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Muslim Views . October 2016
Shaikh Hazem Abu Ghazaleh, a dear friend of Cape Town DR ESHAAM PALMER
SHAIKH Hazem Abu Ghazaleh, at the age of 84 years, once again visited the shores of Cape Town during August, this year. He often expresses his great love for and his strong connection with the Muslims of this city, and has been visiting annually for the past 21 years. Shaikh Hazem is the spiritual leader of the Qadiri Shadhili Tariqa, which was founded by Shaikh Abul Hasan al-Shadhili. Shaikh Shadhili was born in 1196 in Ghumara, Morocco, and his spiritual guide was Moulay Abd as-Salam Ibn Mashish. The shaikhs of this tariqa had significant influence in North Africa where they produced many literary works. Among these shaikhs were Ibn Ata Allah Iskandari, Ahmad Zarruq and Ahmad ibn Ajiba, while Imam al-Busiri authored the well-known poem, Qasida alBurda. Many of the senior lecturers at al-Azhar University, in Egypt, over the years were ardent followers of the tariqa. The Qadiri Shadhili Tariqa is one of the largest tariqas and its branches are found all over the world, from Cape Town to Rabat, and Washington to Moscow. Shaikh Hazem, who was born on March 3, 1933, in Nablus, Palestine, lives in exile in Amman, Jordan, where he serves as imam and mufti of Jam-e-Yatu Darul Quran Institution. He studied journalism at University of Damascus, in Syria, and thereafter studied Islamic Sciences and graduated in Islamic Law. While studying in Syria,
Muslim Views
Shaikh Hazem was initiated into the Qadiri Shadhili Tariqa by Shaikh al-Hashimi, from whom he received ijaza and, after his demise, Shaikh Hazem continued his studies under the tutelage of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Isa, of Aleppo, from whom he received ijaza. He has also received ijaza from numerous other shaikhs. Shaikh Hazem fasted all year round with the exception of the prohibited days for a period of 50 years.
He is hafidhul Quran and used to complete a full reading of the Quran every second to third day, with large parts of the Quran being recited during tahajjud. He is a direct descendant of the Prophet (SAW) by way of Imam Hussain and follows the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Shaikh Hazem is the 44th Grand Shaikh in the spiritual chain, which commences with the Prophet (SAW) and includes alHasan al-Basri, Abd al-Qadir
Jilani, Abu-Madyan, Muhammad al-Hashimi and Abdul Qadir Isa. Shaikh Hazem has written a number of books on Sufism and knowledge about the divine. Amongst his works translated into English are The Grand Names of the One True God – A Spiritual Taste, which aims at developing the basic spiritual knowledge of Allah. It takes one on a spiritual journey to savour the meanings of the 99 Grand Names of Allah. A further five books are currently being translated. Shaikh Hazem’s book Monotheism – The Way to the True God deals with the creed of a Muslim and the basis and understanding of one’s belief in Allah. He has also compiled a book on the Honourable Litanies of the Qadiri Shadhili order, which aims at maintaining and strengthening the spiritual knowledge of Allah through continually engaging the heart and the tongue in the dhikr of Allah Most High, in the practice of the Prophet (SAW). Sufism is a science within the shariah, like fiqh and tafseer, and not, as is sometimes claimed, a sect in Islam. Sufism is integral to the Quran and Sunnah. It is defined by Zakariyya al-Ansari as a science by which the states of purifying the soul and rectifying one’s character are known, along with filling both the inward and outward to obtain permanent and everlasting contentment. The constant remembrance of Allah is a key element of Sufism, whether it be silent or audible. Allah says in the Quran: ‘And I have not created man or jinn except to worship Me.’ (Surah AlDariyat: 56)
And, in Surah Baqarah, verse 152, we are commanded: ‘Remember Me and I shall remember you.’ Furthermore, one is not restricted in remembering Allah as one can do it standing, sitting or lying on your side, as stated in Surah al-Imran, verse 191. Sufism also encompasses the practice of khalwa (solitary retreat), where you sever your ties with people for a set period of time and leave off worldly preoccupations in order to empty the heart of the never-ending concerns of life, and to relax the mind from its daily distractions while engaging in the remembrance of Allah. The great Sufi scholars describe the path to Allah as follows: l Relinquishing your will/ selfdirection. l Purification of the heart. l Repentance for every sin. l Taking account of oneself is the preparation for dealing with one’s naffs. l Fear of Allah and hope in His mercy. l Truthfulness, sincerity and patience. l Meticulousness in staying away from sin. l Renunciation of unnecessary worldly actions. l Satisfaction with the Will of Allah. l Reliance only on Allah. l Gratitude to Allah for the good and bad that happens to one. l True love for only Allah. Sufism is thus a path to reach the state of ihsan and attain closeness to Almighty Allah. The English version of Shaikh Hazem’s books are available from Dr Goolam Dastagir Hayat on 082 064 2321.