HADHRAT JUNAID BAGHDADI (RAHMATULLAH ALAYH) – PART 1

* Hadhrat Junaid Baghdadi (Rahmatullah alayh) was the Imaam of the Sufiya. He is called Sayyidut Taa-ifah (The Leader of the Jamaat of Auliya), Taa-usul Ulama (The Peacock of the Ulama) and Sultaanul Muhaqqiqeen (The Sultan of  the Researchers). He occupied the loftiest rank in Shariat and Tareeqat (Tasawwuf).   Despite such lofty status, envious enemies branded him a zindeeq and a kaafir. He was the nephew and mureed of Hadhrat Sirri Saqati (Rahmatullah alayh).

*  Someone asked Hadhrat Sirri Saqati (Rahmatullah alayh): “Can the status of a mureed be higher than the status of his Shaikh?” Hadhrat Saqati responded: “Yes. The glittering proof for this is Junaid Baghdadi.”

* When Hadhrat Junaid was 7 years old, his maternal uncle, Hadhrat Sirri Saqati took him with for Hajj. In a gathering of 400 Mashaaikh in Musjidul Haraam, the discussion was on the topic of Shukr (gratitude for the bounties of Allah). Each one presented his comments on this topic.   Finally, Hadhrat Sirri Saqati said: “O Junaid! You too make some comment on this mas’alah.” The 7-year-old Junaid lowered his head for a few moments then said: “Your obedience to Allah Ta’ala should not be for the bounty He presents to you, nor should the bounty be used for disobedience.” With unanimity the 400 Mashaaikh applauded the child and said that his comment was the best.

Hadhrat Sirri Saqati said: “O Junaid! How did you know this?” Hadhrat Junaid replied: “From the barkat of your companionship.”

* “What we (the Sufiya) have gained (in Roohaaniyat and Divine Proximity), was not achieved by speeches and argument. It was acquired by means of hunger, sleeplessness, renunciation of the world and abstaining from the things which were appealing to the nafs.”

* “A man of Tasawwuf should have with him the Qur’aan in his right  hand, the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in his left hand, and walk in the light of these two lanterns so that he does not fall into the pit of doubts nor become entrapped in the darkness of Bid’ah.

* A man presented a gift of 500 dinars to Hadhrat Junaid. Hadhrat Junaid said: “Besides this do you have more?” He said that he had much more. Hadhrat Junaid asked: “Do you desire more wealth?” He said: ”Yes.” Hadhrat Junaid said: ”Then take this. You are more in need of it than me. I have nothing, and I have no desire for wealth.”

(To be continued in shaa Allah)

From “As Saadiqeen”