THE MYSTERY OF IBRAAHIM KIRMAANI
Reading Time: 6 minutes
A Buzrug narrated the following wonderful episode:
The Buzrug had a wonderful stone in which there was a slight hollow forming a sort of a
HADHRAT ZUNNUN MISRI
HADHRAT Zunnun Misri (rahmatullah alayh), the famous Wali of Egypt of the third Islamic century,
was branded a zindeeq (heretic/kaafir) by the people of Egypt. His mystical statements were
beyond their intellectual capacity. The people sent a petition to Khalifah Mutawakkil in Baghdad
complaining severely about Hadhrat Zunnun (rahmatullah alayh). Many blasphemous statements
and beliefs were attributed to him. The Khalifah ordered his arrest and instructed that he be sent in
chains to Baghdad which was the seat of the Khilaafate.
Consequently, Hadhrat Zunnun (rahmatullah alayh) was put in chains and dispatched to
Baghdad. When he finally was delivered into the court of the Khalifah, he commented: “Today I
have learnt how to be a Muslim from two persons: an old lady and a young man.” When he was
asked to explain, he said: “Along the way to the court, a young water-carrier gave me some water
to drink. I indicated to a friend who had accompanied me to give him a dinar. The water-carrier
HAYAATAN TAYYIBATAN (A WHOLESOME LIFE)
48
refused to accept it, and commented: “It is dishonourable to take payment from a stranger in
chains.”
“When I was ushered into the Khalifah’s court, I became a bit apprehensive when I observed
the pomp and splendour, the soldiers, guards, etc. As some change overtook me, there suddenly
appeared an old lady with a stick in front of me. She reprimanded: “Beware! Never fear! The one to
whom they are taking you is a human being just as you. He cannot do you anything without the
Will of Allah Ta’ala.” Then she disappeared.
The Khalifah ordered that Hadhrat Zunnun be imprisoned for forty days. Whilst in jail, Hadhrat
Bishr Haafi’s sister who was a saintly lady of lofty rank would daily send one bread to the prison for
Hadhrat Zunnun. After forty days when he was released, it was seen that the forty bread were all
intact. He did not eat a single piece of the bread. This realization grieved the saintly lady. When
she queried the reason for having abstained from the bread which she had prepared from her
halaal earning, Hadhrat Zunnun (rahmatullah alayh) said that he was aware that the bread was
from her halaal earnings, however, the container in which the bread was sent was contaminated by
the hands of an oppressor. This was a reference to the hands of the jail warder who would bring
the bread.
After he was released, he fell down due to extreme weakness. His head was injured and blood
gushed forth. Miraculously, the blood did not run on to his face nor on his garments, but would run
off directly from his forehead on to the ground and the ground would instantaneously absorb it.
Before he was released, he was brought into the presence of Khalifah Mutawakkil and
interrogated about his beliefs and the seemingly blasphemous statements attributed to him.
Hadhrat Zunnun acquitted himself with such eloquence and elucidation that the Khalifah broke
down crying. All the noblemen and scholars present were amazed at the eloquence and the
elaboration presented by Hadhrat Zunnun (rahmatullah alayh). So awed became the Khalifah that
he became the mureed and devotee of Hadhrat Zunnun Misri (rahmatullah alayh) who was sent
back to Egypt in great honour and respect.
THE MYSTERY OF IBRAAHIM KIRMAANI
A Buzrug narrated the following wonderful episode:
“Together with a few of my companions we went to Mount Libnaan with the intention of
meeting Auliya who inhabit isolated places and caves. We walked for a considerable time in the
mountain range. I injured my leg and sat down to rest. My companions decided to proceed with
the search for Auliya. They told me to remain here while they searched. They would return
again. I waited until the next day but they did not return. I hobbled along in search of water to
make wudhu. I descended the side of the mountain and found a fountain of water. After making
wudhu as I was about to commence Salaat, I heard a voice reciting the Qur’aan Shareef.
I completed Salaat and set off in the direction of the voice. Soon I saw a cave. The voice was
emanating from that cave. When I entered I saw a blind Buzrug sitting. I made Salaam, and he
responded: ‘Wa Alaikumus Salaam’, and asked me: ‘Are you a jinn or an insaan (human being).’
I said: ‘I am an insaan.’ With surprise in his voice, he said: ‘This is the first time in thirty years
that a human being has come here. Perhaps you are tired. Take a rest.’ As he said so, I fell
asleep. He aroused me at the time of Zuhr, and I joined him for Zuhr Salaat. I also performed
Asr, Maghrib and Isha’ with him. Despite him being blind, he was accurate in determining the
times of Salaat. After Isha’ Salaat he said to me: ‘Go, into the inner-side of the cave and eat
whatever you find there.’ When I reached another section inside the cave, I saw on a slab of
stone walnuts, raisins, apples, figs, etc. I ate as much as I desired. I asked him: ‘From whence
did all these fruits come to you?’ He said: ‘You shall soon see for yourself.’
Soon thereafter, a beautiful multi-coloured bird arrived. Its wings were snow white; breast
red and neck green. In its beak were raisins and in its claws walnuts. The bird deposited the fruit
on the slab of stone. The Buzrug said: ‘This bird has been delivering these fruits for me since the
past 30 years. It comes daily seven times. But today it had come 15 times. When I asked the bird
the reason, it said that seven times were for me, and eight times for the guest.’
The garment of the Buzrug was made of the bark of a tree. A bark of the tree was also his
bedding. I asked him: ‘Where did you obtain the bark from?’ He said: ‘This same bird on the
Day of Ashura (10th Muharram) every year brings ten pieces of bark which I make into
garments.’
