Signs on the Horizons: Meetings with Men of Knowledge and Illumination

I decided to look for this book after a book signing by Michael Sugich and Peter Sanders. At the time, I became fascinated by Peter Sanders' book that I didn't give much thought to anything else. They mentioned that Signs on the Horizons would be a great companion book but had none available. I bought it off amazon a little later.This book is a wonderful easy read. More importantly, it captures you and take you on different journeys meeting great men. It doesn't preach to you but teaches you the way you would learn by being around enlightened beings. It honestly made me laugh, cry, reflect and share tidbits with those around me. You finish it wanting more, to learn more about awliya, more about Sidi Haroon's journey and reflections, and more wisdoms from the saints. I've really regretted following my ignorance and not giving a lot more consideration to Michael Sugich when he was practically right in front of me. God forgive me.

More books such as this one of modern Muslims' encounters with living Friends of God (Arabic: Awliyullah) need to be published in a day and age when so many in the Islamic world no longer recognize the importance of seeking these men and women out and learning from them. Many modern day Muslims no longer know of their existence, and some even go as far as denying them completely by falsely declaring, "There are no saints in Islam!" In fact there are, and this book by Michael Haroon Sugich is a personal account of his meeting several of them from the modern era.Everday practicing Muslims supplicate to God at least 17 times a day when reciting the opening chapter of the Qur'an (al-Fatiha) to, "Guide us to the Straight Path, THE PATH OF THOSE WHOM YOU HAVE BLESSED." These verses (among so many others) prove that Islam is not merely a theoretical set of rules to be understood and applied on one's own, but is a living and breathing faith that can only be truly learned and applied under the guidance and companionship of those whom God Himself has blessed.

I think page 9 summarizes these men: What characterized every one of these men was humility, kindness, sweetness of temper, patience, insight, and, most importantly, the remembrance of God at all times.

This book needs be translated to other languages. It's truly unique. The only other book I can compare it to is the first half of Shaykh Nuh's "Sea without Shore".

I really liked many of the vignettes in this book, though some of the early ones did have a touch quasi-Orientalist obsession with traditional culture (as if there is such a thing.) I feel like the author didn't bother to introduce himself, which would've been useful.

I lived vicariously through each word, I laughed and cried and my yearning rose out of the depths of a hidden place.

This is a must read for any Muslim on the path to Allah SWT. The stories of these sanctified people are spiritually uplifting and are a source of strength for one's faith. May God preserve Michael Sugich and reward him the best of rewards.

What a pleasure it was to read this book. It's a great glimpse into the lives of many modern day Sufis and some of their practices. Well written by a (an American) traveler on his Path to God.

This is a rare and astonishing book that, in its account of the author's encounters with men who were truly living saints, demonstrates that there is a profound spirituality that in Islam when that religion is properly understood as the pursuit of God's service and love. I can personally bear testimony to the truth of one of his chapters in a poem that I wrote in 1981:Travellers on the Way (1981)(in memory of Michael Scott)There were four passengers with me that day:the late Michael Scott, known as Sidi Abdullah,an American from Mecca named Harun,Azzedine, a young student of Fez,and a blind fakir of Meknes,who, as a devotee of Shaykh ibn al-Habib,was aware of his successor on the Sufi Way.We travelled south-east in my brand-new cartowards a place full of palms called Turuq,with Venus before us, the evening star.But leaving the black carpet of tarmac,the sky turning red and dusk descending,the desert track beyond the gully we had crossedwould have led us in circles forever,had our guide not spoken to show us the way.“We are lost because the time of maghrib has passed;we have failed to kneel down and pray.”Having found a place free from thistles and stones,the fakir sensed at once the direction of Ka‘bahand pointed his finger to the invisible east.Soon afterwards we reached the mud walls of Turuq,and with a paraffin lamp, a full white moonand a million stars to light our way,we were taken as guests to the upper room.We awoke to the sight of a green oasisand the sound of “La illaha ill’Allah”rising from the glassless windows below,where each disciple of the venerable Shaykh,in a white turban and biblical attire,waved a long palm to keep off the flies,remembering only the name of God:“There is no god but only Allah;if you run towards Him, He will rush towards you;we are all travellers on the Way.”

This book ties in well with ‘Hearts Turn’ by Michael Sugich (please have a read if you haven’t already. Signs on the Horizons reflects on the lives of people with illuminated hearts. Very thought-provoking to say the least. While hearts turn is about people of tawba, this book is about miraculous awliya. So, if you shudder reading this, you will find comfort reading Hearts Turn. Conversely, if you get complacent reading Hearts Turn, you will be humbled reading this!

I wish I could read this book every day.Really helps to motivate a person to recentre onto God and his remembrance in their life by illustrating the deep satifaction and tranquility of the God centred ones who were outwardly impoverished but inwardly enriched by GodI love how it had so many profound observations..' this was the 70s when mosques and gatherings of remembrance were still full, before the wave of gross materialism that has since swept over muslim socities had not began its inevitable corrosive subversion of tradition and spirituality'

I read the book twice & will read it a 3rd time as a minimum. There is much to gain from each story, lesson’s that you can apply to yourself as a seeker of God. The author is very detail orientated and my second read of the book taught me a lot more lessons than the first. I brought a paperback copy of the book for my daughter to read, she’s 12 and hooked!

Masha'allah an excellent book which surely meets it's objective of drawing you closer to the awliya and by extension to Allah subhana wa ta'alaa and his Habib salalaho alihi wasallam. We pray Allah subhana wa ta'alaa guides us and makes us and the author and the ummah amongst those who remember him sincerely.The book is not just stories but is funny too as well as being educational on Sufism.