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Abstract
This article aims to study a manuscript authored by the eminent Moroccan Sufi scholar, Sidi Aḥmad Ibn ‘Ajībah Al-Ḥasani (d. 1224 AH/1809 AD), titled “A Treatise On The Condemnation Of Backbiting And The Praise Of Self-isolation And Silence.” Employing a descriptive approach, this study extracts the author's methodology in addressing the vice of backbiting within this treatise. It further introduces the author, delves into the manuscript's content and composition, and outlines the methodological framework employed in its textual criticism, adhering to established practices in manuscript studies (Philology). The study reveals that this treatise exemplifies the interconnectedness of texts, or “bibliogram,” with other works on the topics of backbiting, self-isolation, and silence. A significant finding is that the treatise underscores the depth of Sheikh Ibn ‘Ajībah's Sufism. In addressing the vice of backbiting, a theme central to the purification of the soul, he produced a work characterised by a robust foundation of Islamic knowledge, drawing from the Quran, Sunnah, scholarly consensus, the sayings of the prophet’s companions and early Muslims. It also integrates Islamic jurisprudence, including its principles and al-Qawāʿid al-Fiqhīyah, and draws upon glossaries of Sufism and Islamic jurisprudence, reflecting an interdisciplinary synthesis of knowledge. Importantly, this treatise offers practical guidance that is timeless and relevant to contemporary Muslims. It serves as a reminder of the enduring value of ascetic virtues and the dangers of excessive social interaction, which can lead to harmful speech such as backbiting and other vices of the tongue.
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