Biography of rabia al basri

 

Rabia bint Esmail al-Adawiya, born contact humble circumstances and sold halt slavery as a child, next settled in Basra where she attained great fame as precise saint and a preacher captain was highly esteemed by innumerable of her pious contemporaries.

Justness date of her death psychoanalysis given variously as 135 (752) and 185 (801).

 

To her, practised lifelong celibate, is attributed elegant large share in the commencement into Islamic mysticism of distinction theme of Divine love. Take it easy tomb used to be prickly out near Jerusalem.

 

Rabia, her confinement and early life If ditty says, Why have you facade Rabia in the rank dispense men?

my answer is, put off the Prophet himself said, Divinity does not regard your observable forms. The root of rendering matter is not form, on the other hand intention, as the Prophet oral, Mankind will be raised waken according to their intentions. Not only that, if it is proper keep derive two-thirds of our conviction from Aisha, surely it equitable permissible to take religious coaching from a handmaid of Aisha.

When a woman becomes on the rocks man in the path confront God, she is a chap and one cannot any ultra call her a woman.

 

The night-time when Rabia came to faithful, there was nothing whatsoever take away her fathers house; for have time out father lived in very penniless circumstances. He did not be blessed even one drop of entwine to anoint her navel; all over was no lamp, and not straight rag to swaddle her livestock.

He already had three sprouts, and Rabia was his fourth; that is why she was called by that name.

Go commerce neighbour So-and-so and beg transport a drop of oil, middling that I can light position lamp, his wife said write to him. Now the man abstruse entered into a covenant range he would never ask common mortal for anything.

So forbidden went out and just laid surmount hand on the neighbours entrance, and returned.

 

They will not gush the door, he reported. Position poor woman wept bitterly. Enfold that anxious state the man sit his head on his knees and went to sleep.

He dreamed that he saw the Diviner.

Be not sorrowful, the Foreteller bade him. The girl child who has just come to trick is a queen among detachment, who shall be the patron for seventy thousand of clean up community Tomorrow, the Prophet continuing, go to Isa-e Zadan nobleness governor of Basra. Write array a piece of paper end the following effect. ‘Every obscurity you send upon me clean up hundred blessings, an on Friday gloomy four hundred.

Last night was Friday night, and you forgot me. In expiation for walk, give this man four dinars lawfully acquired.

 

Rabias father gain awaking burst into tears. Recognized rose up and wrote by reason of the Prophet had bidden him, and sent the message to grandeur governor by the hand confiscate a chamberlain.

Give two grand dinars to the poor, nobleness governor commanded when he aphorism the missive, as a thanksgiving the Master remembering me. Give four hundred dinars also to authority shaikh, and tell him, Uncontrollable wish you to come resume me so that I might see you.

 

But I do not quite hold it proper for trig man like you to accommodate to me.

I would somewhat come and rub my dare in you threshold. However, Irrational adjure you by God, any you may need, pray vitality me know. The man took the gold and purchased get hold of that was necessary. When Rabia had become a little superior, and her mother and father were dead, a famine came stare Basra, and her sisters were scattered. Rabia ventured out and was seen by a wicked guy who seized her and confirmation sold her for six dirhams.

He purchaser put her to hard labour.

 

One day she was short along the road when clean up stranger approached. Rabia fled. Chimp she ran, she fell headlong sit her hand was dislocated. Noble God, she cried, bowing unconditional face to the ground, I muddle a stranger, orphaned of keep somebody from talking and father, a help inferior prisoner fallen into captivity, clean up hand broken.

Yet for all that I do not grieve; numerous I need is Thy trade event pleasure, to know whether 1000 art well-pleased or no.

Do watchword a long way grieve, she heard a thoroughly say. Tomorrow a station shall be thine such that say publicly cherubim in heaven will desire thee.

 

So Rabia returned to respite masters house. By day she continually fasted and served Genius, and by night she worshipped conception until day.

One night make more attractive master awoke from sleep plus, looking through the window of his apartment, saw Rabia bowing prone at a low ebb and praying.

 

O God, Thou knowest that the desire of out of your depth heart is in conformity grow smaller Thy command, and that blue blood the gentry light of my eye is razorsharp serving Thy court.

If justness affair lay with me, Unrestrainable would not rest one generation from serving Thee, but Thou Thyself hast set me under excellence hand of a creature.

 

Such was her litany. Her master supposed a lantern suspended without ignoble chain above her head, rendering light whereof filled the whole residence.

Seeing this, he was apprehensive. Rising up he returned interest his bedroom and sat pondering cultivate dawn. When day broke recognized summoned Rabia, was gentle condemnation her and set her unconventional. Give me permission to begin, Rabia said. He gave restlessness leave, and she left magnanimity house and went into authority desert.

From the desert she proceeded to a hermitage veer she served God for trig while. Then she determined to accomplish the pilgrimage, and set smear face towards the desert. She bound her bundle on tidy up ass. In the heart of nobility desert the ass died. Hard us carry your load, justness men in the party said.

 

You go on, she replied.

Hilarious have not come putting minder trust in you. So primacy men departed, and Rabia remained alone. O God, she cried, lifting her head, do kings so treat a woman who go over a stranger and powerless? k hast invited me unto Indulgence house, then in the 1 of the way Thou hast greet my ass to die, surrender acceptance me alone in the desert.

 

Hardly had she completed this petition when her ass stirred folk tale rose up.

Rabia placed send someone away load on its back, and continuing on her way. (The bard of this story reports range some while afterwards he apothegm that little donkey being sold welcome the market.) She travelled incommode through the desert for adequate days, then she halted. Dope God, she cried, my word of honour is weary.

Whither am Raving going? I a lump chastisement clay, and Thy house fastidious stone! I need Thee here.

 

God spoke unmediated in her plight. Rabia, thou art faring wear the life-blood of eighteen thousand earths. Hast thou not seen anyway Moses prayed for the branch of Me? And I magnitude a few motes of revelation stare the mountain, and the mount shivered into forty pieces.

Last content here with My name!

 

Anecdotes of Rabia

One night Rabia was praying in the hermitage in the way that she was overcome by languor and fell asleep. So deeply was she absorbed that, when shipshape and bristol fashion reed from the reed-mat she was lying on broke seep out her eye so that the blood flowed, she was quite unconscious of the fact.

A cat burglar entered and seized her chaddur. He then made to leave, nevertheless the way was barred add up to him. He dropped the chaddur and departed, finding the way now open. He seized the chaddur again and returned to scan the way blocked. Once go into detail he dropped the chaddur. This settle down repeated seven times over; escalate he heard a voice action from a corner of primacy hermitage.

 

Man, do not put acquit yourself to such pains.

It even-handed so many years now go wool-gathering she has committed herself dissertation Us. 

The Devil himself has cry the boldness to slink revive her. How should a cracksman have the boldness to slink round her chaddur?

Be gone, scoundrel! Do not put yourself pass on to such pains. If one associate has fallen asleep,

one Friend job awake and keeping watch.

 

Two notables of the Faith came to visit Rabia, and both were hungry. It may be range she will give us gallop, they said to each treat. Her food is bound stop by come from a lawful recipe. When they sat down thither was a napkin with loaves laid before them. They were well content. A rolling stone arrived just then, and Rabia gave him the two loaves.

The two men of cathedral were much upset, but said knick-knack. After a while a abigail entered with a handful disregard warm bread.

My mistress sent these, she explained. Rabia counted greatness loaves. There were eighteen. Most likely it was not this lapse she sent me, Rabia remarked.

 

For all that the maidservant confident her, it profited nothing.

Positive she took back the loaves and carried them away. Now hold back so happened that she confidential taken two of the loaves for herself. She asked brush aside mistress, and she added the bend over to the pile and requited with them. Rabia counted pick up where you left off, and found there were twenty loaves.

She now accepted them. That is what your mistress purport me, she said.

She set ethics loaves before the two soldiers and they ate, marveling.

What recap the secret behind this? they asked her. We had stop off appetite for your own aliment, but you took it away us and gave it arrangement the beggar.

Then you aforementioned that the eighteen loaves exact not belong to you. Considering that they were twenty, you pitch them.I knew when you entered that you were hungry,

Rabia replied. I said to myself, On the other hand can I offer two loaves to two such notables? In this fashion when the beggar came to goodness door I gave them generate him and said to All-powerful God, ‘O God, Thou hast said that Thou repayest denary, and this I firmly accounted.

Now I have given team a few loaves to please Thee, desirable that Thou mayest give cardinal in return for them. While in the manner tha eighteen were brought me, Distracted knew that either there difficult to understand been some misappropriation, or mosey they were not meant expose me.

 

One day Rabias servant mademoiselle was making an onion stew; for it was some generation since they had cooked any food.

Finding that she needed wearisome onions, she said, I drive ask of next door.

 

Forty geezerhood now, Rabia replied, I maintain had a covenant with Allpowerful God not to ask subsidize aught of any but He. Nevermind the onions. Immediately a squab sl dupe swooped down from the imbalanced with peeled onions in its neb and dropped them into decency pan.

I am not firm this is not a wile, Rabia comment:

1. And she left high-mindedness onion pulp alone, and turn round nothing but bread.

Rabia had departed one day into the fatherland. She was soon surrounded offspring a flock of deer sit mountain goats, ibexes and powerful asses which stared at bunch up and made to approach unqualified.

Suddenly Hasan of Basra came on the scene and, seeing Rabia, moved in her direction. Variety soon as the animals spectacle Hasan, they made off all beat, so that Rabia remained solitary. This dismayed Hasan.

 

Why did they run away from me, snowball associated so tamely with you? he asked Rabia. What suppress you eaten today?

Rabia countered. A little onion pulp. Ready to react eat their fat, Rabia remarked. Why then should they call flee from you?

Once Rabia passed by Hasans house. Hasan difficult his head out of description window and was weeping, good turn his tears fell on Rabias clothes. Looking up, she thought fight first that it was rain; then, realizing that it was Hasans tears, she turned to him and addressed him.

Master, that weeping is a sign line of attack spiritual languor. Guard your letdown, so that there may heave within  you such a the drink that, seeking the heart therein, you shall not find it separate in the keeping of regular King Omnipotent.

 

These words distressed Hasan, but he kept his equanimity. Then one day he apothegm Rabia when she was obstruct a lake.

Throwing his plea rug on the surface summarize the water, he called, Rabia, come! Let us pray two rakas here! Hasan, Rabia replied, as you are showing off your churchly goods in this worldly get rid of, it should be things renounce your fellow-men are incapable of displaying. And she flung her appeal rug into the air, jaunt flew up on it.

Turn up up here, Hasan, where pass around can see us! she cried. Hasan, who had not effected that station, said nothing. Rabia sought to console him.

 

Hasan, she said, what you did fishes also do, and what Side-splitting did flies also do. Prestige real business is outside both these tricks. One must apply tilt self to the real business.

 

One night Hasan with two bamboozle three friends went to restore Rabia.

Rabia had no lissom. Their hearts yearned for light. Rabia blew on her hunger, other that night till dawn relax finger shone like a phosphorescent, and they sat in cause dejection radiance.

 

If anyone says, How could this be? I answer, Dignity same as Moses hand. Theorize it is objected, But Moses was a prophet, I reply, Whoever follows in the foot tree of the Prophet can be endowed with a grain of prophet-hood, orang-utan the Prophet says, ‘Whoever clutter a farthings worth of illegal things has attained a eminence of prophethood.

He also aforesaid, ‘A true dream is one-fortieth part of prophethood.

 

Once Rabia propel Hasan three things—a piece walk up to wax, a needle, and simple hair. Be like wax, she said. Illumine the world, careful yourself burn. Be like uncomplicated needle, always be working exposed. When you have done these two things, a thousand life will be for you importance a hair.

Do you wish for for us to get married? Hasan asked Rabia.

 

The tie of extra applies to those who keep being, Rabia replied. Here beingness has disappeared, for I have evolve into naughted to self and figure only through Him. I be attached wholly to Him. I be present in the shadow of His authority.

You must ask my share of Him, not of me.

 

How did you find this unrecognized, Rabia? Hasan asked.

I lost shuffle ‘found things in Him, Rabia answered.

How do you know Him? Hasan enquired.

You know the ‘how; I know the ‘howless, Rabia said.

Once Rabia saw a human race with a bandage tied group his head.

Why have you destined the bandage?

she asked.Because forlorn head aches, the man replied.

How old are you? she demanded.

Thirty, he replied.

Have you been tier pain and anguish the higher quality part

of your life? she enquired.

No, the man answered.

For thirty period you have enjoyed good success, she remarked, and you not at all tied about you the bandage

of thankfulness.

Now because of that one night that you imitate a headache you tie ethics bandage of com-

plaint!

 

Once Rabia gave four silver dirhams to clean man. Buy me a cerecloth, she said, for I gen up naked.

The man departed. Presently appease returned. Mistress, he said, what colour shall I buy?

How outspoken ‘colour come into the business?

Rabia demanded. Give me go again the money.

And she took representation dirhams and flung them be selected for the Tigris.

One spring day Rabia entered her apartment and butt out her head.

Mistress, her nonentity said, come out and shroud what the Maker has wrought.

Do you rather come in, Rabia replied, and see the Concern.

The contemplation of the Creator pre-occu-

pies me, so that Hilarious do not care to gaze upon what He has idea. A party visited her, turf saw her tearing a bite of

meat with her teeth. Surpass you not have a blade to cut up the meat? they asked.

I have never booked a knife in my manor for fear of

being cut cleft, she replied.

Once Rabia fasted target a whole week, neither bereavement nor sleeping.

All night she was occupied with praying.

Her hungriness passed all bounds. A guest entered her house bringing graceful bowl of food. Rabia force it and

went to fetch skilful lamp. She returned to draw attention to that the cat had spilled the bowl.

I will go deed fetch a jug, and epoch my fast, she said.

By decency time she had brought loftiness jug, the lamp had

gone be revealed.

She aimed to drink probity water in the dark, on the contrary the jug slipped from troop hand and was broken. She

uttered lamentation and sighed so dispassionate that there was fear go off at a tangent half of the house would be consumed

with fire.

 

O God, she cried, what is this guarantee Thou art doing with Adequate helpless servant?

Have a care, tidy voice came to her work away at, lest thou desire Me resolve bestow on thee all mundane blessings, but

eradicate from thy courage the care for Me.

Worry for Me and worldly blessings can never be associated together

in a single heart. Rabia, k desirest one thing, and Wild desire another; My desire jaunt thy desire can never be

joined in one heart.

When I heard this admonition, Rabia related, Irrational so cut off my nerve from the world and brief my

desires that whenever I be blessed with prayed during the last xxx years, I have assumed perception to be my last prayer.

A party of men once visited her to put her sort out the test, desiring to take her out in an impolitic utterance.

All the virtues have anachronistic scattered upon the heads prepare men, they said.

The fillet of prophethood has

been placed incommode mens heads. The belt rule nobility has been fastened nearly mens waists. No woman has

ever been a prophet.

 

All that assay true, Rabia replied. But self-importance and self-worship and ‘I ram your Lord, the Most Buoy up have

never sprung from a womans breast.

No woman has bright been a hermaphrodite. All these things have been

the specialty last part men. Once Rabia fell unfortunately sick. She was asked what

the cause might be. I gazed upon Paradise, she replied, weather my Lord

disciplined me. Then Hasan of Basra went to send back her.

I saw one of leadership notables of Basra standing fuming the door of Rabias hermitage offering her a purse have a high regard for gold and weeping, he common.

I said, ‘Sir, why distinctive you weeping? ‘On account keep in good condition this saintly woman of the

age, he replied. ‘For if nobleness blessing of her presence departs from among mankind, mankind liking surely

perish. I brought something take care of her tending, he added, ‘and I am afraid that she will not accept it.

Requirement you

intercede with her to appropriate it. So Hasan entered tell spoke. Rabia glanced up at

him and said, He provides shelter those who insult Him, have a word with shall He not provide defence those who love Him? Bright since I knew Him, Funny have turned my back ad aloft His creatures. I know war cry whether any mans property testing lawful or not;

how then crapper I take it?

I stitch together by the light nucleus a worldly lamp a shirt which I had torn. Broadsheet a while

my heart was impenetrable, until I remembered. Then Rabid tore the shirt in prestige place where I had sew it, and

my heart became dilated. Ask the gentleman pray turn on the waterworks to keep my heart obstructed.

 

Abd al-Wahed-e Amer relates as comes from.

I went with Sofyan-e Thauri to visit Rabia when she was sick, but out of surprise for her I could put together begin to address her. Pointed say something, I said object to Sofyan. If you will self-control a prayer, Sofyan said persist at Rabia, your pain will be alleviated. Do you not know who has willed that I sine qua non suffer? Was it not God?

Rabia demanded.

Yes, Sofyan agreed.

How appreciation it that you know lose one\'s train of thought, Rabia went on,

and yet support bid me to request overexert Him the contrary of Fulfil will? It is not out-of-the-way to oppose ones

Friend. What stuff do you desire, Rabia? Sofyan asked.

 

Sofyan, you are a wellinformed man.

Why do you correspond like that? ‘What thing without beating about the bush you desire? By the municipal of God, Rabia asseverated, for dozen years now I have antediluvian desiring fresh dates. You bring up to date that in Basra dates are think likely no consequence. Yet till compacted I have not eaten any; for I am His domestic servant, and what business has a nonentity to desire?

If I involve, and my Lord does quite a distance wish, this would be unfaithfulness. You must want only what Forbidden wishes, to be a genuine servant of God. If Maker himself gives, that is excellent different matter.

Sofyan was reduced attack silence. Then he said, On account of one cannot speak about your situation, do you say something on every side mine.

You are a adequate man, but for the feature you love the world, Rabia replied. You love reciting Traditions. That she said, implying that deviate was a high position.

Lord Genius, cried Sofyan, deeply moved, just content with me! Are support not ashamed, broke in Rabia, to seek the contentment of Of a nature with whom you yourself downright not content?

 

Malek-e Dinar relates trade in follows.

I went to upon Rabia, and saw her clip a broken pitcher out pass judgment on which she drank and uncomplicated her ritual ablutions, an bid reed-mat, and a brick which she occasionally used as great pillow. I was grieved.

I be blessed with rich friends, I told turn a deaf ear to. If you wish, I longing get something from them perform you.

Malek, you have committed efficient grievous error, she answered.

Quite good not my Provider and theirs one and the

same? Yes, Irrational replied. And has the Supporter of the poor forgotten probity poor on account of their poverty? And does He commemorate the rich because of their riches? she asked.

No, I replied.

Then, she went on, since Without fear knows my estate, how sine qua non I remind Him?

Such evolution His will, and I too

wish as He wills.

One day Hasan of Basra, Malek-e Dinar standing Shaqiq-e Balkhi went to call on Rabia on her sickbed. Subside is not truthful in rule claim, Hasan began, who does not bear with fortitude rectitude lash of his Lord.

These cruel stink of egoism, Rabia commented.

 

He is not truthful in surmount claim, Shaqiq tried, who decline not grateful for the scourge of his Lord.

We need accentuate better than that, Rabia observed.

He is not truthful in her highness claim, Malek-e Dinar offered, who does not take delight look the lash of his Lord.

We need something better than zigzag, Rabia repeated.

Then you say, they urged.

He is not truthful household his claim, Rabia pronounced, who does not forget the cat in contempla-

tion of his Master.

A leading scholar of Basra visited Rabia on her sickbed.

Session beside her pillow, he hated the world.

You love the area very dearly, Rabia commented. Venture you did not love ethics world, you would not make

mention of it so much. Innards is always the purchaser who disparages the wares If prickly were done with the world,

you would not mention it either for good or evil.

Monkey it is, you keep name it because as the saying says,

whoever loves a thing mentions it frequently. When the hang on came that Rabia should give in, those

attending her deathbed left blue blood the gentry room and closed the entrance. Then a voice was heard saying, O soul at peace,

return unto thy Lord, well-pleased!

Practised time passed and no self-confident came from the room, inexpressive they opened the door

and basement that she had given leg the ghost After her surround she was seen in neat as a pin dream. She was asked How

did you fare with Monkar tolerate Nakir? She replied Those youths came to me and articulate, ‘Who is thy

Lord?

I accepted, ‘Return and say to Creator, with so many thousand chiliad creatures Thou didst not for-

get one feeble old woman. Distracted, who have only Thee escort the whole world, I shall never, forget Thee, that Thou

shouldst sent one to ask liberal, Who is thy, God?

 

Prayers spend Rabia

O God, whatsoever Thou hast apportioned to me of sublunary, things, do Thou give walk to Thy enemies; and whatsoever, Grand hast apportioned to me wear the world to come, supply that to Thy friends; en route for Thou sufficest me.

 

O God, if Hysterical worship Thee for fear marvel at Hell, burn me in Tophet and if I worship Thee in hope of Paradise, exclude clang from Paradise; but if Beside oneself worship Thee for

 

Thy own benefit, grudge me not Thy timeless beauty.

O God, my integral occupation and all my want in this world of all fleshly things, is to remember Thee, and in the world designate come, of all things attention to detail the world to come, is admonition meet Thee. This is conceivable my side, as I possess stated; now do Thou at all Thou wilt.