Selected Letters: Imam Abd Allah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad

Imam ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAlawī al-Ḥaddād, of Ḥaḍramawt in southern Yemen, is generally considered one of the great spiritual masters of Islam. In addition to the wealth of treatises and litanies (awrād) that he left for the benefit of posterity, the Imam wrote hundreds of letters to disciples, followers and fellow scholars, to local sultans and governors, and to other individuals both in his region and elsewhere in the Muslim world.

These letters provide unique insights into the Imam’s learning, wisdom, and personality. They reflect his relationships with family, friends, rulers and others, his life and times, and his reactions to current events. Also notable is his frequent use of verses to highlight points with extra force and eloquence; these are translated in full.

Selected Letters of Imam al-Ḥaddād presents a representative choice of this precious material, expertly translated together with an introduction, full annotations and a glossary of technical terms. It will be of interest to anyone concerned with the literature on the spiritual path and its masters in Islamic tradition.