Adhkiya Foreword Eric Winkel

Contents Other Word 11 Acknowledgement 13 Foreword 15 Translator’s Introduction 17 Introduction 35 Tawbah (Repentence) 43 Qana’at (Contentment) 46 Zuhd (Renunciation) 47 To Learn the Knowledge of Shariah 50 Compliance with Sunnah 51 Trust (Tawakkul) 56 Sincerity (Ikhlas) 59 Seclusion (Uzlat) 64 Being Vigil about Time 68 Time Management 70 Greatness of Congregation 73 10 ADHKIYA Regular Prayers After Subah 74 Ishraq Prayer 77 Reading the Quran a cure for mind 79 Good Habits for Qur’an Reciters 80 Duha Prayer 86 Engage in Study 88 Greatness of Teachers and Learners 88 Evil Teachers 92 Evil Intentions for Seeking Knowledge 95 Signs of Evil Seekers 97 Signs of Other-worldly Teachers 100 Six Values for a Great Teacher to Attain 109 Etiquettes of a Learner 111 Priorities in the way of Learning 116 Peripheral Knowledge 118 Dangers of Being Satiated 121 Midday Nap and What to do after Zuhr 123 Etiquettes of Sleeping 124 Tahajjud Prayer and Etiquettes of Waking up 126 Reminder 129 The Essentials 131 Index 139 Foreword T he publication in English of the Adhkiya marks an important milestone, the first glimpse for many of the place of this vital work in Kerala. The Adhkiya is ‘Guidance for the Adepts to the way of God’s Friends’, by Sheikh Zainuddin, and this translation and commentary by Shameer K S is authentic and engaging. In a revealing introduction, we begin to understand the importance of this work for the Muslim aspirants in Kerala. Shameer is both honestly subjective and academically objective – a mode of presentation which is a real treat to the reader. The world of scholarship is still trying to grapple with Sufism. There is a growing awareness that a corrective is needed to the ‘anything goes’ New Age appropriation of Sufism. Scholarship by Muslims often use the word taṣawwuf to reclaim its Islamicity. And there is an ongoing question whether Sufism can be used to advance inter-religious harmony; or can be a pacification of Islam and any hard edges not suitable to secular society. Shameer engages all of these questions, and more, and offers his translation of the Adhkiya as a foundation for study of just what Sufism is. The reader of this work sees what is perhaps Sufism’s greatest gift to society – it is the careful, serious, and intense study of the self and 16 ADHKIYA other selves. That is, how do I live a good life, one that brings success in this world and the next? We begin to understand the devotion the Sufi has for the Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam. By emulating him, we make our lives meaningful. If bodies of information—in this case, revelation—span the specific to the general, we see Sheikh Zainuddin’s mastery in teaching us the very specific (down to trimming nails) in order to prepare us for the general and universal qualities of religion. Many readers will not know that the Muslims of Malabar (Kerala) received their Islam from the very beginning, and that their devotion to Islam over the centuries provided crucial resistance to colonialization as well as harmonious interaction, much as in Andalusia, among Malabaris of different religions, sects, and castes. Islam in Malabar is a vast subject of study, and this work is truly welcome for scholars needing access to the primary materials. And all readers will benefit from this translation and commentary as they seek to understand this region and the societal and political forces operating here. Dr. Eric Winkel October 2018