Kisah Bijaksana

Rabia and Riyah al-Qaysi

Riyah once visited Rabia when she was ill. As he sat at her bedside, he lamented the woeful state of the world. “People are cruel and unkind,” he said. “They commit sins but feel no shame.” Rabia said

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Rabia and the Villagers

Rabia wandered into a village, and the villagers asked her, “Where do you come from?” “From the other world,” she said. Puzzled, they asked her, “And where are you going?” “To the other world,” Rabia

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

Rabia and Azrael

Rabia encountered Azrael, the Angel of Death. “Who are you?” Rabia asked. “Behold, mortal: I am the destroyer of delights!” said the Angel of Death. “Tell me more,” said Rabia. “Behold, mortal: I am t

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Rabia’s Grave

Rabia dug a grave outside her house. It was her own grave, dug deep down into the ground. Rabia would go to the edge of this empty grave every morning and every evening, and she would say to herself,

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

A Vision of Rabia

After Rabia’s death, she appeared to the faithful in visions. They saw her running with a lit torch in one hand, and a bucket of water in the other. “Where are you going?” they shouted. “What will you

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Finding Bayazid

Bayazid of Bastam was a seeker. He lived a long life and, when he was seventy-four, someone asked how old he was. Bayazid replied, “I’m four years old now! For seventy years, I was hidden behind veils

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

Bayazid’s Pilgrimage

Bayazid was making the pilgrimage to Mecca. He met a dervish beside the road. “Where are you headed?” the dervish asked. “I am on my way to Mecca,” said Bayazid. “Is it a business trip?” Bayazid was s

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Bayazid in Ecstasy

In ecstasy, Bayazid al-Bistami exclaimed, “I am God!” His disciples were shocked. The next day they told him what had happened. “If I do that again, strike me with your knives,” Bayazid told them. “Yo

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

Dhul-Nun the Madman

Dhul-Nun was acting strangely: screaming, shouting, pelting everyone with sticks and stones. “He’s insane!” the people said, and they locked him up. “Maybe he really has gone mad,” said some of his st

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

The Grieving Sufi and Shabli

A Sufi came to see Shabli, his teacher, weeping bitterly. “Why are you weeping?” Shabli asked him. “I had a friend whose beauty filled my heart. He died yesterday. Now I feel as if I will die of grief

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

The Disciple and the Dove

A Sufi master gave his disciple a dove. “Take this dove,” he said, “and kill it somewhere where no one will see. Don’t return until you have completed this task!” The disciple took the dove and left.

Kisah Sufi 108 kata

Junaid’s Disciples and the Chickens

Junaid favored one disciple more than the others, but no one knew why; Junaid’s favorite appeared to be a fool. “Go to the market,” Junaid said to his disciples one day, “and bring back a live chicken

Kisah Sufi 100 kata

Junaid’s New Neighbor

When Junaid went to greet his new neighbor, the old man snarled and slammed the door in his face. After enduring the man’s rude behavior for several weeks, Junaid despaired. “Oh God,” he prayed, “plea

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Abu Mansur and the Sultan

The sultan summoned his minister, Abu Mansur. “Come at once!” said the sultan’s messenger. “I must finish my prayers first,” said Abu Mansur. When he finally arrived, the sultan shouted, “How dare you

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Abu Said on the Path

Abu Said and his friend had studied together under the same teacher many years ago. “Now you are a great teacher,” said his friend. “How did you learn so much more than I did?” Abu Said said, “One day

Kisah Sufi 111 kata