Imam al Jazuli

1404 - 1465, Morocco

Dalail al Khayrat

Imam al Jazuli is most famous for his incredible work, Dalail al Khayrat (The Guides to Goodness). This book, which is full of prayers and salutations upon the Prophet (peace be upon him), is split into seven sections, one for each day of the week. Dalail al Khayrat is recited to this day all across the world.

Beginnings

Imam al Jazuli was from the south of Morocco. He came from the Berber tribe of Jazula, which is why he is called 'Al Jazuli', meaning 'the one from Jazula'. His full name is Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Sulayman al Jazuli. Imam al Jazuli was a direct descendant of Sayidna Hasan, the grandson of the Prophet (peace be upon him). And so he is related to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Spiritual Retreat

Imam al Jazuli at first lived in rural Morocco. He then moved to Fes, where he studied for many years. After meeting the great saint, Abu Abdullah Muhammad Amghar, al Jazuli went into a spiritual retreat (khalwa), not interacting with people and living alone, for fourteen years.

Imam al Jazuli then travelled to Mecca and Medina to perform Hajj. Some accounts say that he spent forty years in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. He then returned to Morocco, where he wrote his famous poem, Dalail al Khayrat.

The Story of the Dalail

The story of the Dalail is quite incredible. It is reported that once while travelling, Imam al Jazuli came to a water well but had no way to get the water. A young girl then approached and spat into the well and suddenly the water rose up by itself.

Imam al Jazuli was astonished and asked her how she'd done that. She replied that she could do it by sending prayers and peace upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). Imam al Jazuli understood the power and magnificence of this, and then returned home and wrote the Dalail - a book which is dedicated to sending prayers and peace upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Read and Reread

The miraculous nature of this book is that it is read regularly, all over the world, and the number of copies that exist is unknown. Every time the Dalail is read, Imam al Jazuli gets rewarded, as well as the person who reads it. What an incredible action for him to have done mashaAllah.

It is said that while he was in Medina, Imam al Jazuli would recite this poem in the Mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him) twice a day. And incredibly, for over 300 years the Dalail was recited after the Asr prayer in the Haramain of Mecca and Medina.

Imam al Jazuli is buried in Marrakesh, Morocco.

May Allah surround him with mercy, blessings and peace.