Editor's Introduction

Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, may Allah be pleased with him, was an Islamic Sufi from Sri Lanka who dedicated much of his lifetime to instructing people on the true meaning of Islam and the path of Sufism. Though he himself was unlettered, the depth of his understanding of the Qur'an and the traditional stories of Islam has been recognized by Muslim scholars throughout the world.

It is appropriate that Islam and World Peace: Explanations of a Sufi' should be his first book published posthumously, for during the last decade of his life, Bawa Muhaiyaddeen repeatedly expressed concern about the unfavorable image of Islam in the world today. He proclaimed an Islam of mercy and compassion, an Islam of peace and unity.

Opening with a plea that we must do more than just talk about peace, the book follows with a letter to world leaders, boldly calling upon them to unite. From there, the reader is guided to a view of the present day political crisis, then on to a Sufi application of the traditions of Islam, and finally to an esoteric understanding of the path of the innermost heart. Out of every page there emerges the wisdom of a contemporary mystic, blending the ancient oral tradition of Sufism with modern-day issues.

These talks, originally spoken in a mixture of Tamil and Arabic, were simultaneously translated into English, and later edited into a written format. For the benefit of the Western reader, the customary honorific phrases have not been used following the names of prophets and angels. For example, the phrase Salla Allah `alayhi wa-sallam, God bless him and grant him peace, is traditionally spoken after mentioning the name of Prophet Muhammad. Since the reverence inherent in this phrase is evident within every page of the book, we hope that this omission will not offend anyone. For the reader familiar with Arabic, the translated Islamic terms have been footnoted. And finally, since there is no single accepted system for transliterating Arabic into English, we have selected the one recommended by the Library of Congress, which can be found in the glossary.

This book is a unique plea for peace and unity, and if God so wills, perhaps those who read it will find some guidance in the timeless wisdom of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.