the

rawhah

shaban
july

r a m a d a n 1434

a u g u s t 2013

t h e r aw h a h
The centre-piece of the Dawrah is the Rawah. The word rawah linguistically is
applied to an excursion at any time from midday until nightfall, as in the hadith narrated
by al-Bukhr and Muslim: An excursion in the morning (ghadwah) or an excursion
in the latter part of the day (rawah) in the path of Allah is better than this world and
everything it contains. The word also has a connection to the r, the spirit. The
scholars of aramawt traditionally used the name rawah for the lessons they would
give after Ar in which they would focus upon teaching the sciences of the heart and
reading the books of the Imams of Taawwuf. Imm al-addd says in his Adb Sulk
al-Murd (translated as Good Manners): The time following the Ar prayer, if kept
alive, has a powerful affect in attracting provision for the heart.
In this years Dawrah, abb Umar bin af (may Allah preserve him and benefit us
by him) continues the commentary which he began four years ago on Qt al-Qulb,
Imm Ab lib al-Makks foundational work in the science of Taawwuf. He will
also comment on a poem by Imm Ab Bakr al-Adan. Using the book and the poem,
Habib Umar lays out the foundations which every seeker needs on the path to Allah.
He emphasises the importance of sincerity in seeking spiritual process during these
lessons and often repeats that by reading the words of these great scholars we are in
fact sitting in their presence.
The gathering is usually rounded off with the recitation of some of the poetry of the
great Imams of the Path, and then with the poetic supplication mentioned in these
pages. Those attending the session then shake hands with the Shaykh and with each
other, physically reinforcing the bonds that have been established during the gathering.
What follows is a brief biography of Imm al-Adan, followed by a rough translation of
his poem, along with the Arabic text.

imam al-adani
Imm Ab Bakr al-Adan is a descendant of some of the great B Alaw Imms, from his
father, Imm Abdullh al-Aydars, to his great-grandfather, Shaykh Abd al-Ramn
al-Saqqf, to the Shaykh of the B Alaw Path, al-Faqh al-Muqaddam. His lineage then
goes back to al-Imm al-Muhjir il-Allh Amad bin s, to Imm al-usayn, the son
of Imm Al and Fimah al-Zahr, the daughter of our Master Muammad, the Seal
of the Prophets r.
He was born in Tarm in 851 (1447). His father, Imm al-Aydars, took care of his
upbringing and spiritual progress, along with his uncle, Shaykh Al bin Ab Bakr alSakrn and Shaykh Sad bin Al Madaj. He memorised the Qurn and mastered the
Islamic sciences while still in his youth, which led his father to appoint him as a shaykh
of the inward and outward sciences at the age of 14. From then on his life was spent
teaching and calling to Allah.
In 889, he took up residence in the port of Aden, built a mosque and began to teach.
Students from far and wide came to learn from him and the religious life of Aden
flourished. He had great concern for the common people, especially those not on the
straight path. He said: If I see a believer who Allah has given the ability to perform
that which is incumbent upon him and to avoid enormities then I am content. What
troubles me is when I see a believer who has fallen into disobedience of Allah and into
the traps of the Devil, so I expend my efforts to save him.
He was famous for his noble character and immense generosity, which led him to
accumulate great debts in order to help the needy. One of his companions rebuked him
for accumulating these debts, to which he retorted: Do not come between me and my
Lord, for I have only spent this money seeking His pleasure, and He has promised me
that He will pay back these debts before I leave this life. Every year he set aside money
for students of knowledge and visitors and contributed to many charitable projects,
such as the repair of the mosques of Tarm and the construction of drainage channels
to prevent flooding in Aden and several areas of aramawt.
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His Dwn of poetry and the letters are filled with wisdom and guidance. To this day, his
poems are often recited in gatherings of knowledge and remembrance. He counselled
people to have a good opinion of Allah, which he called the greatest treasure and
Allahs greatest name, and to have a good opinion of Allahs slaves. He said: The
one who has a good opinion of someone will not lose out even if his opinion proves
to be wrong; the one who has a bad opinion of someone will not benefit even if his
opinion proves to be correct.
He remained in Aden until his death in 914 (1508), and thus became known as alAdan. He was buried next to the mosque which he established. The sultan of the time
erected a great dome over his grave and built a school next to the mosque, Rib alAydars. The Rib continues to flourish to this day, under the directorship of abb
Ab Bakr al-Adan bin Al al-Mashhr (may Allah preserve him), who has also greatly
revived the annual visit in Rab al-Thn.

the poem

1.

Whoever does not restrain himself from his lowly caprice will taste abasement

2.

If someone lowers himself, his aspiration will be low, even if he is as lofty as

the full moon

3.

Every wound can be treated except, my son, wounds caused by the tongue

4.

Be gentle in all your affairs, for gentleness makes all things beautiful

5.

It is only two things which cause the foolish person all suffering:
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6.

Greed and entering that which does not concern him, so beware, O man!

7.

Be patient and steadfast in all your affairs, for the patient one receives assistance
in the end

8.

Do not go against your time for it will overcome you, but rather walk with it and
time will walk with you

9.

Do not be attached to your homeland; wherever your honour is this is your

place

10. True wealth can all be found in taqw everything other than taqw will perish

11.

Through taqw, my son, you will attain safety in this life and the next

12. Let not you sins cause you to despair and maintain a good opinion of your Lord
at all times

13. Always follow up a bad deed with a good deed and seek His assistance, for He
is the source of assistance

14. Do not desire from Allah something which is unobtainable asking Him for
infallibility is madness

15. As long as you live you are destined to struggle, so let your certainty be stronga
and your heart firm

16. If your certainty in Him is correct then He will protect you, and whatever He
wishes will be

17. If you are someone of certainty the foundation of your taawwuf will be firm
and manifest

18. The secrets of the unseen will become clear in your heart and mere information
will become visible

19. It is inappropriate to say any more after this this is a good place to hold onto
the reins

20. May Allah bestow the most complete and perfect prayers and peace upon the
Prophet.

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p r ay e r at t h e e n d o f t h e r aw h a h
b y h a b i b a h m a d b i n u m a r b i n s u m ay t

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O Lord, benefit us by that which You have taught us

O Lord. teach us that which benefits us
O Lord, give us, our families and our relatives
And the people of the region male and female
Understanding in our religion
O Lord give us and them the enabling grace to do and say
What pleases You out of Your generosity
And give all of us lawful provision always
And give us God-fearing knowledgeable companions
Grace us with goodness and protect us from all evil
Our Lord, rectify all our affairs
And grant us the joy of Your pleasure
And settle all our debts
Before the Angel of Death and his helpers come to us
And forgive and conceal our faults, O Most Generous of Concealers!
And may the blessings of Allah cover the Chosen One
The one who called us to the truth and good faith
With a Book in which there is healing for people
And may His blessings cover his honoured and noble family
And the Companions, the shining torches
O Allah grant us Your guidance
And make us amongst those who hasten to seek Your pleasure
And do not entrust us to a guardian other than You
And do not make us amongst those who disobey Your commands.
Peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his Family and
Companions. All praise is due to Allah Lord of the Worlds.

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p r ay e r at t h e e n d o f t h e r aw h a h
b y h a b i b a b d u l l a h b i n h u s ay n b i n ta h i r

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O Lord, we admit that we have committed sins

And that we have exceeded the bounds
(Such that) we are on the brink of a blazing fire
So turn to us with a repentance
That washes away every wrongdoing
And conceal our faults
And calm our fears
And forgive our parents and our children
And our family, our brothers and all our friends
And all those we love and our neighbours and companions
And all the Muslims
mn! O Lord, hear our petition!
Out of Your grace, Your generosity and Your favour
Not because of our own actions
Through the Messenger, the Chosen One
Bless us with all we ask for
My Lord, bestow peace and blessings upon him
To the number of every grain
And upon his Family and Companions
As much as rain falls from the clouds
And all thanks and praise be to Allah
In the beginning and the end.

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