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AL-NABAHANI'S SOURCES IN JAMI` KARAMAT AL-AWLIYA
In the introduction to his remarkable dictionary of the Muslim Saints titled Jami` Karamat al-Awliya ("Compendium of the Miraculous Gifts of the Friends of Allah") in 2 volumes (Beirut: al-Maktaba al-Thaqafiyya, 1411/1991), the pious Qadi of Beirut, Shaykh Yusuf ibn Isma`il al-Nabahani al-Naqshbandi (d. 1350/1931) said (1:9-11): "I will mention the titles of some of the books from which I quoted material...:
[Dates given are Hijri]
- Mishkat al-Masabih ("The Niche of Lights") by Imam Wali al-Din al-Tibrizi, who composed it in 737.
- Al-Tafsir al-Kabir by Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d. 606).
- Al-I`tibar ("The Book of Reflection") by the Emir Usama ibn Munqidh (d. 584).
- Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya ("Epistle to the Sufis") by Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri (d. 465).
- Misbah al-Zalam fi al-Mustaghithin bi Khayr al-Anam ("The Illumination of Darkness Concerning Those Who Seek Aid by Means of the Prophet Sallallahu `alayhi wa Sallam") by Abu `Abd Allah ibn al-Nu`man al-Marrakishi (d. 683).
- Ruh al-Qudus ("The Spirit of Holiness"), al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya ("The Meccan Disclosures"), Mawaqi` al-Nujum ("The Orbits of the Stars"), and al-Muhadarat ("The Conferences") by the Greatest Shaykh, Sayyidi Muhyi al-Din ibn al-`Arabi (d. 636).
- Rawd al-Rayahin ("The Grove of Sweet Scents") and Nashr al-Mahasin ("The Proclamation of Perfections") by Imam al-Yafi`i (d. 768).
- Tuffah al-Arwah ("The Apple of Spirits") by Kamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Abi al-Hasan `Ali al-Siraj al-Rifa`i al-Qurashi al-Shafi`i who lived in the Eighth Century and was a contemporary of al-Subki and Ibn Taymiyya.
- Sharh al-Hikam al-`Ata'iyya ("Commentary on Ibn `Ata' Allah's Aphorisms") by the Knower Ibn `Abbad (d. 792).
- Tuhfat al-Ahbab ("The Gem of the Loved Ones") by al-Sakhawi who lived in the 9th century (not the hadith master).
- Al-Isharat li Amakin al-Ziyarat fi Dimashq al-Sham ("Places to be Visited in Damascus") by Ibn al-Hurani, 11th c.
- Tuhfat al-Anam fi Fada'il al-Sham ("The Gem of Creatures Concerning the Merits of al-Sham") by Shaykh Jalal al-Din al-Basri al-Dimashqi who composed it in 1002.
- Tabaqat al-Khawass min Ahl al-Yaman (Biography-Layers of the Elite of Yemen by Imam Zayn al-Din Ahmad ibn Ahmad al-Sharji al-Zubaydi (d. 893) the author of the abridged Sahih al-Bukhari [al-Tajrid al-Sarih].
- Al-Uns al-Jalil ("The Sublime Friendship") by Qadi `Abd al-Rahman al-`Alimi al-Hanbali (d. 927).
- Al-Shaqa'iq al-Nu`maniyya ("The Red Anemones") by Tash Kubra (d. 893).
- Sharh Ta'iyya Ibn Habib al-Safadi ("Commentary on Ibn Habib's Poem Written with the Rhyme Tâ'") and Nasamat al-Ashar fi Karamat al-Awliya' al-Akhyar ("The Pre-Dawn Breezes: The Miraculous Gifts of the Friends of Allah") by Sayyidi al-Shaykh `Alwan al-Hamawi (d. 936).
- Qala'id al-Jawahir fi Manaqib al-Shaykh `Abd al-Qadir ("The Necklaces of Diamonds Concerning the Great Merits of Shaykh `Abd al-Qadir") by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Tadhifi al-Hanbali (d. 963).
- Al-Minan al-Kubra ("The Vast Grants", al-Bahr al-Mawrud ("The Sea Where All Go to Drink"), al-Ajwiba al-Murdiyya ("The Satisfying Replies"), and al-Tabaqat al-Kubra ("The Major Biograpihical Layers") by Imam `Abd al-Wahhab al-Sha`rani (d. 973).
- Tabaqat [al-Sufiyya] al-Kubra and al-Shughra ("The Major and Minor Biography-Layers of the Sufis") by Imam al-Munawi (d. 1021).
- Al-Ibriz fi Manaqib Sayyidi `Abd al-`Aziz al-Dabbagh ("The Pure Gold: The Great Merits of My Master `Abd al-`Aziz al-Dabbagh") [by Ahmad ibn al-Mubarak], composed from the year 1129.
- Al-Mashra` al-Rawi fi Manaqib Sadatina Al Ba `Alawi ("The Quenching Watering-Station: The Great Merits of Our Masters of the Ba `Alawi Tribe") by al-Sayyid Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al-Shilli Ba `Alawi (d. 1093).
- Al-Kawakib al-Sa'ira fi A`yan al-Mi'a al-`Ashira ("The Revolving Stars: Eminent Persons of the 10th Century") by Shaykh Muhammad Najm al-Din al-Ghazzi (d. 1061).
- Nafh al-Tib ("The Wafts of Sweet Scents") by al-Shihab Ahmad al-Muqri (d. 1041).
- Khulasat al-Athar fi A`yan al-Qarn al-Hadi `Ashar ("The Epitome of Reports: Eminent Persons of the Eleventh Century") by al-Muhibbi (d. 1111).
- Silk al-Durar fi A`yan al-Qarn al-Thani `Ashar ("The Pearl String: Eminent Persons of the Twelfth Century") by al-Sayyid Muhammad Khalil al-Muradi (d. 1206).
- Tarikh Misr ("History of Egypt") by `Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan al-Jabarti (d. 1237).
- Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya by my Master, the Knower, Shaykh `Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulusi (d. 1144).
- Sharh al-Burda ("Commentary on the Poem of the Mantle") by our teacher, Shaykh Hasan al-`Adawi al-Misri (d. 1303).
- Al-Hada'iq al-Wardiyya fi Haqa'iq Ajilla' al-Naqshbandiyya ("The Fields of Roses Concerning the Spiritual Realities of the Naqshbandi Grandmasters") by Shaykh `Abd al-Majid, the son of our teacher, the erudite scholar and spiritual guide Shaykh Muhammad al-Khani al-Naqshbandi (d. 1317).
Blessings and peace of Allah on our Master Muhammad, his Family, and his Companions 
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[2000-07-17]
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