Immediately the man asked the Prophet (SAW), “When is the final hour?” A question the Prophet (SAW) – disliked. It is narrated in a hadeeth that one day the Prophet (SAW) – sat with his companions when a Bedouin came. Ample proof for this is the wide and extensive use made of two central wirds or dhikrs of the Alawiyyah Tariqah, the Ratib al-Haddad (Known as the “Gadat” in the local dialect) and the Ratib al-'Attas, by the Muslims here. The al-Tariqah al-Alawiyyah al-Haddadiyyah, in addition to other major Sufi movements like the Khalwatiyyah and the Qadiriyyah, has impacted profoundly on the local Muslim community here in South Africa. There was also a great revival of Sufism in the Hadramawt under the remarkable guidance and tutelage of Imam 'Abdullah Alawi Haddad whose influence and leadership was acknowledged by the scholars of both Yemen and the Hijaz.

He is considered the primary reviver of Islam among the revivers of Islam in the 12th Islamic Century. The Imam is perhaps the most well known of the Hadrami scholars because of his numerous books and litanies. The Ratib al-Haddad is one of Imam al-Haddad's most widely recited litanies.

It is a tradition for many local Muslims in Cape Town to recite the Ratib al-Haddad, more commonly known as the ' Gadat' on selected evenings or special occasions. Printed in hardback, this commentary is an essential book for any student of knowledge.The influence of Imam 'Abdullah ibn 'Alawi al-Haddad, is quite evident in Cape Town, South Africa. Over 500 pages, this extensive work has meticulously been translated into English, capturing the tremendous benefits and deep insights to a litany that is widely read across the world.

The Imam has carefully selected the words in the supplications, and his selection alludes to his extensive knowledge of Allah. There is a purpose behind the order, sequence, and number. His aim is to inform the people that each invocation in the Ratib has an intentional purpose and it is not a random compilation. Not only does he lay down the foundations, but he expounds on each topic, eventually covering the levels of Islam, Iman and Ihsan. In his extraordinary work, Habib Alawi has laid down the foundations of the religion in light of the Ratib, the famous litany of his grandfather, the Axial Saint, Imam Abdallah bin Alawi al-Haddad. Title: A Commentary of the Ratib of Imam al-Haddad - HardcoverĪuthor: Habib Alawi bin Ahmad bin Hasan bin Abdallah bin Alawi al-Haddad

Ratib al haddad book pdf