BISHR AL KHAFI(K.S)

Bishr Al Khafi was one of the well known sufi masters lived in 8th century. In early years of his life, he used to drink alcohol in the pubs with his friends all the time, not to work, get drunk and not able to find the way home. The pub owner was earning a good money out of him and his friends ,so he was very happy with this situation. However, his mother was not happy to see his son being in this condition, as she was seeing him coming home drunk every night. She was praying to Allah so that her son could get out of this habit and be a true believer(mumeen) as his father had wished him to be from Allah before he had passed away.

One night it was raining heavily on the streets, he saw a piece of paper on the floor and some verse from Qur’an was written on it. If I am not mistaking it was the below verse called Ayat Al Kursi:

Qur’an Al-Bakara 2/255]:

اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Allah! there is no god but He, the living, the self subsisting, eternal. No slumber can seize him nor heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in his presence except as he permitteth? he knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as he willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and he feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for he is the most high, the supreme (in glory).

When Bishr al Khafi saw this paper in the mud, he did not want it to be wet in the rain and crushed by the muddy feet of the people. He took it home, cleaned it and raised it up to the wall and hung it on the wall in his house.

Bishr al Khafi had a neighbour who was an ironman. He used to benefit from the teachings of a blessed auiliyah(saint) in that period. This auliyah sent this ironman as a messenger to Bishr and told Bishr the following:

“Oh Bishr, I came to give a message to you from my master. He told me that You found the verse of Allah in the mud one day, you cleansed it and elevated it by hanging on your wall. Now Allah will purify and elevate you.”

No one has seen Bishr  al Khafi again in the pub anymore. He spent his time in learning and practicing ilm(knowledge). He used to walk with bare feet and well known with this feature. He was one of the most wise people in his period. The pub owner lost his business as all his friends started to listen to him as well. He gave preechings on various towns. The pub owner went mad and tried to take revenge from him and found him on the street preeching to a crowd. In the middle of his speech the pub owner said:

“If there was a man who was drunk and drinking alcohol every time of the day with his friends and doing no work , then if this man had started to appear in the public by teaching knowledge to them , what would you say?”

Bishr al Khafi recognized the voice of the pub owner and understood that he was trying to put him down in the public. He said:

” We were worse than the man you have just mentioned. But Allah has a mercy for the one who regrets his past , repents and follow His religion and His Rasul.”

Having heard that, the pub owner became a student to him as well…

There is a little knowledge about him in wikipedia. I wanted to add this in to this post as well. This post has appeared due to a conversation with a friend about Bishr al Khafi. I had watched a movie about him so that is all I can remember from that movie. I am sure people will find more info from historical records if they search enough.

Barbaros Sert

Basildon-UK

29th of April 2009

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

Bishr ibn al-Harith al-Hafi was one of the early Sufi Masters and a teacher of Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal. Imam Ahmed was the founder of the Hanbali school of Islamic thought.

He was born in 150 Hijri or 767 C.E. in the city Merv.

His title was Al-Hafi (The Barefoot). One legend explains the reason for his title that he lead a corrupt life, and then made his repentance on the hand of Imam Moosa Kazim. At that time he was barefoot. There are other legends about his title too.

He died in 840 C.E. or 227 Hijri and is buried in Baghdad, Iraq

Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishr_al_Hafi“