Al-Murshid al-Kamil Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshy, may Allah sanctify his secret, has composed verses in tribute to Qutb al-Irshad Abdallah bin Alawi al-Haddad "The Prophet's delight, and one of his excellent sons". Al-Imam al-Haddad belongs to that blessed elite "by whose grace" says another Master, al-Jahbadh 'Alawi bin Tahir al-Haddad "the halting marches on, the straggler gains in pace, the antogonist gives in argument. From their light the bewildered derives guidance, and the very sight of their effort summons Allah-oriented dedication to the flagging of the heart? For their compliance, Allah drew and illuminated them for their actions, and bestowed His love upon them and inspired others to love them because of their turning to Him".

In that sphere of the elect, al-Imam al-Haddad counts among the sovereigns.

He is the famous Imam and Shaykh al-Islam and the leader of the people of at-Tawhid, as-Sayyid ash-Sharif 'Alawi al-Haddad, the Imam of his times, the caller onto Allah both in private and in public, and the fighter for the True Faith, with his pen and his tongue .

He was born in the town of Tarim, Hadhramut on the fifth of Safar, 1044 and grew under the assiduously watchful eye of his father and in the enlightened ambiance - quite different from that of his age-mates.

Al-Imam al-Haddad excelled and inspired admiration in many areas indeed, in actions, in 'ilm and upbringing, in guiding people and calling them to Allah, and in his sublime station as the quintessential Shaykh. However, his foremost vocation was as a caller onto Allah par excellence, and a caller to the path of the virtuous predecessors so much so that leading men of his times named him as Qutb al-Irshad.

Indeed it has been said that there are three grades of calling people to Allah, His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet. By one's tongue, one's pen and one's foot. Al-Imam al-Haddad surpassed in all these domains - in speech, in writing and while on foot.

Suffice it to say that his books contain the very essence of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and that his writings have always been beyond criticism. As for his anthology, call it an ocean and fear no hyperbole. Indeed, someone has said: "I have cast mine eye in the anthologies of men, and have found none more useful and abundant in guidance than that of al-Qutb al-Haddad". Now, say the same about his Risalas and his letters and his comprehensive litanies - printed and reprinted time and again in Egypt, India, Hijaz, Turkey and Java.