Qadam al-Rusukh: On the Author''s Shuyukh

This book by Aḥmad ibn al-ʿAyyāshī SKIREDJ stands at the crossroads of scholarly and spiritual heritage in Morocco. It explores the culture of ijazah, the importance of chains of transmission in Islamic learning, and the role of shaykhs in preserving and handing down knowledge across generations. The work also distinguishes between worldly sciences and otherworldly sciences, while clarifying authorization in Sufism, the disciple’s reception from the spiritual reality of his guide, and the meaning of entering the path of the gnostics. It addresses the science of dirayah, the principles for evaluating transmissions, and the dangers of falsely claiming authorization or manipulating sacred litanies without a valid permission. A substantial section is devoted to the author’s own teachers and chains of transmission, making the volume an important document on Morocco’s scholarly and spiritual networks. The book closes with a strong educational reflection: the purpose of studying the Qur’an and the Sunnah is to embody Prophetic character, acquire virtues, and abandon blameworthy traits.