Author's Introduction

مقدمہ

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

الحمد لله الذي علَّم الإنسانَ ما لم يعلم، والصلاة والسلام على خير خلقه محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه وسلَّم

Praise be to Allah Who taught man what he knew not, and blessings and peace be upon the best of His creation, Muhammad, and upon his family and companions, with salutations.

The poor servant (this faqir), Muhammad Rafi' al-Din ibn Muhammad Shams al-Din ibn Muhammad Taj al-Din — may Allah forgive them all — says: This treatise concerns some of the essential spiritual practices (ashghal) and deeds of the exalted Qadiri order. It comprises a Muqaddimah (introduction), three Abwab (chapters), and a Khatimah (conclusion).

The Muqaddimah is on the essentials of bay'ah (the covenant of initiation). The first chapter (Bab Awwal) concerns the branches (furu') of the exalted order — that is, the lighter or more moderate dhikr practices. The second chapter (Bab Dawum) is about the principles of spiritual wayfaring (suluk) of the exalted order. The third chapter (Bab Soem) concerns the deeds and silsilah (chains of transmission) imparted to the mashaykh of this order who are called to the divine summons. The Khatimah (conclusion) discusses some benefits and summary points of the suluk of the order.

I have named it 'Thamarat al-Makkiyyah' (The Meccan Fruits) because: on a Friday night in Mecca al-Mukarramah, while I was at Hijr Isma'il in a blessed state between full wakefulness and gentle sleep, I witnessed the noble wall of the Ka'ba — and from it a radiant book appeared. It was presented by the great ones and chosen servants of the Ever-Living Almighty toward the Lord of all creation, blessings and peace. I received both the book and the garland (qiladah) in joy. Therefore, I named this work Thamarat al-Makkiyyah.

(A note states: in another account, it is mentioned that he saw certain glad tidings in a vision during a Friday in Medina as well.)