Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (21/80)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

[Hadid 57:23]

It is said that a tray of dates was set before him. He kept sifting out the dry, shriveled ones for himself and eating them, saying, “I have a greater right to the inferior, for I am myself inferior.”

He never combined two shirts on his body, and he would eat only once every two or three days. When his garment needed washing, he would step into the riverbank fully clothed, scrub it while standing, then remain in the sun until it dried. If a guest arrived, he would go round the houses of his companions collecting food in his waist-wrap.

From him it is related: “When a well-established faqir asks for something and it is granted, his degree of spiritual station is reduced by one rank.”

He would not stand for dignitaries, saying, “Gazing at their faces hardens the heart.”

He was constant in seeking forgiveness, lofty in standing, tender-hearted, and abundant in sincerity.

He passed away in Jumada al-Ula of the year 578 AH. (1)

(1) The author remarks in Al-Ibar, after the lengthy eulogy: “Among his disciples there are both upright and blameworthy individuals. Much dross has found its way into their ranks, and, ever since the Tatars seized Iraq, diabolic innovations have emerged among them—entering fires, mounting wild beasts, and playing with snakes. The shaykh himself, as well as his righteous companions, never knew such practices. We seek refuge in God from Satan.” He adds in Tarikh al-Islam: “They exhibit astonishing displays, such as eating live snakes, climbing into kilns while the flames are raging, stepping inside furnaces so that one of them lies down on one side while the baker works on the other, kindling huge fires around which samaʿ (musical audition) is held; they dance upon the flames until the fire is extinguished.” (Ms. fol. 74, Ahmed III 2917/14).

[الْحَدِيد: ٢٣] وَقِيْلَ: أُحضر بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ طبق تَمر، فَبقِي يُنقِّي لِنَفْسِهِ الحشفَ يَأْكله، وَيَقُوْلُ: أَنَا أَحقّ بِالدُّوْنِ، فَإِنِّي مِثْله دُوْنٌ. وَكَانَ لاَ يَجْمَع بَيْنَ لبس قمِيْصين، وَلاَ يَأْكُل إِلاَّ بَعْد يَوْمَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ أَكلَةً، وَإِذَا غسل ثَوْبه، يَنْزِلُ فِي الشَّطّ كَمَا هُوَ قَائِم يَفْركُهُ، ثُمَّ يَقف فِي الشَّمْسِ حَتَّى يَنشف، وَإِذَا وَرد ضيفٌ، يَدور عَلَى بيُوت أَصْحَابه يَجْمَع الطَّعَام فِي مِئْزَر. وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: الْفَقِير المتمكّن إِذَا سَأَلَ حَاجَة، وَقُضيت لَهُ، نَقَصَ تَمكُّنه دَرَجَة. وَكَانَ لاَ يَقوم لِلرُّؤَسَاء، وَيَقُوْلُ: النَّظَر إِلَى وُجُوْهِهِم يُقسِّي القَلْب. وَكَانَ كَثِيْرَ الاسْتِغْفَار، عَالِي المِقْدَار، رَقِيق القَلْب، غزِيْر الإِخْلاَص. تُوُفِّيَ: سَنَةَ ثَمَانٍ وَسَبْعِيْنَ وَخَمْسِ مائَةٍ، فِي جُمَادَى الأُوْلَى ﵀ (١) .

(١) وقال المؤلف في (العبر) بعد هذا المدح الكثير: (ولكن أصحابه فيهم الجيد والردئ، وقد كثر الزغل فيهم، وتجددت لهم أحوال شيطانية منذ أخذت التتار العراق من دخول النيران وركوب السباع واللعب بالحيات، وهذا لا عرفه الشيخ ولا صلحاء أصحابه، فنعوذ بالله من الشيطان) . وقال في (تاريخ الإسلام) : (ولهم أحوال عجيبة من أكل الحيات حية، والنزول في التنانير وهي تتضرم نارا، والدخول إلى الافرنة، وينام الواحد منهم في جانب الفرن، والخباز يخبز في الجانب الآخر، وتوقد لهم النار العظيمة، ويقام السماع فيرقصون عليها إلى أن تنطفئ) (الورقة: ٧٤ أحمد الثالث ٢٩١٧ / ١٤) .