Biography

Imam Abdullah ibn Alawi al-Haddad (1634–1720 CE / 1044–1132 AH) was a renowned Yemeni scholar, spiritual master, and renewer of Islam (mujaddid) in the 12th Islamic century. Born in Tarim, Hadramawt, into a noble family descending from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he lost his eyesight as a child but went on to become one of the most influential figures in Islamic spirituality. Imam al-Haddad was a master of the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence and a spiritual leader in the Ba ‘Alawi Sufi tradition. He is best known for his works on spiritual refinement and ethics, including The Book of Assistance (Risalat al-Mu’awanah), Lives of Man, and The Path of the Seekers. His teachings emphasize sincerity, remembrance of God (dhikr), spiritual discipline, and living according to the Sunnah. His legacy continues to shape Islamic scholarship and Sufi practice across the Muslim world, especially in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Would you like a timeline or quote from one of his works?