Siratul-Abdal (Hallmarks of the Saints) is a continuation of the third Arabic pamphlet—‘Alamatul-Muqarrabin (The Signs of those Granted Nearness to God)—included in Tadhkiratush-Shahadatain (The Two Martyrs) in which the Promised Messiah(as) discusses the traits of people who have attained nearness of Allah. This booklet spells out the characteristics of those who have attained the status of Abdal—i.e. those sincere followers of God’s Prophets who have brought about such a holy change in themselves for the sake of Allah and through obedience to the Prophets that they, too, are commissioned for the reformation of mankind.
A close study of Siratul-Abdal shows that it is a description of the characteristics of true believers as given in the Holy Quran. Indeed, the Promised Messiah(as) himself attained this station through his complete obedience to the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sas).
God granted the Promised Messiah(as) such a special knowledge of the Arabic language that he was able to write books in highly eloquent and classical Arabic. Siratul-Abdal employs rich and rare Arabic vocabulary, drawing upon the style and rhetorical devices in currency in ancient Arabic literature, and while concise, the Arabic prose is considered particularly formidable. Although this translation can never fully reproduce the rhetorical force or eloquence of the original, we pray it nonetheless benefits and inspires its readers to strive towards spiritual growth.
al-Haj Munir-ud-Din Shams
Additional Wakilut-Tasnif, London
April 2021