Ba’ Alawī Qasidah | Remain at your Lord’s Door | إلزم باب ربك | Imam al-Haddad (Fully Translated)

A recitation of a Qasīdah written by Imam ʿAbdullah al-Haddad. Habīb ‘Umar bin Hafidh is also present in this gathering. This Qasida is recited before the Rawha lessons during the Dowrah. The Dowrah is a 40 day series of classes that occurs every year. In the Dowrah, the esteemed scholars of Tarīm, Yemen, give lessons in Dar al-Mustafa, the main establishment of Islamic knowledge in Yemen. The centre-piece of the Dowra is the Rawha. The word "Rawha" linguistically is applied to an excursion at any time from midday until nightfall, as in the narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim:

"An excursion in the morning (ghadwah) or an excursion in the latter part of the day (rawha) in the path of Allah is better than this world and everything it contains."

The word also has a connection to the Rūh, the soul. The scholars of Hadramawt traditionally used the name rawhah for the lessons they would give after Asr in which they would focus upon teaching the sciences of the heart and reading the books of the Imams of Tasawwuf. Imam al-Haddad says in his Adab Suluk al-Murid (translated as "Good Manners"):

"The time following the "Asr prayer, if kept alive, has a powerful affect in attracting provision for the heart."

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Imam ʿAbdullah ibn Alawī al-Haddad was born in Tarim, Yemen, in 1634. He lived his whole life in Tarim and passed away there. When he was a child, Imam Haddad was afflicted with smallpox, taking away his vision. Despite this, he memorised the Qur’an and was trained as a scholar from a young age.

His foremost teacher was Habīb ʿUmar al-Attas, although he studied with many of the Ulama of Hadramaut. From a young age, Imam Haddad chose the ascetic path and would recite a quarter of a Juz in the mountains of Tarim. The Imam would often recite Surah Ya-Sīn and would weep often, reciting it. His spiritual opening was from Surah Ya-Sīn. When he was 17, the Imam went into Khalwa (seclusion). He also was married in the same year. Every night, he would pray 700 Ra’kahs.

When Imam Haddad was 25, Hadramaut was captured by the Qasimi Zaydis from Upper Yemen. They would get their freedom when Imam Haddad was 81. Imam Haddad passed away in 1720 at the age of 86. He was buried in Zanbal Cemetery near his master, Habib ʿUmar. They say the area between these two saints’ tombs is an area where Duas are accepted.

Al-Fatiha

The Dowrah has a YouTube channel, where they post the lessons with an English translation:

   / @tarimdowra