Imam Junayd al Baghdadi (R.A) - Sufism Biographies

Imam Junayd al-Baghdadi popularly known as Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (d.
910) was born in Nihawand in Persia, but his family settled in Baghdad
where he studied IslamicLaw according to the school of Imam Shaf'i,
and eventually became the chief judge in Baghdad. In Sufi discipline,
he was the close follower of his uncle, Shaykh as-Sari as-Saqti.
Although he was the spiritual master of Mansur al-Hallaj, he was
obliged, in this capacity as chief judge of Baghdad, to sign the
warrant authorising the execution of al-Hallaj. Onit he wrote, "Under
Islamic Law, he is guilty. According to the Inner Reality, Allah
knows."
Due to the antagonism of orthodox religious scholars against the
Sufis, Imam Junayd performed his spiritual practices and taught his
close followers behind seven locked doors. From his letters, short
treatises and the accounts of later Sufis and Sufi biographers, we
gathered that for him the Sufi way of life meant the permanent
striving to return to one's source, which is God, and from which
everything proceeds. Forhim spiritual love meant that 'The qualities
of the Beloved replace the qualities of the lover.'
Imam Junayd concentrated all thoughtand inclination, every admiration,
every hope and every fear, on God. He is considered to be the
undisputed master of the Sufis of Baghdad. Many Sufi Orders trace
their chain of transmission of knowledge from master to master back
through him. It is related that he said:
"We did not take Sufism from talks or words, but from hunger and
detachment from the world, and by leaving the things to which we were
habituated and which were agreeable to us.
and
If I had known of any science greater than Sufism, I would have gone
to it, even on my hands and knees.
and
God purifies the 'heart' of a person according to the measure of the
sincerity of a person in remembering Him."
Imam Junayd was once asked, 'Who is a gnostic?' He replied, 'Theone
who is not bound bytime.'

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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