Al-Sulami
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Abu 'Abd al-Rahman Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami al-Shafi'i (), commonly known as al-Sulami (947-1034), was a
Shafi'i The Shafi'i school or Shafi'i Madhhab () or Shafi'i is one of the four major schools of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), belonging to the Ahl al-Hadith tradition within Sunni Islam. It was founded by the Muslim scholar, jurist, and traditionis ...
muhaddith A muhaddith () is a scholar specialized in the study, collection, and interpretation of hadiths, which are the recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. The role of a muhaddith is central to the science of hadith (ʻilm a ...
(Hadith Master), muffassir (Qur'anic commentator), shaykh of the
Awliya The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...
,
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
hagiographer, and a prolific writer.
Al-Dhahabi Shams ad-Dīn adh-Dhahabī (), also known as Shams ad-Dīn Abū ʿAbdillāh Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn ʿUthmān ibn Qāymāẓ ibn ʿAbdillāh at-Turkumānī al-Fāriqī ad-Dimashqī (5 October 1274 – 3 February 1348) was an Atharism, Athari ...
said of him: "He was of very high status."


Biography


Early

Al-Sulami was born in the city of
Nishapur Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ni ...
in the year 947 and came from a modest background and was orphaned in his teens after the passing of his father who was known for his piety and refined manners. His grandfather became his new guardian, who raised him up and took charge of his education. Al-Sulami was only 8 years old when he began to narrate hadiths which were narrated in writings and directly taken from his teacher, Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Subghi.


Education

An avid student of Hadith, al-Sulami travelled extensively and narrated hadiths from scholars in
Nishapur Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ni ...
,
Merv Merv (, ', ; ), also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian peoples, Iranian city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium& ...
,
Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
, Hejaz (
Mecca Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...
and
Medina Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...
) and he transmitted Hadith to narrators for over 40 years. His works became prominent and have spread far wide during his lifetime. Al-Sulami received his teaching certificate (
ijaza An ''ijazah'' (, "permission", "authorization", "license"; plural: ''ijazahs'' or ''ijazat'') is a license authorizing its holder to transmit a certain text or subject, which is issued by someone already possessing such authority. It is particul ...
) from and, some time after, he received the Sufi cloak (
khirka A Sheikh or shaykh (, pl. , ), of Sufism is a Sufi who is authorized to teach, initiate and guide aspiring dervishes in the Islamic faith. The sheik is vital to the path of the novice Sufi, for the sheik has himself travelled the path of mystic ...
) from Abu'l-Kasim al-Nasrabadhi (d. 367/977-8), who just ten years ago became a Sufi at the hands of
Abu Bakr al-Shibli Abu Bakr al-Shibli (; 861–946) was an important Sufi of Persian descent, and a disciple of Junayd al-Baghdadi. He followed the Maliki school of jurisprudence (''fiqh''). Biography Abu Bakr Shibli was born in Samarra, although his family was o ...
.


Teachers

Al-Sulami studied under numerous Hadith scholars, his most prominent ones include: *
Al-Daraqutni Ali ibn Umar al-Daraqutni (; 918–995 CE / 306–385 AH), was a Sunni Muslim scholar and traditionist best known for compiling the hadith collection '' Sunan al-Daraqutni''. He is commonly celebrated in Sunni tradition with titles such as "Im ...
*
Al-Hakim al-Nishapuri Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abd Allah al-Hakim al-Nishapuri (; 933 - 1014 CE), also known as Ibn al-Bayyiʿ, was a Persians, Persian Sunni scholar and the leading hadith studies, traditionist of his age, frequently referred to as the "Imam of t ...
* Bin Muhammad al-Nishapuri (Hadith master) * Abu Amr Ismail Bin Nujayd (his Muhaddith grandfather)


Students

Al-Sulami had many students who narrated from him, among them were: *
Al-Qushayri 'Abd al-Karīm ibn Hawazin Abū al-Qāsim al-Qushayrī al-Naysābūrī (, ; 986 – 30 December 1072) was an Arab Muslim scholar, theologian, jurist, legal theoretician, commentator of the Qur’an, muhaddith, grammarian, spiritual master, ...
*
Al-Bayhaqi Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn Mūsā al-Khusrawjirdī al-Bayhaqī (, 994–1066), also known as Imām al-Bayhaqī, was a Sunni scholar widely known for being the foremost leading hadith master in his age, leading authority in th ...
* Ahmed al-Thaqafi al-Jubari (Imam of Asbahan) * Ahmad Ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali al-Tusi (the uncle of the great Imam al-Ghazali) * Umar Ibn Ismail al-Jissimi (a jurist scholar)


Death

Towards the end of his lifetime, al-Sulami founded a spiritual khanqa for
Iʿtikāf (, also or ) is an Islamic practice consisting of a period of staying in a mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to during these days and staying away from worldly affairs. The literal meaning of the word suggests sticking an ...
. His intention was to build a solitude for pious worshippers and spiritual seekers of
Nishapur Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ni ...
, which was then visited by the famous Imam al-Khatib. When Al-Sulami passed away, he was buried in the same spiritual house he founded.


Legacy

To this date, al-Sulami works remain one of the most important authorities in early history of
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
literature and many of his books have been preserved over the centuries. It has been both copied and produced since the middle of the last century. Preserved more than any other Sufi source, al-Sulami writings on the explanation of the mystical meanings behind the letters shows a method in which Sufis of the second/eight to the fourth/tenth centuries have interpreted the meaning of the Arabic letters and alphabetic groupings.


Reception

Al-Hakim said: "He was abundant in his auditions and narrations of Hadiths and meticulous in narration." Abu Nu'aym said: He achieved complete Mastery of the Ways of the
Awliya The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...
(Tassawuf), so much as to summarize it according to the explanation of the ancient (oldest Friends of God).
Al-Khatib Al-Khatib () is a surname. People with the surname include: Surname * Abdelkrim al-Khatib (1921–2008), Moroccan surgeon, politician and activist * Ahmad al-Khatib (1933–1982), Syrian politician * Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib (born 1990 or 1991), Palest ...
said: "Al-Sulami was a proficient authority in Hadith."
Al-Dhahabi Shams ad-Dīn adh-Dhahabī (), also known as Shams ad-Dīn Abū ʿAbdillāh Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn ʿUthmān ibn Qāymāẓ ibn ʿAbdillāh at-Turkumānī al-Fāriqī ad-Dimashqī (5 October 1274 – 3 February 1348) was an Atharism, Athari ...
said: The Imam, the hafiz, the Muhaddith, the Sheikh of Khorasan, and the great
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
."


Works

Al-Sulami started writing and authoring when he was in his 20's and continued to write until his death 50 years later. He authored over 100 works: * Adaab al-Sufiya, a book on the manners of the Sufis. * Adaab al-Suhba wa Husn al-Ushra * Amtaal al-Qu'ran * Al-Arba'een fi al-Hadith, a text written about simple living and Ascetism (abandoning the world to seek Allah). * Bayaan Ahwaal al-Sufiyya * Darajaat al-Muamalaat, an explanatory text glossary different Sufi terminology & words. * Darajaat al-Sadiqeen, a text about the ranks of the Righteous. * Al-Farq Bayn al-Sharia wal Haqiqa * Al-Futuwwa ("Spiritual Chivalry" ) * Ghalataat al-Sufiyya, a critical text about certain Sufi exclamations expressing emotions and refutation against false beliefs such as indwelling, incarnation & reincarnation, uncreatedness of the soul, etc. * Haqaiq al-Tafsir, a commentary on the Noble Qu'ran from a Sufi spiritual perspective which achieved much fame in Al-Sulami's lifetime. * Al-Ikhwatu wal-Akhaawaat min al-Sufiyya * Al-Istishadaat * Jamaami Adaab al-Sufiyya * Al-Malamatiyya, a detailed expose text that was published in
Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
in 1945. * Manaahij al-Arifeen * Maqamaat al-Awliya, ("The Spiritual Stations of the Friends of Allah"). Sheikh al-Akhbar Ibn Arabi used it for his book, 'Muhadaraat al-Abrar'. * Masail Waradat min Makka * Mihan al-Sufiyya ("The Trails of the Sufis") * Al-Muqaddima fi al-Tassawuf Wa Haqiqatih * Al-Radd ala Ahle al-Kalam, Al-Sama * Al-Sualaat, a text about technical questions that Sheikh Al-Sulami put forward to the Hadith Master, Sheikh
Al-Daraqutni Ali ibn Umar al-Daraqutni (; 918–995 CE / 306–385 AH), was a Sunni Muslim scholar and traditionist best known for compiling the hadith collection '' Sunan al-Daraqutni''. He is commonly celebrated in Sunni tradition with titles such as "Im ...
concerning the narrators of Hadiths * Suluk al-Arifeen * Sunan al-Sufiyya * Tabaqaat al-Sufiyya, this was a biographical masterpiece that Al-Sulami compiled. * Tahzib al-Nasikh wal-Mansukh fil Qu'ran lu Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri * Tarikh Ahle al-Suffa, which was compiled before his masterpiece, the ''Tabaqaat''.
Al-Dhahabi Shams ad-Dīn adh-Dhahabī (), also known as Shams ad-Dīn Abū ʿAbdillāh Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn ʿUthmān ibn Qāymāẓ ibn ʿAbdillāh at-Turkumānī al-Fāriqī ad-Dimashqī (5 October 1274 – 3 February 1348) was an Atharism, Athari ...
uses it much as a reference in is book, ''Tarikh al-Islam'' (History of Islam) and Imam al-Asbahani uses it in his '' Hilyat al-Awliya. * Uyub al-Nafs wa Mudaratuha * Wasiyya * Zilal al-Faqr * Al-Zuhd, this work consists in narrations (Hadiths) from the first three generations of believers: the companions (Sahaba), the pious successor (Tabi'een) and their successors (Taba tab'ieen).


See also

* List of Ash'aris *
List of Sufis This list article contains names of notable people commonly considered as Sufis or otherwise associated with Sufism. List of notable Sufis A * Abadir Umar ar-Rida * Abd al-Rauf al-Sinkili * Abu Bakr al-Kalabadhi * Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani * Al ...


Citations


References

* * * * * * * {{Authority control 947 births 1034 deaths Shafi'is Asharis Sunni Sufis Hadith scholars Quranic exegesis scholars Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam