Reading The Secret of the Secrets
I invite all to come and join in the journey to Truth and have your hearts opened so to become deeply aware and to clearly understand the Sufi path to God as written in the way that only Sufi Master Al-Jalani does. I look forward to seeing you all and being with your hearts as we walk through this beautifully enlightening book. ~ Sharifah Judith Keith, PhD
Every Monday from 5pm – 6:30 pm, Central Time, starting September 8.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THIS WEEKLY READING ON MONDAY EVENINGS AT 5 PM CDT, STARTING SEPTEMBER 8, 2025. WE WILL READ FOR AN HOUR AND THEN WE WILL DISCUSS AND SHARE FOR NO LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES. This will continue until we finish the book.
About the Book
The Secret of Secrets, considered one of the greatest works of classical Sufi mysticism, as interpreted in English by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al- Jerrahi, was written by ‘Abdal-Qadir al-Jilani (1077-1166), the eponymous founder of the Qadiriya order, the first of the great Sufi brotherhoods which radiate throughout the Islamic world. Born in Iran near Caspian Sea, he was the son of the great saint Fatima bint ‘Abdullah al-Sawma’i. After a period of intense intellectual and mystical training ‘Abd al-Qadir received the Khirqa (robe of initiation) and was soon recognized as a saint and scholar, consulted, loved and revered by caliph and pauper alike. As one of the most venerated figures in Sufism his burial place in Baghdad still attracts numerous visitors from many countries.
The Secret of Secrets reveals in brief pointed descriptions the very essence of Sufism, showing how outward practices such as prayer, fasting and almsgiving contain a wealth of inner dimensions which must be discovered and enjoyed if external actions are to be performed in a manner pleasing to God. When this is achieved the soul finds true peace and the spiritual life becomes complete. This book speaks with the clarity of truth that penetrates the heart concerning many secret aspects of the Secret in Sufism (please see the Contents Page). For example, a snippet of what Sufi Master Al-Jalani writes about Remembrance is:
“Remembrance pronounced in words is but a declaration that the heart has not forgotten Allah. The inward silent remembrance is a movement of the emotions. The remembrance of the heart is through feeling in oneself the manifestation of Allah’s might and beauty, while remembrance of the soul is through the enlightenment of the Divine Light generated by Allah’s might and beauty. The remembrance of the level of the secret realm is through ecstasy received from beholding the divine secrets. The remembrance of the hidden realm brings one to: the place of truth in the presence of a Sovereign Omnipotent (Surah Qamar, 55). The remembrance at the final level that is called khafi al-akhfa’ – ‘the most hidden of the hidden’ –brings one to a state of annihilation of the self and unification with the truth.’ – pp. 45-46
It is said that unless one has discovered the Secret, one may not be able toabsorb the impact of the spiritual mystical Openings found on the Sufi Path.
About Sharifah Keith
Sharifah Keith, PhD, MDiv, CRNA lives in Atlanta, GA. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Ministry and Sufi Studies and a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Peacemaking. Additionally, she has studied with Dr. Ibrahim Jaffe and completed his Master Healer’s Apprenticeship Program in 2016. Sharifah serves as a Murrabai in the Shadhiliyya Sufi Community. She taught Sufism and Sufi Interpersonal Communication in the Institute of Spiritual Healing and assisted Dr. Jaffe in teaching Advanced Spiritual Healing in the University of Sufism. Sharifah recently returned from a 40-day Zawiyah in Vienna with Murshida Dr. Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi. Dr. Keith provides spiritual teaching and mentoring for those who want to perfect their character and deepen their knowledge, understanding, and walking to our Creator and Lord Allah with help from Prophet Muhammad (saws) through difficulties whether physical, financial, interpersonal, or personal.
The Secret of Secrets
C O N T E N T S
Foreword
Translator’s introduction to Shaykh ‘Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jalani
Address to the reader
Introduction
Chapter 1. Man’s Return Home to the Original Source
Chapter 2. The Descent of Man to the Lowest of the Low
Chapter 3. The Places of the Souls Within the Body
Chapter 4. On Knowledge
Chapter 5. On Repentance and On Teaching by the Word
Chapter 6. On Islamic Mysticism and the Sufis
Chapter 7. On Remembrance
Chapter 8. The Necessary Conditions for Remembrance
Chapter 9. On the Vision of God: Arriving at the Level of Seeing the Divine Essence
Chapter 10. The Veils of Light and Darkness
Chapter 11. The Joy of Being Good and the Misery of the Rebel
Chapter 12. The Dervishes
Chapter 13. On the Purification of the Self
Chapter 14. On the Meaning of Ritual Worship and Inner Worship
Chapter 15. On the Purification of the Perfect Man, Who has Isolated Himself from, and Stripped Himself of All Worldly Concerns
Chapter 16. On Charity
Chapter 17. On Fasting Prescribed by the Religion and on Spiritual Fasting
Chapter 18. On the Pilgrimage to Mecca and the Inner Pilgrimage to the Essence of the Heart
Chapter 19 . On Witnessing Divine Truth through the State of Peace Coming from Abandonment of the Worldly and through Ecstasy
Chapter 20. On Withdrawing from the World into Seclusion and On Solitude
Chapter 21. Prayers and Recitations Pertaining to the Path of Seclusion
Chapter 22. On Dreams
Chapter 23. On the Followers of the Mystical Path
Chapter 24. Afterword
Event Details
When: 5:00 pm-6:30 pm Central Time every Monday starting September 8th.
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: FREE, heart-centered donations appreciated.
How to Join: Please fill in the form on this page so that we know who is attending our events.
For more information: Contact administration@suficentermn.org.