Remembering the Friends of God
An Exposé on Sainthood in Modern Times
A personal and spiritual exploration of divine friendship, prophetic wisdom, and the life and legacy of Darryl Wayne Roberts.
By Isoke Nabawi & Ata Nabawi
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What does it mean to be a Friend of God? Can an ordinary human life, marked by extraordinary promise, hardship, suffering, and spiritual transformation, reveal something profound about the relationship between humanity and the Divine?
Remembering the Friends of God is an intimate spiritual biography, family memoir, and exploration of Islamic mysticism that examines the timeless concept of sainthood (Wilaya) through the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Darryl Wayne Roberts, affectionately remembered as Uncle Darryl and known as Dhafir Nabawi.
Born in 1960, Darryl's journey began amid the vibrant cultural and social landscape of Black America. Remembered for his intelligence, charisma, promise, and devotion to family, he experienced a life shaped by both exceptional potential and profound adversity. His story would eventually encompass personal trials, nearly two decades of incarceration, and a legacy that continued to influence those closest to him long after his passing.
For his nephew, Ata Nabawi, Darryl's life and death became the catalyst for an extraordinary spiritual inquiry. Through family memories, deeply personal dreams, reflection, and the study of Islamic revelation, Ata embarked upon a quest to understand the nature of the soul, the purpose of human existence, and the mysterious relationship between God and those whom the Qur'an describes as His Friends.
At the heart of this investigation lies the Islamic spiritual tradition of Tasawwuf (Sufism), the science of purifying the heart and cultivating Ihsan, or spiritual excellence. Drawing upon the Qur'an, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, sacred traditions, and the wisdom of historical Muslim spiritual masters, the book introduces readers to the three foundational dimensions of religion: Islam (submission), Iman (faith), and Ihsan (spiritual excellence).
Through discussions of divine remembrance (Dhikr), repentance, patience, love, self-mastery, and spiritual awakening, the authors explore how human beings may transcend the limitations of the ego and cultivate a life of greater nearness to God. The book also examines the Awliya Allah, drawing upon Qur'anic revelation, the celebrated Hadith of Divine Friendship, and the legacies of figures such as Owais al-Qarni, Rabi'a al-Adawiyya, and Junayd of Baghdad.
Written for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, for students of spirituality, seekers of truth, and anyone confronting life's deepest mysteries, Remembering the Friends of God is a testament to the enduring power of love and remembrance: a nephew's tribute to his uncle, a family's preservation of its history, and an invitation to discover the timeless wisdom of those who strive to live in the presence of God.
Some lives are remembered for what they achieved. Others are remembered for what they awakened in us.
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The 40 Hadith of Dhafir Nabawi
Forty prophetic traditions paired with living lessons from the life of Uncle Darryl Wayne Roberts. By Ata Nabawi.
About the Hadith Nabawi Series