Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
source: An-Noor
For the intelligent, an indication is sufficient…Subhanallah, this
story is filled with so many lessons for everyone. Please read it with
the intention to learn the lessons from the life of Shaikh Abu Abdullah
Al-Andalusi (RA), and also the character of his devoted and loyal
students. I pray that Allah grants every reader the tawfeeq to benefit
from this and to protect us all from any tests of this sort. Aameen.
Note: Since this is not a formal Arabic written entry, the rules of
Arabic have not been enforced such as in the name of the Shaykh, etc.
In Baghdad, the seat of the Islamic State, was a pious saint by the
name of Abu Abdullah Al-Andalusi. He was a well-known scholar and
muhaddith and twelve thousand disciples sat at his feet. He knew thirty
thousand ahadith by heart, and could recite the Quran in all the various
modes of Qiraat.
On a certain occasion he was going on a journey and was accompanied
with a large crowd of attendants among whom were the well-known Junayd
Baghdadi and Shaikh Shibli Rahimahumullah.
Shaikh Shibli continues the story: Our caravan was travelling along
safely and comfortably with the grace of Allah, until we passed by an
area where Christians were residing. When we reached the Christian
village, we searched for water but could not find any. We went about the
village and discovered that there were many churches, temples of
sun-worship and synagogues. Some of the people worshipped idols and
others prayed to the cross. We were amazed at their condition.
We passed all this and reached the outskirts of the village where we
found a well and a few girls drawing water for people to drink. Amongst
these girls was one who was exceedingly beautiful. She wore a gold
necklace around her neck. When Shaikh Abu Abdullah saw her the colour of
his face changed. The Shaikh asked the other girls who she was.
They replied: “This is the daughter of the ruler of this village.”
The Shaikh replied: “But, why has her father dishonoured her by leaving her to give people water to drink?”
The girls replied: “Her father has done this so that when she marries
she will be able to honour and serve her husband. He does not want her
to become boastful of her status.”
The Shaikh sat down with his head bent forward and remained silent.
For three days he did not eat or drink. He would only perform his
Salaah. His disciples and companions did not know what to do or say.
Shaikh Shibli says : ‘I decided to speak to him. I approached him and
said, “O Shaikh, your disciples and companions are perplexed with your
silence for the last three days. Please speak to us.”
The Shaikh replied: “O people, know that my heart has become filled
with love for the girl I saw the other day. It is not possible for me
under any circumstances to leave from here.”
Shaikh Shibli replied: “Our leader! You are the spiritual guide of
Iraq. Your piety is well-known far and wide. Your disciples number over
twelve thousand. By the sanctity of the Noble Quran do not bring
disgrace to us and them.”
The Shaikh replied: “O people, my lot has already been sealed by
fate. I am nothing. The cloak of sainthood has been removed from me and
the signs of guidance have been taken away from me.”
Saying this the Shaikh began weeping bitterly. “Proceed and leave me alone. My fate has been sealed,” he told them.
We were astonished. We begged Allah for His protection and we cried until the land beneath our feet became wet with our tears.
We returned to Baghdad. When the people heard of our return, they
arrived in large numbers at the outskirts of the city to meet the
Shaikh. They saw that he was not with us and asked where he was. We told
them the entire story. Many of his disciples died out of grief when
they heard of his condition. Others cried in sorrow and disbelief. Many
begged Allah to guide the Shaikh to the right path and return him to
them. All his places of instruction and preaching were closed down.
We remained in this sad condition for one full year. Finally, I,
together with a few companions decided to visit the village again and
find out how our Shaikh was doing. When we reached the village we asked
regarding him and were told that he was in the woods looking after pigs.
We asked: “What has happened?” We were told that he had proposed for
the girl in marriage. But, the girl’s father had refused saying that her
suitor had to meet certain conditions : he had to follow the same
religion as her, he had to become a servant in the church and he had to
look after the pigs. The Shaikh had fulfilled all these conditions and
was currently seeing to the pigs.
“With broken hearts and tears streaming down our eyes, we went to the
woods to find him. He was standing amongst the pigs. Around his waist
was a string of beads. On his head was the traditional Christian hat. He
stood leaning on the staff that he once used to lean on when delivering
the sermon in the mihraab!
When he saw us he bowed his head in shame. We came nearer and said, “Assalaamu Alaikum.” He replied: “Wa Alaikumus salaam”.
Shaikh Shibli then asked: “O Shaikh, what is all this? What has
happened to you? What has happened to all your knowledge and virtue?”
The Shaikh replied: “My dear friend and brothers, I am now no longer
in control. Whatever Allah has desired for me, has come to pass. I was
once amongst His beloved ones. Now He has thrown me very far away from
His door. O Beloved ones of Allah, beware of being rejected and
distanced from Allah. O Beloved ones of Allah, beware of Allah’s anger
and being cut off from Him.”
Then turning towards the heavens he said: “O my Lord, I never
expected such treatment from You.” Then he began crying bitterly and
appealing to Allah.
Shaikh Shibli also begged Allah in a loud voice : “Only from you do
we seek help. Upon You only do we rely. By Your grace, remove this
difficulty from us! We have been overcome. Only you can save us!”
When the pigs heard our crying they began to rub their heads in the
sand and began to yell so loudly that the mountains appeared to wail.
Shaikh Shibli says : “I thought Qiyaamah had come.” The Shaikh continued
to cry uncontrollably.
Shaikh Shibli continues: We said to him : “Shaikh, why don*t you
return with us to Baghdad?” The Shaikh replied : “How can I? I have to
see to the pigs, although I once saw to the hearts of men!”
I asked the Shaikh : “You were a Haafiz of Quraan and you could
recite the seven modes of Qiraat. Do you remember anything of the
Quraan?”
The Shaikh answered : “I have forgotten everything except two verses
of the Quraan: ‘He who Allah disgraces, none can grant him honour. Allah
does as He wishes.’ And, secondly, the verse, ‘He who chooses kufr
(disbelief) over Imaan (faith) he has certainly gone astray.’
I asked : “You knew thirty thousand ahadith of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Do you still remember any?”
He answered : “Only one: ‘One who leaves his faith, kill him!’ ”
Amazed at his condition, we left the Shaikh and headed for Baghdad.
However, after we had walked for three days we suddenly saw the Shaikh
in front of us. He was coming out of a river, where he had just
performed a bath. In a loud voice he proclaimed the shahaadah: “I bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah and I bear
witness that Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is His messenger.”
We could not control our joy and happiness when we saw him. He asked
us for some pure clothing which he then wore. He then performed Salaah.
We expressed our gratitude to Allah for returning him to us and we asked
him what had happened to him.
He replied : “When you left me, I turned to Allah with my former love
and affection for Him : ‘O my Protector, I am a sinner and a
transgressor.’ Allah forgave me and covered me in His mercy.”
We asked him : “But, why were you put through such an intense trial?”
The Shaikh replied: “When we arrived in the village and saw the
temples, synagogues and churches I thought to myself: ‘These people are
nothing compared to me. I believe and worship one Allah.’ At that moment
I heard a voice from within me saying: ‘This Iman that you have, is not
due to your goodness in any way. If you so wish, We will show you right
now.’ Immediately I felt as if something left my heart and flew away.
That was my Imaan leaving me.”
Shaikh Shibli says: “We were overjoyed. Our caravan arrived in
Baghdad with great joy. The Shaikh’s places of teaching and preaching
were reopened. In a short while his students numbered over forty
thousand. Allah again returned to him his knowledge of Quraan and Hadith
and blessed him with further knowledge.” (Al-Mustatraf Fi Kulli Fann
An-Mustadhraf)