Overview

This is a work on tasawwuf concerning what is termed martabat tujuh (seven degrees of existence) in Malay and addresses tajalli (theophany). It also includes a glossary of Sufi technical terms which is, perhaps, the first of its kind to be rendered into the Malay language. This book is Shaykh Daud al-Fatani’s most popular and well-known Sufi work.

Authorship

The date of completion is unknown, but the earliest known manuscript was copied 28 Rajab 1246 AH [12 Jan 1831]. Furthermore, it fits well within the intellectual trends of Shaykh Daud al-Fatani in the late 1820s, probably written after his translation of al-Ghazali’s Minhaj al-‘Abidin in 1825.

Manuscripts

This was one of the more popular texts in the Patani knowledge network from the 1830s to the 1910s, though it was curiously never printed in the early publishing centers of the Middle East or Southeast Asia. It was commonly included in compilations, but only rarely with Shaykh Daud al-Fatani’s other works, such as Bughyat al-Tullab li-Murid Ma’rifat al-Ahkam bi-l-Sawab or Kashf al-Ghummah fi Ahwal al-Mawta fi al-Barzakh wa al-Qiyamah, and more commonly with works by other scholars in the network.

36 known manuscript copies

Manuscripts with dated colophons (8):

1. 1831, Jan 12. Copied by Haji Mahmud b. Muhammad Yusuf, “hari Khamis, 28 Rajab 1246 AH.” PNM 2270A: 14 ff. Bound together with PNM 2270B: Durr al-Fara‘id bi Sharh al-Aqa‘id and PNM 2270C: [Tafsir ulama mengenai Syair Sidang Faqir karya Hamzah Fansuri].
2. 1852, Dec 20. Copied by Encik ‘Abd al-Karim b. Encik ‘Abd Allah Fatani, “hari Ahad, 8 Rabi al-awwal 1269 AH, in Mecca. PNM 547A: 14 ff., double red frame. Bound together with PNM 547B: Ma’al Hayatiyi.
3. 1872, Jun/Jul. Copied “petang Juma’, bulan Rabi al-akhir, 1289 AH. PNM 188B: 10 ff., incomplete. Bound together with PNM 188B: [Tibyan al-ma‘rifah tahqiq martabat al-uluhiyah wa al-kananiyah].
4. 1875/6. Copied 1292 AH. PNM 147A: 14 ff. Bound together with Tibyan al-Ma‘rifah fi Tahqiq Martabat al-Uluhiyya wa al-Kananiyya.
5. 1878. Copied “hari Juma’ 1295 AH,” in Mecca. PNM 232: 10 ff., double rose frame.
   
6. 1894, Jan 20. Copied by ‘Abd al-Qadir Fatani [Tok Bendang Daya Muda], “hari Khamis, 13 Rajab 1311 AH.” IAM 17: 23 pp.
7. 1897/8. Copied by Muhammad Salih b. Muhammad Amin, 1315 AH. IAM 697: 61 pp., incomplete. Once owned by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Shaykh Imam ‘Abd al-Mubin berasal dari Pauh Bok Bunga, Patani.
8. 1912, Aug 3. Copied “hari Ahad, 19 Sha’aban 1330 AH. IAM 603: 23 pp., incomplete.

Manuscripts with undated or partially-dated colophons (7):

1. [Copied by ‘Abd Ra’uf b. al-Usuri]. IAM 144A: 33 pp. Bound together with IAM 144B: Hal al-Zill.
2. Copied by Wan ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Wan ‘Abd al-Ghafur al-Fatani in Mecca. PNM 622: 7 ff.., double violet frame. Probably completed prior to 1291 AH/1874 CE.
   
3. Copied by Muhammad Rashid b. al-marhum Tuan Khatib Sulayman Jabi, “hari Rabu,” in Mecca. PNM 649A: 13 ff., double lavender/dull violet frame. Bound together with PNM 649B: Tibyan al-Ma‘rifah fi Tahqiq Martabat al-Uluhiyya wa al-Kananiyya.
4. Copied by ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Abd al-Mubin, “hari Selasa,” in Patani. PNM 693: 16 ff., double red frame.
5. Copied by Wan ‘Abd al-Malik al-Fatani in Jerim Cha’aq. PNM 1088: 11 ff., incomplete.
6. Copied by ‘Abd al-Qadir b. Mustafa al-Fatani al-Jambon, in Mecca. PNM 1495A: 11 ff. Bound together with PNM 1495B: [Kitab sifat dua puluh] and PNM 1495C: Kaifiyya Membaca Selawat akan Nabi Muhammad.
7. Copied by Haji ‘Abd al-Latif b. al-marhum Hassan Karwil, in Mecca. PNM 2734: 13 ff., double red frame.

Manuscripts without colophons (21):

1. IAM 48: 23 pp.
2. IAM 128B: 18 pp., incomplete. Bound together with IAM 128A: [Bughyat al-Tullab] and IAM 128C: [an untitled work written by ‘Abd al-Qadir b. ‘Abd al-Rahim Terengganu, 8 Rabi al-awwal 1234 AH, copied by Abu Bakr b. al-Marhum Jamal, orang Jerin, Pauh Manis, 9 Rabi al-awwal 1301 AH].
3. IAM 137B: 22 pp., incomplete. Bound together with IAM137A: [Kitabbahasa] and IAM 137C: Kitab fiqh.
4. IAM 145C: 9 pp., incomplete. Bound together with IAM145A: Kashf al-Ghummah fi Ahwal al-Mawta fi al-Barzakh wa al-Qiyamah and IAM 145B: [Kitab fiqh].
5. IAM 262: 9 pp., incomplete.
6. IAM 354: 24 pp., incomplete.
7. IAM 414: 33 pp, incomplete.
8. IAM 429A: 15 pp., incomplete. Bound together with IAM 429B: [kitab bahasa].
9. IAM 448: 35 pp., incomplete.
10. IAM 467: 21 pp., incomplete.
11. IAM 504: 19 pp., incomplete. Once owned by Ahmad b. al-Hajj Aydrus and Ahmad Zayn al-‘Abidin.
12. IAM 669: 13 pp., incomplete.
13. PNM 205: 11 ff., incomplete.
14. PNM 460: 37 ff.
15. PNM 519: 35 ff.
16. PNM 629(2): 6 ff., incomplete.
17. PNM 1333: 15 ff.
18. PNM 1386: 12 ff., incomplete.
19. PNM 2010: 30 ff.
20. PNM 2569: 18 ff.
21. PNM 2615(1): 11 ff., incomplete.

Published Editions

Never printed in the early publishing centers of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but appeared in the post-World War II period.

1. 1953/4. Kota Bharu: Pustaka Aman Press, 1373 AH.
2. Undated. Bangkok: Maktabah Muhammad al-Nahdi.
3. 1992. Kuala Lumpur: Khazanah Fathaniyah, 221 pp. Holding: PNM, UKM.
4. 2001. Kuala Lumpur: Khazanah Fathaniyah, 30 pp. Holding: UKM.
5. 2006. Bangi: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, ed. Faudzinaim Hj. Badaruddin.