STATIONS OF THE WAYFARERS

Stations of the Wayfarers has always been one of the pillars of Sufi studies for Arabicspeaking scholars and students For generations seekers and novices have depended on it to build up their knowledge The fact that no English translation of this basic treatise exists is regrettable although excerpts of it have been provided notably in Professor Ravan Farhadi's work on Abdullah AlAnsari published in the Curzon Sufi Series in 1996 The present complete translation is therefore aimed at filling that gap Englishspeaking scholars and students will find in it an authoritative detailed and inspiring description of the spiritual stages leading to annihilation and union with the Supreme Being The depth of its concepts is astounding yet AlAnsari is invariably rational and devoted to Orthodox Islam as represented by Hanafi School The book has a structure that is unique both in form and content The Shaikh dictated it as a manual under a format designed to facilitate memorizing by students It follows a mnemonic system each chapter being divided into three levels indication the degrees of the spiritual experience as well as the hierarch of the candidates for the experience A verse of the Qur'an introduces each chapter It is noteworthy that AlAnsari from Herat Afghanistan was already blind when he dictated the treatise in 1082 AD 475 H The Stations consists of the following Parts or Sections 1 The Beginnings comprising chapters on Awakening Repentance Reckoning Turning to God Reflection Meditation Taking Shelter Escape Retreat or Inurement and Audition 2 The Gates comprising chapters on Grief Fear Solicitude Reverence Capitulation or Humility Renunciation Piety Consecration or Devotion Hope and Aspiration Behavior comprising chapters on Caring Observation Reverence Honesty Betterment Rectitude Reliance Delegation Trust and Submission