Archives: Bios

His full name was Shihāb al-Dīn A$mad ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Alī al-Khazraji al-Balansi whose noble lineage is traced back to the great companion Sa’ad ibn ‘Ubadā al-’An.arī. He was known by the agnomen Abu’l‘Abbās and by the nickname al-Mursī after the place he was born – Mursia. His grandfather was Qays ibn Sa’ad, the leader of Egypt before our master Imam ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib in 36H. Our master Abu’l ‘Abbās al-Mursī was born in the city of Mursia in Andalusia in the Islamic year 616H [1219 AD]. His father worked there and sent his son to a teacher to study the Majestic Qur’ān and to understand the commands of the religion. Abu’l‘Abbās memorised the entire Quran in one year and went on to study the principles of Jurisprudence, reading and writing. …

Sayyiduna Abul Abbas al-Mursi (d. 686/1288)
He is the imam of the circle of those truly realized, the qutb of the elite, the treasury of saints, and the vanguard of those brought nigh. He was endowed with the pure saintly miracles and resplendently lofty feats. He is the realized exemplar, Sidi Abu’l-Abbas Ahmad al-Mursi al-Ansari al-Shadhili,¹ may Allah be pleased with him and benefit us by his knowledges, amin.

He was one of the greatest knowers of Allah. He was the only one to inherit the [complete] knowledge of al-Shadhili, and the most esteemed disciple to have taken the path from him.

Al-Mursi did not bequeath any books, saying: ‘The sciences of this group are sciences of realization, and these sciences are not grasped by the intellects of the commonality among creation.’ His own guide, Abul-Hasan al-Shadhili — may his secret be sanctified — would say: ‘My companions are my books’. He also said:

Al-Shadhili would exhort Zaki al-Din al-Aswani with the words, ‘O Zaki al-Din, you must stick to Abul-Abbas. By Allah, there is no Friend of Allah save that Allah has manifested him to Abul-Abbas. OZaki, Abul-Abbas is the perfected man!’ Ustadh

Abul-Abbas would say about himself: ‘By Allah, the saints and the substitutes [abdal] travel around Mount Qaf² until they meet someone like us. When they meet him, he enriches them.’

He would teach other sciences and say: ‘We have participated in the disciplines of the jurists, yet they have not participated in what we [the Sufis] are engaged in.’

He was the pivot of gnoses and secrets, and their illumining sun. Had you heard his speech you would have said, ‘This is the speech of someone whose homeland is nothing but Allah’s invisible reality. He is more knowledgeable about news of the celestials than the news of the terrestials.’

He would only speak about the Greatest Intellect, the Supreme Name and its four branches, the Names, the Letters, the Circles of Saints, the stations of those endowed with certainty and the possessions of the ones brought near the Throne, the sciences of secrets, the spiritual help of formulas of remembrance, the Day of the Decrees, the matter of self-direction [tadbir], the science of the beginning, the science of volition [mashi’ a], the matter of the divine grasp [qabda] and the men singled out for that, the sciences of segregated devotion [ifrad], and Allah’s acts vis-à-vis His slaves set to occur on the Day of Rising.

He would say: ‘By Allah, were it not for the weakness of intellects, I would inform you of what is going to take place tomorrow by God’s mercy.’

He would grab his beard and say, ‘By Allah, if the people of Iraq and the Levant knew what lay beneath these hairs, they would come crawling to it.’

He would say:
“For forty years I have not been veiled from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ even for the blinking of an eye, and had that occurred I would not have counted myself from the Muslims.”

His worldly abstinence [zuhd] reached such an extent that he spent thirty six years in Alexandria without ever seeing the face of its governor or sending him any message. One day, the governor of the city sought to have a meeting with him, but al-Mursi refused, saying, ‘By Allah, I will meet Allah without seeing him.’ It was as he stated. Rulers and kings would come to visit him, but spiritual contraction [qabd] would seize him and he would not find respite while in their company.

He would say:
“By Allah, nothing unlawful ever entered my stomach.’ If he happened to stretch a hand towards something of dubious lawfulness, sixty of his veins would throb and his fingers would emit a light.”

He was gifted the ability to speak in foreign languages and dialects. He would reside in the Muqassam district in Cairo. Every night he would go to Alexandria, listen to the lesson of Abul-Hasan [al-Shadhili], and then return to Cairo.’³ He would say: ‘Allah caused me to witness the angels prostrating to Adam, peace upon him, so I took my share (of knowledge) from that, and so I have declaimed:

He has — may Allah have mercy on him — many sayings, which have been presented in Lata’if al-Minan. O Allah, sustain us and our dear ones by his spiritual help [madad], and benefit us by his blessings, Amin.

His death — may Allah have mercy on him — took place in AH 686. He was buried in his mosque in Alexandria. His tomb is famous among Egyptians, young and old. Both leaders and paupers seek intercession through him. O Allah, benefit us through him, amin.

Footnotes:

Sheikh Abul ´Abbas Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn `Umar al-Ansari al-Mursi var efterträdare till Imam Abul Hasan al-Shadhili. Trots att han till det yttre inte liknade sin Sheikh, liknande han honom till sitt sätt och till sitt beteende till den grad att folk inte kunde skilja mellan honom och Imam Abul Hasan.

Sheikh Abul `Abbas al Mursi sade:

“Imam Abul Hasan sade till mig: ‘Abul `Abbas, jag har tagit dig till min lärjunge endast för att du ska bli jag och jag du.’ ” [1/ p. 116]

Hans efterträdare var sedan Ibn `Ata Allah al-Sakandari, som skrivit många kända böcker, t.ex. Al-Hikam (Visdomsord). Han var den förste som dokumenterade sina föregångares liv och uttalanden. Nedan några utdrag ur hans bok Lata’if al-Minan.

Hur Sheikh Abul `Abbas al-Mursi mötte sin Mästare Imam Abul Hasan al-Shadhili

Shaikh Abu al Abbas berättade för Ibn `Ata Allah, enligt Lata’if al-Minan :
“När jag var i Tunisien, sedan jag kommit från Murcia – jag var då en ung man – hörde jag talas om Sheikh Abul Hasan al-Shadhili. En man sade till mig: ‘Vill du komma med mig för att träffa honom?’ Jag svarade: ‘När jag sökt Allah’s vägledning i denna sak.’ När jag sov den natten, såg jag mig själv i en vision, där jag steg upp mot en bergstopp. När jag nådde toppen såg jag där en man klädd i en grön burnus. Han satt med en man på sin högra sida och en annan på sin vänstra. Jag såg på honom och han sade: ‘Du har funnit denna tids khalifa.’ Jag vaknade, och sedan jag bett morgonbönen kom mannen som bjudit in mig för att besöka Sheikhen och jag gick med honom. När vi kom in för att träffa Sheikhen, fann jag honom till min förundran sittande på samma bänk som jag sett honom på på bergstoppen. Sheikhen sade till mig: ‘Du har funnit denna tids khalifa. vad heter du?’ Jag nämnde mitt namn och min härstamning för honom, och han sade till mig: ‘Du lyftes upp till mig för tio år sedan’.” [1/ p. 97]

Abul `Abbas al-Mursi berättar om hur Allah gav Imam Abul Hasan befäl över havet

Sheikh Abu al Abbas berättade:
“Jag var med Sheiken på `Idhab-sjön. Vi ansattes av hårda vindar och båten hade fått en läcka. Sheikhen sade då:´’Jag såg himlarna öppna och två änglar som steg ned. En av dem sade: “Moses är mer kunnig än al-Khidr,” medan den andres sade “Al-Khird är mer kunnig än Moses,” ytterligare en ängel nedsteg och sade: “Sannerligen, det al-Khidr vet mer än Moses är inte mer än det härågeln känner till av Solomos kunskap då han sade: ‘Jag har fått reda på sådant du inte fått reda på.” ‘ Jag förstod då att Allah skulle föra oss säkert till vårt mål, eftersom Han gett Moses befäl över havet. ” [1/ p. 100]

Sheikh Abul `Abbas berättar [för Sheikh Ibn `Ata Allah, i Lataif al-Minan] :
“Vi var på en resa tillsammans med Sheihen [Abul Hasan] det år han dog. När vi kom till Khanim, sade Sheiken till mig: Jag såg mig själv i en häftig storm på havet. Vinden piskade, vågorna hävde sig, båten sprang läck och vi var nära att dränkas. Jag närmade mig då båtens reling och sade: ´”O hav, om du har befallts att lyssna och lyda mig – all nåd tillhör Allah, den All-Hörande, den All-Vetande. Men om du befallts något annat, så ligger domslutet hos Allah, den Allsmäktige, den Vise ” Jag hörde då havet säga: “Jag lyssnar och jag lyder.” – Sheikhen dog och vi begravde honom i Humaythira i `Idhab-öknen. Efter det begav jag mig på en annan resa. Vi befann oss mitt i en häftig storm, vi var långt ute till havs, Vinden piskade, vågorna hävde sig, båten sprang läck och vi var nära att dränkas. Vid den tiden hade jag glömt Sheikhens ord, men när situationen blev allvarlig mindes jag dem. Jag närmade mig då båtens reling och sade: ´’O hav, om du har befallts att lyssna och lyda Allah’s Vänner – all nåd tillhör Allah, den All-Hörande, den All-Vetande. (Jag sade inte: lyssna och lyda mig, som Sheikhen sagt.) Men om du befallts något annat, så ligger domslutet hos Allah, den Allsmäktige, den Vise.’ Jag hörde då havet säga: ‘Jag lyssnar och jag lyder.’ Havet blev då stilla och den återstående resan var behaglig.” [1/ p. 99]

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Referenser & källtexter
[1] Lata’if al-Minan

Şeyh Ebu’l Abbas el-Mursi Hazretleri (-h.686)
Referans: Tabakat el-Şaziliyye el-Kubra, Muhammed bin Kasım el-Kuhin

Tahkik ehlinin imamı, ruhlarını saflaştırmışların kutbu, evliyanın hazinesi, Allah’a yakınlaşmış olanların önde gelenlerindendir. Açık kerametlerin ve apaçık ali marifetin sahibi, muhakkik rehber Şeyh Ebu’l Abbas el-Mursî el-Ensârî eş-Şâzîlî Hazretleri, Allah Teala ondan razı olsun ve bizi onun ilmi ile faydalandırsın, Amin.

O (r.ah) ariflerin büyüklerindendi. Ondan başka Ebu’l Hasan Şazili Hazretleri’nin (r.ah)  ilmini miras alan yoktur. O, Şazili Hazretleri’nden tarikatı alanların en seçkinidir.

Şeyh, herhangi bir kitap kaleme almamıştır. Derdi ki: “Bu taifenin bilgileri tahkik ilmidir ve avam kişilerin akılları bu bilgileri kavrayamaz.” Aynı şekilde şeyhi Ebu’l Hasan Şazili Hazretleri de (kuddise sırruh): “Benim kitaplarım, ashabımdır.” demiştir.

Şazili Hazretleri, Şeyh Ebu’l Abbas el-Mursi hakkında şöyle söylemiştir:

“Gerçekten o Şazili ilminin varisidir

O kutuptur ki onu iyi tanıyın, O biriciktir”

Şazili Hazretleri, Şeyh Zekiyyuddin el-Asvani’ye şöyle öğütlemiştir: “Ey Zekiyuddin, Ebu’l Abbas’a sıkıca yapış. Zira Allah’a yemin olsun, Allah’ın hiçbir velisi yoktur ki, Allah mutlaka onu Ebu’l Abbas’a bildirmesin. Ey Zeki, Ebu’l Abbas kamil bir zâttır.”

Şeyh Ebu’l Abbas Hazretleri kendisi hakkında şöyle derdi: “Allah’a yemin olsun ki, Allah dostları ve abdallar bize benzeyen biri ile karşılaşana dek Kaf Dağı’ndan Kaf Dağı’na yolculuk ederler! Böyle kimse ile karşılaştıklarında, o zat onları manevi hazineleri ile zengin eder.”

Ebu’l Abbas Hazretleri diğer ilimler konusunda da söz sahibi idi ve şöyle derdi: “Bizler fıkıh alimlerine ilimlerinde ortak olduk; fakat onlar bizim ilmimizde bize ortak olamadılar.”

O, marifet ve sırlar ilminin dayanağı ve parlayan güneşiydi. Onun konuşmalarını dinlediğinde: “Bu ilmin vatanı Allah’ın gaybi hakikatinden başka bir şey olamaz. Şeyh, göktekilerin haberlerini, yeryüzündekilerin haberlerinden daha iyi biliyor.” derdin.

Konuştuğu zaman sadece Akl-ı Ekber, İsm-i Azam ve onun dört şubesi, İsimler, Harfler, Evliya Daireleri, yakin sahiplerinin ve arşa yakınlaşanların makamları, sırlar ilmi, zikirlerin manevi yardımı, Hüküm Günü, tedbir mevzusu, başlangıç ilmi, Allah’ın iradesini konu alan ilim, ilahi kabza ve onun ricaline dair mevzular, ifrad ilmi ve kıyamet gününde Allah Teala’nın kullarıyla olacak olan münasebeti hakkında konuşurdu.

Ve şöyle derdi: “Allah’a yemin ederim ki, akıllar zayıf olmamış olsaydı Allah’ın rahmetiyle yarın nelerin olup meydana geleceğini anlatırdım.”

Ebu’l Abbas el-Mursi Hazretleri sakalını tutup şöyle buyururdu: “Allah’a yemin olsun, Irak ve Şam alimleri bu sakalın altında ne olduğunu bilmiş olsalardı yüzüstü sürünerek de olsa yanımıza gelirlerdi.”

Ebu’l Abbas el-Mursi Hazretleri yine şöyle buyurmuşlardır: “Kırk sene boyunca Rasulullah (sallallahu aleyhi ve sellem) ile arama bir an olsun perde girmemiştir. Eğer göz kırpacak kadar Rasulullah’tan ayrılmış olsam, kendimi Müslümanlardan saymazdım.”

Onun zühdü çok ileri bir düzeye ulaşmıştı, öyle ki otuz altı sene İskenderiye’de yaşadığı halde bir kere olsun şehrin valisinin yüzünü görmedi ve hiç kimseyi de ona göndermedi. Bir gün vali onunla buluşmak istemişti fakat o bunu geri çevirdi. Ve şöyle demişti: “Allah’a yemin olsun onu görmeden Allah ile buluşacağım.” Bu onun makamıydı. Emir ve sultanlar ona ziyaret maksadıyla gelirlerdi ancak onu bir kabz hali bürür ve onların aralarında genişlik bulamazdı.

Şeyh Hazretleri şöyle söylerdi: “Allah’a yemin olsun ki mideme hiç haram lokma girmedi.” Şüpheli bir şeye elini uzatacak olsa altmış damarı titreyip hareket eder ve parmaklarının arasından ışık parıldardı.

Kendisine pek çok farklı dilde konuşma becerisi verilmişti. Kahire’de Mukassem bölgesinde oturuyordu. Her gece İskenderiye’ye gelir, hocası Şeyh Ebu’l Hasan’ın dersini dinler sonra Kahire’ye geri dönerdi.

Şeyh şöyle demiştir: “Allah bana Hz. Adem (a.s)’e secde eden melekleri müşahede ettirdi. Ben de o (ilimden) payıma düşeni aldım. Bir de baktım ki şu kasideyi okuyorum:

“Suretim eridi, fena halimin sıdkı tamam olduğunda

Semamın güneşi tecelli etti sırlarda

Alemlere indim ve olundu ifşa

Saklanmış olan o Sıfatlarda bendekilerden sonra”

Şeyhin buna benzer birçok sözü “Letâifu’l Minen” adlı eserde yer almaktadır.

Ey Allah’ım, bize ve sevdiklerimize onun mededi ile imdad eyle ve onun bereketi ile bize fayda ver… Amin.

Şeyh Hazretleri Hicri 686 senesinde vefat etmiştir. İskenderiye’deki camisine defnedilmiştir. Makamı Mısır halkı arasında meşhur olmuştur, büyük-küçük herkes onu bilir ve hükümdarı da fakiri de onunla Allah’a tevessül eder.

Allah’ım onun yoluyla bize fayda ver. Amin.

They are the sons of Sayyidina ‘Ali Zayn ul Abdeen ibn Sayyidina Husayn ibn Sayyidina ’Ali ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with them all). Their maqams are located near the maqam of Sayyidina Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi, in the same mosque complex.

Ref: mazaratmrisr.org

1. From Al-Sha`rani: Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra (see below)
2. From Kuhin: Tabaqat al-Shadhiliyya (see below)

Sheikh Yaqut al-`Arshi– may Allah ta’ala be pleased with him – was the imam of the spiritual sciences, a worshipper and ascetic, and one of the greatest of those who took from Sheikh Abul`Abbas al-Mursi (radia Allah `anhu). The day he was born, in the lands of Habasha, Sheikh Abul`Abbas was informed of it, and he made a `asida for him. It was then summer time in Alexandria, and people said to him: “But `asida is only for winter time.” He answered: “This `asida is for your brother Yaqut al- `Arshi, who is born in the land of Habasha, and will come to you.” And so it happended.

Yaqut al-`Arshi was the one who interceded for Sheikh Shams al-Din ibn al-Lubban (who disavowed Sheikh Ahmad al-Badawi, so that all his good deeds and rank were nullfied). Sheikh Shams al-Din had sought intersession from all the awlia, but Sheikh Ahmad al-Badawi did not accept it from anyone. Yaqut al-`Arshi then travelled from Alexandria to Tanta, and asked Sheikh Ahmad al-Badawi to change his opinion about Sheikh Shams al-Din, so that his rank may be returned to him, and Sheikh Ahmad al-Badawi complied to his request. – Later, Sheikh Yaqut al-`Arshi gave his daughter in marriage to Shams al-Din ibn al-Lubban, who made it his will , when he died, to be buried under her feet, out of respect for her father Sheikh Yaqut al-Arshi.

He was called al-`Arshi, because his heart was constantly under the Throne of Allah – only his body was on the earth. It has also been said that it is because he heard the adhan from the Angels carrying the Throne of Allah.

He interceded even for the animals. Once, when he was sitting in the circle of the fuqara, a dove came and sat on his shoulder, and said some secret words in his ear. Then he said: “Bismi Allah, we will send one of the fuqara with you.” The dove said: “Noone except you will satsify my need.” So he rode his mule from Alexandira to Misr al-`Atiqa (Cairo) and entered the Mosque of `Amr, saying: “Let me meet the Muadhdhin”. The Muadhdhin was sent for, and Sheikh Yaqut said to him: “This dove came to Alexandria and told me that you kill its young ones every time she gives birth to them in the Minaret.” The Muadhdhin said: “Yes, that is true. I have killed them several times.” Sheikh Yaqut said: “Don’t do it again.” The Muadhdhin said: “I repent to Allah ta`ala.” After that Sheikh returned to Alexandria – may Allah ta’ala be pleased with him.

His virtues and glorious deeds are many and well known among the Shadhilis i Egypt and elsewhere. He passed away in Alexandria year 707 H. – may Allah ta’ala be well pleased with him.

He is Abu al-Durr b. ‘Abdullah al-Habashi [1]. He was a virtuous shaykh who commanded awe and reverence. An imam of gnosis, he was a devout worshipper and ascetic. He is counted among the most illustrious disciples of Shaykh Abu’l-‘Abbas al-Mursi. On the day of his birth in Abyssinia, Shaykh Abu’l-‘Abbas was informed of it. It was a summer day in Alexandria and he prepared ‘asida [a pasty thick gruel made from wheat flour and clarified butter for the newborn]. When told that ‘asida was only prepared in winter, he retorted, ‘This is the ‘asida of your brother Yaqut, who is born in Abyssinia, and will come to you.’ And so it happened.

He was from those who interceded on behalf of Shaykh Shams al-Din b. al-Lubban, when the latter disavowed Sidi Ahmad al-Badawi, resulting in his own knowledge and spiritual state being taken away. Shaykh-Shams al-Din b. al-Lubban had sought the intercession of all other saints.149

He was called al-‘Arshi because his heart was constantly under the Throne [Arsh], only his body being on the earth. It is also said that he would hear the adhan from the angels carrying the Throne.

He even interceded on behalf of animals. One day, when he was sitting in a circle of dervishes, a dove came and sat on his shoulder, and then whispered some secret into his ear. He said: `Bismi Allah, we will send one of the devotees with you.’ The dove told him: ‘Only you will satsify my need.’ So he mounted his mule and journeyed from Alexandira to old Cairo and entered the Mosque of ‘Amr, saying: ‘Let me meet the caller to prayer [muadhdhin].’ The muadhdhin was sent for, and the shaykh said to him: ‘This dove told me in Alexandria that you kill its chicks whenever she gives birth to them in the minaret.’ The muadhdhin said: ‘Yes, this is true. I have killed them on several occasions.’ The shaykh said: ‘Don’t do it again.’ The muadhdhin said: ‘I repent to Allah Most High.’ After this, the shaykh returned to Alexandria, may Allah Most High be pleased with him.

He has a legion of virtues that are well-known among members of the Shadhili Path in Egypt and elsewhere. He died in Alexandria on 18 Jumada II AH 707. He was eighty years old. His shrine in Alexandria — may Allah have mercy on him — is a site of pilgrimage for adults and children seeking spiritual graces. May Allah benefit us through him.

Footnotes:
[1] See his biography in Tabaqat al-Shadhiliyyat al-Kubra by Muhyi al-Din al-Tu`mi (p. 222).