The Falcon of Allah - Understanding Spiritual Islam through the life and teachings of the great master Abdel-Qâdir-al-Jilânî, by Didier Hamoneau El-Hajj Alioune M'Backé

This book is both a biography of the great spiritual master Abdel-Qâdir al-Jilâni (m.561H. / 1166 AD.), a presentation of his teachings, as well as a reflection on the place of Sufism (spiritual Islam) in Muslim societies over time. Indeed, the historical contribution of Sheikh al-Jilâni literally saved Muslim spirituality at a time when it was inexorably declining, despite the irreplaceable work of Imam al-Ghazäli (d.1111) who had not yet taken all its place.

After Imam al-Junayd, initiator of the spiritual paths, Imam al-Jilâni was the one who structured these paths, gave them a method of initiation, spiritual exercises, steps to follow... And a whole corpus of reading and adhkars. His high piety, his legendary sincerity, his infused knowledge, earned him the nickname of his peers rightly: "Sultana al awliya" (the Sultan of the Saints). He is one of the rare Masters whose holiness has been unanimous among Muslim scholars. As for his other nickname of Bâzullah al-achhab (the Gray Falcon of Allah) it comes to him from his famous and prodigious affair with his mother.

His teachings are of great depth, we feel a great surge of sincerity, that of a pure heart (salîm) and thus his sermons find a simple and easy access to all pure and repentant hearts until today.