The book Bahjatul Asrar (Splendour of the Mysteries), authored by Imam Abul Hasan Ali al-Shattanawfi (d. 713 AH / 1314 CE), is widely recognized as the first major comprehensive biography of the Sufi saint Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani. While an English PDF of the full text is not readily available through standard digital repositories, several resources provide translated excerpts, summaries, and digital versions in other languages. Core Content and Significance
Historical Impact: It serves as a foundational source for later biographies of the Shaykh, detailing his life, character, miracles (karamat), and spiritual lineage.
Narratives: The text includes famous accounts of the Shaykh's childhood honesty, his confrontation with tyrannical rulers (e.g., Caliph Mustanjid Billah), and his renowned statement: "My foot is on the neck of every saint of Allah".
Scholarship: While popular in many Sufi circles, some scholars, such as Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and Imam al-Dhahabi, have criticized certain narrations and chains of transmission within the work as unreliable. Availability and Formats Bahjatul Asrar History of Ghausul Azam - Amazon.in
Book details * Print length. 656 pages. * Publisher. HAFIZ-E-MILLAT PUBLICATION. * Publication date. 13 November 2024. Bahjatul Asrar History of Ghausul Azam - Amazon.in bahjatul asrar english pdf
Several attempts have been made to translate Bahjatul Asrar. The most reliable partial translation was undertaken by Muhtar Holland (a prolific translator of Sufi texts), often published under the title The Aphorisms of Ibn Ata'illah: The Hikam with a Commentary by Mulla Ali al-Qari.
However, a complete, fully edited, and publisher-backed PDF that is legally free is rare. Many websites claiming to offer a "free bahjatul asrar english pdf" are often:
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Al-Qari distinguishes between lazy trust ("God will feed me, so I won't work") and true reliance (working with your hands while knowing the heart depends only on Allah). He quotes Quran 65:3: "And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him." The book Bahjatul Asrar (Splendour of the Mysteries),
A: Al-Ghazali’s Ihya is an encyclopedia of Islamic spirituality (4 volumes). Bahjatul Asrar is a concise, laser-focused manual on the heart’s secrets. Think of Ihya as a university degree and Bahjatul Asrar as a crash course for the busy believer.
Tools like LingQ or Google Lens (on mobile) can scan the Arabic text and translate phrases. This is slow, but for key paragraphs, it is effective.
If you find a Bahjatul Asrar English PDF, here are the major topics you will encounter:
1. The Reality of the Soul (Nafs) Al-Sha‘rani provides a detailed dissection of the seven levels of the self: from the commanding self (ammarah) that incites evil, to the peaceful self (mutma’innah) that finds rest in God. He offers practical exercises to identify which level dominates your heart. Incomplete (only the first 20 aphorisms)
2. The Purification of the Heart (Tazkiyah) The book is essentially a commentary on the verse: "He has succeeded who purifies it" (Qur’an 91:9). It lists spiritual diseases such as envy (hasad), arrogance (kibr), and love of fame, alongside potent spiritual medicines derived from the Qur’an.
3. The Relationship between Shariah and Haqiqah A common misconception is that Sufism bypasses Islamic law. Al-Sha‘rani demolishes this idea. He argues that Haqiqah (Ultimate Truth) is merely the inner dimension of Shariah (Divine Law). You cannot have one without the other. This makes Bahjatul Asrar a vital text for orthodox Sunni Sufism.
4. The Etiquette (Adab) of the Spiritual Guide For those seeking a living teacher, the book outlines the rights of the Shaykh and the responsibilities of the Murid (disciple). It warns against fake spiritual guides and provides criteria for identifying a true heir of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
5. Explaining Key Sufi Terms Al-Sha‘rani defines dozens of crucial terms often misunderstood by outsiders, including Dhikr (remembrance), Fana (annihilation of the ego), and Baqa (subsistence in God).