INTRODUCTION (This book has nothing printed on the back cover)

The present work is a book form presentation of writings of Hazrat Shahidullah Faridi, may Allah be pleased with him R.A.). An eminent Sufi Sheikh, he is also known for his earlier works, 'The Moral Message of God and His Prophet' and 'Everyday Practice in Islam'.

Since Sayings and Writings of Aulia Allah are a source of inspiration, guidance and blessings, any comments on the merits of this book would be superfluous. A few words about the author would, however, not be inappropriate.

Hazrat Shahidullah Faridi (R.A) was resident in Karachi for about three decades prior to his passing away in 1978. In the earlier part of his life he lived in England where he was born (1915), brought up (in a wealthy British family) and educated (Oxford). Having embraced Islam after reading Kashful-Mahjub (The Unveiling of the Veiled), the classical treatise on Sufism written by the famous Saint Ali bin Uthman al-Hujwiri (known in Pakistan as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh), he had come to this part of the world on a visit (1937) in search of a Murshid (Spiritual Guide). The visit, however, turned into a prolonged stay as a result of his coming into contact with Hazrat Syed Muhammad Zauqi Shah (R.A), a Murshid in the Chishtiya Sabiria Sufi Order. He became his Murid (pupil) and preferred to remain in the company (suhbat) of his Spiritual Mentor. He could have spent the rest of his time in comfort and luxury which he had inherited but chose a totally different kind of life, in the way of Allah. The prolonged stay eventually became permanent in that his association with Hazrat Syed Muhammad Zauqi Shah (R.A) lasted some fourteen years, until the passing away of the latter. Hazrat Shahidullah Faridi (R.A) was about forty when the responsibilities of spiritual succession to his Sheikh were entrusted to him. At this juncture, he had his own business. He voluntarily closed the business and devoted the rest of his life exclusively to his new duties in the service of Allah. He was sixty-three.

Abdul Karim Khanzada of Zaida

7th November, 1985