Al-Ta'arruf li-Madhab Ahl al-Tasawwuf التعرف لمذهب اهل التصوف

Al-Ta’arruf li-Madhhab Ahl al-Tasawwuf (Introducing the Way of the People of Sufism) by Abu Bakr al-Kalabadhi (d. 380 AH / 990 CE) is one of the most critical, foundational, and earliest classical treatises on Sufism. Written during a period when Sufism was viewed with suspicion by some orthodox jurists, this monumental work was crafted to prove that true Sufi doctrines and practices are entirely aligned with orthodox Sunni creed ('aqidah) and Islamic law (shari’ah). It is famously said of this book: “Were it not for the Ta’arruf, Sufism would not be known.”

The foreword is written by Yuhanna (John) Sadir. He belongs to the prominent Sader (صادر) family, a Lebanese Christian family that established Dar Sader (دار صادر) in Beirut in 1863. Dar Sader is one of the oldest, most prestigious, and highly respected publishing houses in the Arab world.

Despite being Christian, the publishers and editors at Dar Sader—including Yuhanna Sadir—were deeply dedicated to the preservation, linguistic precision, and dissemination of classical Arabic literature and Islamic heritage. His foreword in this edition reflects the family’s historical commitment to printing and archiving major masterpieces of Islamic spirituality, philosophy, and linguistics.