For 20 years, Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak al-Jerrahi was the Sheikh of the Halveti-Jerrahi Order of Dervishes, a Sufi order with many circles in Turkey and America. He passed into the eternal realm in 1985. In the foreward to this book, Sixtina Friedrich, the Masjid al-Farah, comments: "Sheikh Muzaffer had made sure that he had delivered the trust bestowed on him by God, the declaration of God's Oneness, la ilaha illallah (There is no god but God). As a spiritual teacher he deposited the most precious treasure in the hearts of the members of his spiritual family."
This paperback contains essays by Sheikh Muzaffer translated from Turkish by Muhtar Holland. The first is a mystical catechism presenting an overview of Sufi understandings of divine creation, human destiny, outer cleanliness and inner purity, the role of the spiritual guide, love and affection, divine remembrance, and more.
Sheikh Muzaffer at one point emphasizes the essential interplay between faith, worship, and moral character. All three are underlined by one common denominator. "Sincerity is often a prerequisite for worship and sincerity constitutes the greater part of moral virtue." Especially impressive is the Sufi scenario of "The Four Gates and the Forty Stages on the Way to Truth." Each gate is associated with certain conditions. For example, the fourth gate, "The Gate of Marifa" includes the spiritual practices of self-knowledge, solitude, modesty, generosity, and hospitality.
The second essay here covers holy sites and how to conduct oneself when visiting the tombs of saints. He talks about the charisma of these holy beings who are "Friends of Allah." Best of all, Sheikh Muzaffer presents the adab or spiritual etiquette to be used when visiting these sacred places.