'Pearls from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddād: Book Two' with Ayman Muhammed

ImamʿAbdullāh binʿAlawī al-Ḥaddad is widely accepted as the Mujaddid (Renewer) of the 12th Islamic century and the Quṭb (Spiritual Pole) of his age. His works are a means to call people to Allah and are read and studied worldwide, particularly in Tarim where his poetry is recited daily. Imam al-Ḥaddad’s influence has spread across all corners of the globe and since the last century, his works have reached the English speaking world. Some of the Imam’s poetry has become well known, such as Qad Kafānī and Yā ʿĀlima’s-Sirri Minnā. 

At 150 poems, Imam al-Ḥaddad’s own collection of poetry, his Diwān, is rich in size and meaning, being heavily inspired by the works of Imam al-Ghazālī. Through this new publication, English speakers are introduced to the richness of his Diwān and the knowledge and beauty contained within it. The compilation touches upon themes such as love of Allah and His Prophet ﷺ, taqwa (God-consciousness) and wara (scrupulousness). The Imam also extensively speaks about the love he has for the pious predecessors, lamenting over their passing. He himself said of his Diwān that, “The one who has the Diwān needs no other book.”

The Book

Following the launch of the first book in the series in 2023, Book Two of Breezes of the Elect presents a selection of 47 stunning poems from the Diwān of Imam al-Ḥaddad, translated into clear English by Shaykh Tahir Anwar and Shaykh Amin Buxton, complete with the transliteration and extensive end notes. As most of these poems have not been translated into English before, this compilation allows access into the immense poetry of Imam al-Ḥaddād, giving us a glimpse into the heart and soul of the Imam himself. The Imam himself said of his Diwān that, “The one who has the Diwān needs no other book.”

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Ayman Muhammed is best described as a creative across multiple disciplines, ranging from photography, graphic design, and poetry. He was part of the critically acclaimed hip hop duo ‘The Planets’, who broke barriers by working with a number of high‑profile American artists. Gradually, Ayman turned his attention to the world of qasā’id and discovered Habib ‘Umar bin Hafiz’s ‘Shimmering Light’ mawlid over 15 years ago. He now writes poetry which takes inspiration from this rich tradition. His time in 2019 in Morocco and Tarim studying Arabic opened his eyes to a new variety of traditional devotional poetry and the centrality of these poems to the spiritual life of a Muslim.