Explanation of Shaykh Ibn Atta Allah Iskandari's Aphorisms
About the Book
This book explains and analyzes the aphorisms of Ibn 'Ata Allah Al-Iskandari, about exalting the soul and ennobling it to the degree of supremacy and perfection. It brings about the aphorisms supported by deliberate sayings and makes them sparkle with explanations and analyses of highly concentrated statements.
The book involves 259 aphorisms appended by four letters from the writer of the Aphorisms to some friends of his as well as some prayers and supplications to Allah, the Great and the All-Mighty.
It is introduced by a brief biography of the writer of the Aphorisms, Imam Ta Al-Din Ahmed Ibn Muhammad Ibn 'Abdal Karim 'Ata' Allah Al-Iskandari Al-Maliki, who is considered one of the unique personalities of the 7th Hijri century, about his book 'The Aphorisms which is a collection of fragments of rhetorical speech compiling most extensive meanings with so short statements deduced from the holy Qur'an or the honourable Prophetic Sunnah, about Ibn 'Ata' Allahs aphorisms and their relation with Sufism and about the rank of Ihsan [i.e. the most supreme attitudes towards Allah and his servants] and its connection with Islam and belief.
The book is divided in to the following three parts:
- The pivot of the first part concentrates on monotheism and protecting Muslims from the infiltration of the abundant secret meanings of Polytheism.
- The pivot of the second part concentrates on morals and self-exaltation.
- That of the third part concentrates on behaviour and its various rulings.
About the Author
Shaykh Ramadhan Al-Buti was born in 1929 in the village of Jilka in the Turkish boundaries, north of Iraq and immigrated to Damascus.
He completed his legal secondary study in the Institute of Islamic Guidance in Damascus, and joined the faculty of religion at Al-Azhar University. Appointed as dean in the faculty of religion at Damascus University in 1960, and deputed to Al-Azhar University to attain doctorate in the roots of the Islamic law.
Appointed as instructor in the college of law of Damascus University in 1965, as a deputy of the college later on and as its dean in the end.
Participated, in many global conferences and symposia, and is, in addition, a member in the royal society of the Islamic Civilization Researches in Amman, and member in the higher board of Oxford academy.
Also available In English By the Same Author:
The Jurisprudence of the Prophetic Biography (Al-Buti) 2nd Edition
Al-La Madhhabiyya:Abandoning the Madhhabs is the Most Dangerous Bid'ah
About Ata'Allah Iskandari
Taj ad-Din Abu’l-Fadl Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Abd al-Karim b. Ata’ Allah al-Iskandari, al-Judhami ash-Shadhili, known simply as Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah, was born in Alexandria, Egypt, as his nisbah indicates, about the middle of the seventh/thirteenth century. His family were renowned Maliki scholars from the Banu Judham tribe, originally from Arabia. His grandfather, Abd al-Karim (d. 612 AH/1216 AD) had distinguished himself as an expert in fiqh, usul (principles of jurisprudence), and Arabic, having studied under the famous Abu’l-Hasan al-Abyari. He had written several books, among which were al-Bayin wa’t-Taqrib fi Sharh at-Tahdhib, Mukhtasar at-Tahdhib, and Mukhtasar al-Mufassal, and had been very hostile to Suflism.