Spiritual Path, Spiritual Reality

A prominent mystic and renowned anti-colonial warrior from Indonesia, Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar (1626-1699), was exiled to South Africa where he played a pioneering role in laying the foundations of Islam. Offering a rich translation of Shaykh Yusuf's Arabic writings, Spiritual Path, Spiritual Reality fills an important gap on the works devoted to the spiritual dimension in the Muslim intellectual archive. The introduction gives insight into his life and an understanding of how his mysticism was connected to his political engagement. Focusing on Islamic mysticism - known as -ufism - the volume covers areas of spiritual discipline of the self, metaphysics and gnostic knowledge. The style is pedagogical with an instructive tone in keeping with the -ufi path.

Yousuf Dadoo, Emeritus Professor at the University of South Africa (UNISA), has taught and headed Arabic and Islamic Studies at UNISA for 29 years. He has authored and co-authored more than 50 publications and supervised more than 30 masters and doctoral students. Auwais Rafudeen is Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Arabic at UNISA where he specialises in Arabic and Islamic Studies. He has published on various aspects of Islam in South Africa.

1. Introduction: The worldview of Shaykh Yusuf Translations 2. Providential gift: A breeze from Ceylon (Al Nafh-at al--aylaniyyah fi l-Min-at al- Rah-maniyyah) 3. The essence of secrets (Zubdat al-Asrar) 4. Consolation for the eyes (Qurrat al-'Ayn) 5. Conditions of the verified gnostic (Shuru- al-'Arif al-Mu-aqqiq) 6. The crown of secrets regarding gnostic realisation (Taj al-Asrar fi täqiq Masharib al-'Arifin) 7. A gift regarding the virtues of remembrance (Tu-fat al-Amr fi Fäilat al- Dhikr) 8. The goals of the spiritual wayfarers (Mäalib al-Salikin) 9. The secret of secrets (Sirr al-Asrar) 10. The gift of goodness to the people of innermost secrets (Tu-fat al-Abrar li Ahl al-Asrar) 11. The method of remembering God (Kayfiyyat al-Dhikr) 12. A saving bequest (Wäiyyah Munjiyyah) 13. The sequence of remembering God (Tartib al-Dhikr) 14. The essential, indispensable existence (Wajib al-Wujud) 15. The specification of remembering God (Ikhti-ä al-Dhikr) 16. The meaning of existence (Ma'na al-Wujud) 17. The meaning of the phrase "There is no god but God" (Ma'na Qaul La ilaha illa llah) 18. Twenty attributes (Ishrin S-ifah) 19. The reality of the soul (H-aqiqat al-Ruh-) 20. The permanent archetypes (Al 'Ayan al-Thabitah) Transcription of the Arabic originals