Abul Hasan ash-Shadhili, also known as Sheikh al Shadhili [593 AH/1196 AD- 656 AH/1258 AD] was one of the greatest spiritual masters in Islam, who laid the foundation of the Shadhili Sufi order (tariqa). He was born in the royal family of the Ghomara tribe in northern Morocco in 1196. A child prodigy, he traveled extensively to Alexandria, Tunisia, Iraq, and Egypt in pursuit of knowledge and met other influential figures, scholars and governors. In Tunisia, he founded the Shadhili Sufi order, which is one of the four oldest Sufi orders in the Muslim world. In his spiritual journey, Shadhili was guided by Qutb (Teacher) Ibne Mashih. Al Shahdili’s teaching took a unique and inclusive view of the concept of ‘Tasawwuf’ as a way of life that could be practiced by all, not just ascetics in a monastery. He believed ‘Tasawwuf’ as a belief system, which led to exemplary social and ethical conduct through the purification of one’s soul. His comments on four essential qualities of a Sufi encapsulates his entire teachings; being characterized by the characteristics of God, abiding closely to the commands of God, relinquishing the defense of one’s self out of shame before God, and holding to the practice of spiritual converse by truly abiding with God. However, his conception of Sufism does not equate to renouncing the world, rather it aims at achieving ethical balance and total integration of man in this world while in service of God. His model of Sufism emphasized the spiritual and social dimensions in equal measures. Shahdili’s teaching survives in the form of several devotional prayers that he wrote. ‘Litany of the Sea’ is one of his most famous works. His ideal of a Sufi as an ascetic who is actively engaged in the world, doing God’s work amongst mankind, remains influential in the reform movement in the Islamic world. Branches inspired by the order include Fasi, Darqawi, and Yousafi in North Africa; Burhani Disuqi in Sudan, Egypt, and Syria; Hamidi and Ashirah Mohammadi in Egypt; and Azami Shahdili in Sudan. He died in 1258 on his way to Mecca and was buried in Egypt.
