Ratib -al- Haddad and The Author

Ratib inscription inside the dome - Haddad Mosque,Tarim- Yemen

The author of the Ratib al-Haddadal-Sayyid Abdullah bin Alawi al-Haddad  was the 30th generation decendant of the Prophet S.A.W. He was born on 5 Safar 1044 H, in the outskirts of town called Tarim Subair.  He was a tall, barrel-chested, white and authoritative-looking. His speech reflects a beauty to one’s ear, filled with pearls of knowledge and valuable advice.

Al-Haddad was already well-known in Islamic societies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Pakistan and other Islamic countries in the Middle East. He was known for his writings, wirid and dzikr which were complied about four centuries ago, and still being practiced by the Islamic community at large.

When Habib Abdullah was 4-year-old, he was stricken with smallpox that was so severe which resulted to blind of his both eyes. But he managed to memorised the al-Qur’an and master the science of religion when he was still a child. Apparently Allah wanted to replace his outer sight with the inner sight.

He did not like fame nor glory, and do not like to be praised. He said, “Many people make poetry to compliment me, actually I wanted to prevent them, but I’m afraid that I might not be sincere in doing so, so I just ignore. In this case I prefer to imitate the Messenger of Allah, because he did not prohibits his companions when they read poems of praise to him.”

Aside of his religious activities and preaching, he also owns and maintains a plantation and chickens, and from earnings of the plantation and the chickens he used it to help the poor, orphans, widows, student of knowledge, and people who cant afford. Habib Abdullah also learn about agricultural science, and he often even sat with the farmers to teach agricultural sciences.

Ratib al-Haddad. Click Here to See the Ratib with English Translation

This ratib he compiled on one of the night in the month of Ramadan in 1071H to meet the demands of one of his student whose name was `Amir from the family of Banu Sa’ad that live in the city of Shibam (one of the city in the province of Hadhramaut). The purpose of `Amir was that they can defend and save themselves from the heresy teachings. After al-Habib Abdullah bin Alawi al-Haddad left for pilgrimage, ratib al-Haddad began to be read in Mecca and Medina. Al-Habib Ahmad bin Zain al-Habshi said, “Anyone who read ratib al-Haddad with conviction and sincerity, He will get something out of his expectation.”

Finally on Tuesday evening, 7 Dzulqa’dah 1132H, he returned to the Almighty, leaving many students, his works and his fragrance name in this world. And within the city, he was buried in Zanbal cemetery. May Allah SWT uplift his position to the high noble status and gives us lots of benefits from his knowledge.