The Ratib of Habib Umar bin Abd ar-Rahman al-Attas

About the author

Umar ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Attas: Umar ibn Abd ar-Rahman al-Attas rahimahullah (d. 1072 AH / 1662 CE) was a distinguished Hadrami scholar belonging to the Ba'Alawi sadat, the scholarly and Sufi lineage of Hadramawt, Yemen, whose members trace descent to the Prophet ﷺ through Imam Ahmad ibn Isa al-Muhajir. He is principally remembered as the composer of the Ratib al-Attas, a structured devotional compilation of Qur'anic verses, prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ, formulas of seeking refuge and divine protection, and remembrance phrases recited in congregation. The Ratib al-Attas became one of the most widely transmitted and recited ratib texts within the Ba'Alawi tradition, spreading through Hadrami scholarly networks to Muslim communities in Southeast Asia, East Africa, and the broader Indian Ocean world. It continues to be recited weekly in mosques and learning circles across those regions. His work reflects the Ba'Alawi emphasis on combining textual scholarship with communal spiritual practice and the cultivation of love for the Prophet ﷺ.