Awarif Al Ma'arif | Discerners of Cognition | Volume II Book 11

Shaikh Shahabuddin Umar Suharwardi (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)

The book ‘Discerners of Cognition’ (عوارف المعارف) was written by Shaikh Shahabuddin Umar Suharwardi (رحمتہ اللہ علیه) (1234 – 1145 CE) who was a Sufi Shaikh and scholar of Hadith, Quran and Fiqh from Baghdad. Shaikh has organized the text in the book thematically with sections and in each section, he gives relevant information about important issues covered in that section. Shaikh emphasizes that one must adhere to strict internal and external discipline. He explains that the application of reason (عقل) to tasawwuf is as important as obeying the law of Sharia. Shaikh says that one needs to structure one's life in its entirety based on piety. The book achieved great popularity in Shaikh’s lifetime and has retained its high reputation ever since. One of the reasons for its success must be its effort to reconcile the practice of tasawwuf with adherences commanded by Islamic sharia. The book consists of 63 Chapters. It has been divided into 3 volumes consisting of 16 books for ease of its readers.