttered them almost one thousand years ago. For sure, the world has changed a lot, but man’s nature has not, and the diseases of his heart remain the same. The Shaikh’s words address these diseases and show man the way to salvation. His words lived a thousand years and will live to the day when this transient world is no more and is replaced by the permanent one. Like all beacons of truth, the Shaikh has been the target of attacks of the ignorant, the narrow minded, and the misguided. As happened to others who understood Islam to be about works of the heart not acts of the body, this pious servant, whose life was fully dedicated to serving his Lord, has often been accused of distorting the message of Prophet Muhammad by those who wanted to hijack Islam and turn it into a spiritless, legalistic system to serve their worldly ambitions. But, as history has been confirming everyday, the voice of truth can never be silenced and the words of wisdom will remain inerasable. It is ignorance of this fact, as well as mistaking falsehood for truth, that must have made some misguided individuals to use terrorism against the Shaikh as they bombed his shrine in Baghdad on 28th May 2007, damaging parts of it. These and similar criminals do not realize that what made great masters such as Shaikh ‘Abd Al-Qadir live forever is not buildings that commemorate them or books written about them, but the teachings and examples they set that live in people’s minds and love for God that they helped them develop in their hearts. This is why almost one thousand years after his departure from this world people still feel immensely honored to serve the Shaikh and his sacred cause, including making his words more accessible to people.

Genres: Islam, Nonfiction, Essays, Religion

75 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

عبد القادر الجيلاني
Syekh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani dilahirkan pada tahun 470 Hijriah (1077-78 Masehi) di daerah yang bernama Al-Jil di Parsi (sekarang Iran). Beliau berpulang ke Rahmatullah pada tahun 561 Hijriah (1166 Masehi) pada saat berusia 91 tahun. Sufi besar ini disemayamkan di kawasan Madrasah Bab ad-Daraja di Bagdad. Makam ini menjadi tempat yang paling populer dikunjungi oleh para Sufi dan umat Islam dari seluruh penjuru dunia.

Reviews

[areebah]

Fifteen Letters includes, as the name suggests, fifteen letters or short essays in which Abd Al-Qadir al-Jilani outlines how overcoming one's base desires and staying devoted to Allah allows us to encounter unique, spiritual journeys. In essence, how maintaining and upholding the exoteric, orthodox practices (such as repentance) can result in the esoteric; mystical experiences that help us understand the different states we experience as a result of understanding and affirming Allah's Oneness.

The essays have a poetic structure, constantly shifting between beautiful prose (originally in Persian) and verses from the Qur'an. For example:

When the flashes of the lights of Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth shine on the lamp niche of the consciences, they cause the glass of the heart to be illuminated by the light of the lamp in a glass, the glass is as though it were a glittering star. [24:35 & 24:35]

The mystical language the prose was written in really captured the beauty of the verses and served as an almost Sufi interpretation for many of them. The many footnotes also helped with further understanding of the verses and Jilani's overall idea. However, at times I felt the prose and verses did not flow together as well as they could have, and it was sometimes hard to understand or get the gist of (due to the constant break in the sentence in order to implement a verse). However I feel as though this was more of a translation issue than anything else. Nonetheless, the language and overall message was extremely beautiful.

[Maryam Kd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, each of the fifteen letters is about an aspect of the spiritual life. In every other line, an ayah or a part of it is referred to which encourages the reader to ponder over its deeper meaning and get a fresh view of the Ayah based on the context that it's used.

An excerpt from the eleventh letter, on affirming the oneness of God and its fruits:

"O dear one,
When the early signs of the light of the morning of affirming the oneness of God appear on the hearts from the eastern horizon of:
And by the morning as it breathes (81:18)
and the sun of complete certitude settles on the constellations of the orbits of:
And the sun runs to a place of rest for it,... (36:38)
The darkness of human existence will disappear in the light of the flashes of:
...Their light running before them... (66:8)
and the secret of:
He makes the night to enter into the day (57:6)
will be revealed, and the veil will be removed from the face of Allah's predestined care of:
Allah is the patron of those who believe, he brings them out of the darkness into the light (2:257)"

[KakEllereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just WOW!

The original were written in Persian and translated to Arabic. From this Arabic translations, the author translate it to English.

If I were to understand Persian and Arabic, honestly I won't mind reading this again. I love the spiritual experience feeling that this book offers.

The author in my opinion successfully translated the manuscript (fifteen Letters wrote by Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani). The author also commented on some mistake or error he found in those manuscripts too which I think is very good.

From these commentary, the reader will be able to understand better on the subjects that Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani wanted to convey.

Each letters gave me the urge to embark on the spiritual experience journey. I have to agree with the author, that Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani works are articulated in highly mystical language.

The letters are written in peculiar style in which every sentence or group of sentences will be followed by Quranic verses. This makes the writing when read are so beautiful!

4🌟 read for me as I was hoping for more than fifteen Letters 😆. This book left me wanting for more! And honestly I think that this book is awesome and please pick this as one of your spiritual supplement source.

[Fitri Khairuddin · Rating 3 out of 5]

consist of short and straight forward "lectures" from sheikh qadir, may Allah grant him the highest jannah. i appreciate the fact that he incorporated quranic verses and hadiths in every line, but by the limitation of my own spiritual knowledge, sometimes it feels out of place. By the grace of Allah, i pray for a better understanding for my own sake insyaAllah.

[Ghulam Rasool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[voulpit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short collection of essays based on quotes from the Quran, ordered eloquently, about different stages in one's spiritual journey. There are descriptions of one's spiritual rewards when he follows the path. The booklet also contains pictures of the manuscripts as well as dr. Fatoohi's own comments.