"The only book you need for the fullest knowledge of tassawuf" - Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Habib al-Amghari al-Idrissi al-Hasani

Bismillah.

The Basic Research by Shaykh Ahmad ibn 'Ajiba, according to the much venerated Shaykh Abdalqadir as-Sufi, was one of three great books he received from his blessed shaykh - Sayyidi Muhammad ibn al-Habib al-Amghari al-Idrissi al-Hassani. 

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, tonight I found this precious book which I regard as an imaginary bridge on which to cross slowly before bi-iznillah meeting the honorable Shaykh Abdalqadir as-Sufi, in Cape Town, one glorious day, InshaAllah. We implore upon Allah Al Mujib to grant this wish. Ameen.

The Basic Research is a commentary by Shaykh Ahmad ibn 'Ajiba on the poem of Ibn al-Banna of Saragossa. The book is published by  Madinah Press.

Shy and reluctant to quote from the book, but for these few lines, I hope I will be forgiven.

Shaykh Ibn 'Ajiba on commenting the lines written by Ibn al-Banna where the latter said 'I begin matters with the name of Allah because He is their purpose and He is the beginning."

Ibn 'Ajiba thus wrote [and we humbly quote hoping that it would increase our certainty]:

"There is no doubt that the one who seeks help from Allah is helped in all matters. He who does not seek His help in all his affairs is disappointed. May Allah increase the one who said, If Allah does not help you in what you seek, there is no way a created being can help you. If He does not guide you in every way, you will stray, even if Arcturus is your guiding star."

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Note: Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere.

A worthy book to carry around