Nazim Al-Haqqani

Mauláná Shaykh Muḥammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani
Born	Mehmet Nazım 'Adil (1922-04-21)April 21, 1922 Larnaca, British Cyprus
Died	May 7, 2014(2014-05-07) (aged 92) North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus
Occupation	Former leader of the Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order
Website	saltanat.org

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Mehmet Nazım 'Adil (April 21, 1922 – May 7, 2014; Sha'ban 23, 1340 AH – Rajab 8, 1435 AH), commonly known as Shaykh Nazım (Turkish: Şeyh Nazım), was a Turkish Cypriot Sufi Muslim sheikh and spiritual leader of the Naqshbandí-'Aliyyah tariqa, a Sufi order.

Names[]

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Nazım was active both in Turkish and Arabic language contexts. His name was therefore transliterated into English in various ways: Nazım Qibrisi (Turkish: Nazım Kıbrısi), indicating his homeland of Cyprus (Turkish: Kıbrıs), and Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Qubrusi al-Haqqani an-Naqshbandi (Arabic: محمد ناظم عادل القبرصي الحقاني النقشبندي‎). His name al-Haqqani is an honorific name granted by his Sufi teacher Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani. He has no connection with the Islamic insurgent group known as the Haqqani network.

Early life[]

Shaykh Nazım was born Mehmet Nazım 'Adil on April 21, 1922 and traced his lineage back to Imam Abdul Qadir Gilani through his paternal Grandfather Shaykh Yesilbas Hussayn al-Qadiri and Mauláná Rumi through his maternal grandfather Shaykh Kaytazzade Mehmet Nazım who he was named after.

During his studies he moved to Istanbul, Turkey, in 1940 to study chemical engineering at Istanbul University. He would later state: "I felt no attraction to modern science; my heart was always drawn to the spiritual sciences."^[1]

Studies in Sharia' and Sufism[]

In Turkey[]

In Istanbul, Nazım studied Classical Arabic and Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) under Jamal al-Din al-Alsuni (d. 1955 CE/1375 AH) and received an ijaza (permission to teach) in these subjects from him. He was initiated in Naqshbandi Sufism by Sulayman Arzarumi (d. 1948 CE/1368 AH), who eventually directed him to Damascus, Syria, to continue his studies with his destined sheikh. He left Istanbul and arrived in Syria in 1944.^[1]

In Syria[]

In Syria, Nazım continued his sharia studies in Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.^{[citation needed]} In Homs, he studied at the madrasa adjoining the burial shrine and mosque of Muhammad's companion, Khalid ibn al-Walid.^{[citation needed]} There, he received further ijazas in Hanafi jurisprudence (fiqh) from Muhammad 'Ali' Ayoun al-Soud and Abdul Jalil Murad.^{[citation needed]}

Following the end of the unrest in the region due to World War II, Nazım was able to enter Damascus in 1945. There, he met Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani, and they exchanged the Sufi oath of mutual allegiance (bay'ah). He trained him well in Naqshbandi Sufi path. Nazım would consider Abdullah as his primary spiritual director (murshid) until the latter's death in 1973.^[1]

Islamic Missionary Activity[]

Nazım returned to Cyprus and began Islamic missionary activity.^{[citation needed]} Whilst there, he came into conflict with the Kemalist governing body of the Turkish community of the island, which in accordance with Kemalist ideology was actively striving to de-Islamize the society. The government had enacted laws forbidding the public performance of the Islamic call to prayer (adhan) in its traditional Arabic form. Regardless, Nazım continued to do so. The conflict was resolved with the coming to power of Adnan Menderes in Turkey, whose government chose a more tolerant approach to Islamic traditions.^[1]

Nazım took up residence in Damascus in 1952 to continue his studies with Abdullah, though he continued to spend three months or more each year in his native Cyprus.^[1]

International mission[]

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Shaykh Nazım (far right) in prayer with Shaykh Kabbani (left) at an Islamic conference in 1996.

Following the death of Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani in 1973, Nazım was made his spiritual successor.^{[citation needed]} In 1974, he began to visit Western Europe, traveling every year to London, England, for the month of Ramadan. He gained a large following of spiritual seekers from Western Europe and North America, many of whom converted to Islam after encountering his teaching.^[2] From 1980, his lectures on Islam and Sufism were published in English and other European languages.^[2]

Nazım's transnational appeal was facilitated by his ability to speak English, Turkish, Arabic, and Greek.^[2]

In 1991, Nazım visited the United States for the first time at the invitation of his son-in-law and representative Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani. At that time, he made the first of four nationwide tours.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, Nazım visited Dagestan, the childhood home of his primary Sufi sheikh, Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani. He also made several visits to Uzbekistan where he made pilgrimage to the tomb of the eponymous founder of the Naqshbandi Order, Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari.^[1]

In 1998, Nazım was the guest of honor at the Second International Islamic Unity Conference, held in Washington, D.C. Later in the same year, he traveled to South Africa, visiting Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.^{[citation needed]}

Notable followers[]

Among his students are:

• John G. Bennett.^[3][4][5]
• Rank Nazeer Ahmed.^[6]

Political opinions[]

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Nazım was involved in politics. He had close ties with several notable politicians, notably the late president of Turkey, Turgut Ozal,^[7] and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktaş.^[8] Born just before the fall of the Ottoman Empire, he praised Ottoman history and civilization, contrasting its culture with its successor, the modern-day Republic of Turkey.^[9]

Whenever Shaykh Nazım would visit Lebanon, that governor and the prime minister of Lebanon would sit in the Shaykh's association. Up until today, their families and many of the Lebanese people are his followers.^[10]

Shaykh Nazım can be seen addressing multitudes of Turkish people in a stadium whose audience includes the likes of Abdullah Gul, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Necmettin Erbakan. In it he discusses the importance of Islamic values of the Turkish state, discussing how their forefathers were the Ottomans who ruled the country as a caliphate for more than 600 years until its downfall.^[11]

In 2011, Shaykh Nazım predicted that a virus would come and plague the entire world.^[12]

Honors[]

He received the Bahauddin 'Adil (Pingat Darjah Kebesaran DKA) from Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak in 2009.^[13][14]

Recognition[]

In his later years, Nazım was regularly recognized among the world's fifty most influential Muslims in the annual publication, The 500 Most Influential Muslims: he was ranked 49th, 49th, 48th, 45th, and 42nd in the 2009-2013 editions, respectively.^[15]

Death[]

Courtyard of Nazım's Sufi lodge and burial shrine, Lefke, Northern Cyprus.

Nazım had been receiving medical care since April 17, 2014, when he was rushed from his home in Lefke to the Near East University Hospital in North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, after suffering from respiratory problems. He died on May 7, 2014 (8 Rajab 1435), aged 92.^[7]

Shaykh Nazım was succeeded by his eldest son, Shaykh Mehmet 'Adil ar-Rabbani, as the 41st leader of the Naqshbandi Tariqa.

Published works[]

• Qibrisi, Nazım. 1980. Mercy Oceans: The teachings of Maulana Abdullah al-Faizi ad-Daghestani. n.p.
• Daghistānī, ʻAbd Allāh al-Naqshbandī, and Nazım Haqqani. 1980. Mercy oceans: Winter lectures 1400 H. (1980 A. D.); Book two. Konya, Turkey: Sebat.
• al-Qubrusi, Nazım 'Adil. 1982. Mercy Oceans' Endless Horizons; Summer lectures from 1981. Konya, Turkei: Sebat Offset Pr.
• al-Qubrusi, Nazım 'Adil. 1983. Mercy Oceans' Pink Pearls. Konya, Turkei: Sebat Offset Pr.
• Haqqani, Nazım. 1984. Mercy oceans' divine sources: The discourses of our master Shaykh Nazım Al-Qubrusi (Imam ul-Haqqaniyyin). Konya, Turkey: Sebat.
• –––. 1985. Mercy oceans of the heart: the discourses of our master Shaykh Nazım Al-Qubrusi (Imam ul-Haqqaniyyin). [Turkey?]: [s.n.].
• al-Qubrusi, Nazım 'Adil. 1986. Mercy Oceans Rising Sun. Konya, Turkey: Sebat.
• Haqqani, Nazım. 1987. The secrets behind the secrets behind the secrets. Berlin: Duru.
• al-Qubrusi, Nazım 'Adil. Toward the Divine Presence: Book one, London Talks, Summer 1984. n.p.n.d.
• Haqqani, Nazım. 1987. Mercy oceans' lovestream: the discourses of our master Shaykh Nazım al-Qubrusi al-Haqqani delivered by the permission of his Grandsheikh Shaykh Abdullah Ad-Daghistani; Selected lectures Summer 1406 A. H. (1986 C. E.); London, Germany, Switzerland. Konya: Sebat.
• Haqqani, Nazım. 1987. Mercy oceans: Serendib edition; Transcript of lectures. Colombo: Council of Thareeqathun Naqshbandhia.
• Al-Qubrusi, Shaykh Nazım 'Adil. 1988. Mercy Oceans' Hidden Treasures, 2nd ed. Konya, Turkey: Sebat.
• Daghistānī, ʻAbd Allāh al-Naqshbandī, Nazım Haqqani. 1988. The Naqshbandi way: a guidebook for spiritual progress; The spiritual exercises of the Naqshbandi Sufi path according to the instructions of Sultan Ul-Awliya Shaykh Abdullah Ad-Daghistani. Konya, Turkey: Mercy Oceans publications.
• An-Naqshabandi, Shaykh Nazım 'Adil Al-Haqqani. 1989. Mercy Oceans Saphires from Serendib. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Arafat Publishing House.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 1990. From Dunya to Maule: (from here to hereafter). İstanbul: Sebil Yayınevi.
• An-Naqshabandi, Shaykh Nazım 'Adil Al-Haqqani. 1990. Mercy Oceans' Emeralds of Eden: Lectures of a Sufi Grandsheikh. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Peacock Printers.
• –––. 1992. Natural medicines. London: Ta-Ha.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 1994. Mystical secrets of the last days. Los Altos, CA: Haqqani Islamic Trust for New Muslims.
• Haqqani Naqshbandia, Shaykh Nazım al al-. 1994. Keys to paradise. London: Zero Productions.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 1994. The divine kingdom. Los Altos, CA: Haqqani Islamic Trust for New Muslims.
• Haqqani, Sheik Nazım. 1995. Natural medicines: traditional Sufi healing methods. London: Zero Productions.
• al-Haqqani, Nazım. 1995. Power oceans of light. London: Zero Publications.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 1995. When will peace come to earth?: Oh people, don't waste. London: Zero Productions.
• Haqqani, Nazım. 1996. Secret desires: talks given in 1996 in Germany and Great Britain by a sufi master of our time. London: Zero Productions.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 1997. Defending truth: associations with a Sufi master of our time. London: Zero Productions.
• Nāẓim ʻAdl al-Ḥaqqānī, Muḥammad. 1997. Islam the freedom to serve: Suhbats, aphorisms, and stories. Bonndorf im Schwarzwald: Gorski und Spohr.
• al-Haqqani, Shaykh Nazım. 1998. Pure hearts. London: Zero Productions.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 1998. Secret desires. London: Healing Hearts / Zero Productions.
• –––. 1998. Star from heaven: talks given in 1995 by a Sufi master of our time in England, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. London: Zero Productions.
• –––. 2002. In the mystic footsteps of saints. 2 vols. Fenton Mich: Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order.
• Al-Haqqani, Shaykh Nazım 'Adil. 2002–2007. Liberating the soul: a guide for spiritual growth. 6 vols. [S.l.]: Islamic Supreme Council of America.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani, and Muhammad Hisham Kabbani. 2004. Naqshbandi awrad of Mauláná Shaykh Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. Fenton, MI: Islamic Supreme Council of America.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 2006. The path to spiritual excellence. Fenton, MI: Islamic Supreme Council of America.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 2007. Through the eye of the needle: Counsel for Spiritual Survival in the Last Days. Fenton, Mich: Institute for Spiritual & Cultural Advancement.
• Al-Haqqani, Mauláná Shaykh Nazım, and Hamidah Torres. 2008. Sufi spiritual practices for polishing the mirror in the heart. [Mar de Plata, Argentina]: SereSereS.
• Al-Haqqani, Mauláná Shaykh Nazım. 2008. Love sufi teachings and spiritual practices. Málaga: SereSereS.
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani. 2010. The Sufilive series. Fenton, MI: Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (ISCA).
• Naqshbandi, Muhammad Nazım 'Adil al-Haqqani, and Muhammad Hisham Kabbani. 2010. Spiritual discourses of Sultan al-Awliya Mauláná Shaykh Muhammad Nazım 'Adil Al-Haqqani. Fenton, MI: Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (ISCA).
• –––. 2010. Breaths from beyond the curtain: spiritual guidance of the Naqshbandi Sufi Masters. Fenton, Mich: Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Advancement.
• Shaykh Nazım, over 2,000 pieces of unique video content: http://saltanat.org/videos.php

References[]

Further reading[]

• Ron Geaves, The Sufis of Britain: An Exploration of Muslim Identity (Cardiff: Cardiff Academic Press, 2000), pp. 145 – 156
• Ludwig Schleßmann, Sufismus in Deutschland: Deutsche auf dem Weg des mystischen Islam (Cologne: Bo¨hlau, 2003), pp. 43 –136
• Jørgen S. Nielsen, "Transnational Islam and the Integration of Islam in Europe" in Stefano Allievi and Jørgen S Nielsen (eds), Muslim Networks and Transnational Communities in and across Europe (Leiden: Brill, 2003) 28 –51.
• David Damrel, "Aspects of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Order in America" in Jamal Malik and John R. Hinnells (eds.), Sufism in the West (Abingdon: Routledge, 2006).
• Jørgen S. Nielsen, Mustafa Draper and Galina Yemelianova, "Transnational Sufism: The Haqqaniyya" in Jamal Malik and John R. Hinnells (eds), Sufism in the West (Abingdon: Routledge, 2006), pp. 103– 114.
• Simon Stjernholm, "A Translocal Sufi Movement: Developments among Naqshbandi-Haqqani in London" in Catharina Raudvere and Leif Stenberg (eds), Sufism Today: Heritage and Tradition in the Global Community (London: I.B. Tauris, 2009), pp. 83 – 101.
• Simon Stjernholm, Lovers of Muhammad: A Study of Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufis in the Twenty-First Century (Lund: Lund University, 2011).