Memoirs of a Sufi Master

This remarkable work opens a window into the soul of one of Islam’s greatest spiritual masters. Drawn from the personal notebook (kunnāsh) of Sidi Aḥmad Zarrūq (d. 899 AH / 1493 CE), a towering scholar and Sufi guide of North Africa, these selections gather insights, aphorisms, and reflections penned for his own remembrance—and for those treading the path to God.

In this first-ever full English translation of Fawāʾid min Kunnāsh, Zarrūq speaks with clarity, precision, and compassion on the inner life: on sincerity, spiritual discipline, the dangers of the ego, the trials of companionship, and the subtle realities of the path. Neither abstract philosophy nor empty mysticism, his words are rooted in lived experience—firmly anchored in the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the principles of sound Islamic knowledge.

Memoirs of a Sufi Master is not a manual in the conventional sense. It is a companion—one that offers reminders when the path is dim, correctives when the self deceives, and wisdom when the heart seeks clarity.

For seekers of truth, lovers of the Prophet ﷺ, and students of traditional Islamic spirituality, this work is a lantern drawn from the legacy of a master whose light continues to shine.

Fawa’id min Kunnash is a collection of Sidi Ahmad Zarruq’s autobiographical accounts, with commentary. The text presented here offers a unique insight into the life of one of the greatest spiritual authorities of North Africa, the Sufi sheikh and scholar Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Ahmad al-Zarruq al-Burnusi al-Fasi (d. 846-899/1442-93).