بسم اللّٰهِ الرحمن الرحيم
Hadrat
Abu Bakr al-Shibli
أَبُو بَكْر الشِّبْلِي
(Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ
27 Dhul Hijjah 334 AH
Abu Bakr
Born in 247 AH in the locality of Samarah near Baghdad. His father held the distinguished position of Governor of the Nahawand region. Despite growing up in a household of authority and worldly standing, he would later abandon all such positions in pursuit of closeness to Allah Almighty. (247 AH) — Locality of Samarah, near Baghdad
- ◈Holds the rank of the 12th Murshid in the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah blessed spiritual order — a towering link in the sacred chain of spiritual succession connecting to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Memorised the entire Muwatta of Imam Malik (rahmatullahi alayh) and was a follower of the Maliki school of jurisprudence — combining mastery of Islamic law with the highest stations of spiritual attainment.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Devoted thirty years of his life to acquiring sacred knowledge, becoming a recognised expert in jurisprudence and Hadith — a scholar of the highest calibre before turning fully to the path of tasawwuf.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Was selected as the chosen successor (Khalifah) of his murshid Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) — one of the greatest saints in Islamic history — a mark of the extraordinary spiritual station he attained.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Willingly abandoned his family's position of worldly governance and power to seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty — a sacrifice that reflected his complete detachment from the world and his sincerity on the spiritual path.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈When he saw a person absorbed in worldly pursuits, he would make sajdah (prostration) out of gratitude and say: 'All praise for Allah Who granted me safety' — a profound expression of gratitude for the blessing of being guided away from heedlessness.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.8 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Was blessed with the ability to read the state — 'fortunate' or 'misfortunate' — written on the foreheads of people in the marketplace, a spiritual insight granted to the greatest awliya of Allah.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.6 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Held such deep love for the name of Allah that wherever he found the blessed name written, he would kiss it — a sign of the overwhelming love for Allah Almighty that defined his entire existence.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.6 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Passed from this world while acting upon the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — a death befitting his life of complete devotion and submission.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈The great scholar Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh) — the leading scholar of Baghdad — kissed his forehead and seated him next to himself upon meeting him, because the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had appeared to him in a dream embracing Hadrat Shibli and kissing his forehead, saying: 'He recites the verse of Surah Tawbah (9:128) after every salah, then recites salat upon me.' This testimony from Baghdad's leading scholar is a profound mark of his rank.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.9 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈The jurist and historian Hadrat Abd al-Wahhab al-Sha'rani (rahmatullahi alayh) attested to his extraordinary love for the sunnah — documenting that he purchased a miswak for one dinar (a gold coin) solely so as not to abandon the sunnah, and justified this by saying: 'In the sight of Allah, this world and everything in it has less status than the wing of a mosquito. How will I answer if Allah asks me on the Day of Judgement: Why did you abandon the sunnah of my beloved?'
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.14 — Maktaba tul Madina
Born in 247 AH near Baghdad in the locality of Samarah
Born into a distinguished household — his father served as the Governor of the Nahawand region. From his earliest years the signs of spiritual favour were evident in him, even amidst the comforts and status of a governing family.
Devoted thirty years to acquiring sacred knowledge
He spent thirty years in the pursuit of sacred knowledge, memorising the Muwatta of Imam Malik (rahmatullahi alayh) in its entirety and becoming a recognised expert in jurisprudence and Hadith. He followed the Maliki school of law throughout his scholarly life.
Left his position of governance and repented to Allah after meeting Hadrat Khayr al-Nassaj (rahmatullahi alayh)
At a pivotal moment in his life, he left behind the life of worldly governance associated with his family's status. He first came to Hadrat Khayr al-Nassaj (rahmatullahi alayh), repented sincerely, and turned completely toward Allah Almighty — marking the beginning of his formal spiritual journey.
Took bay'at at the hands of Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh)
After his repentance, he came to the greatest saint of his age — Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) — and took the pledge of spiritual allegiance (bay'at) at his hands. Under his guidance he underwent rigorous spiritual training and ascended to the highest stations of nearness to Allah.
Appointed as the chosen Khalifah (successor) of Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh)
Out of all his murids, Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) chose him as his Khalifah — his successor and representative — in the blessed spiritual order. This appointment established him as the 12th Murshid of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah chain.
The leading scholar of Baghdad, Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh), honoured him based on a dream of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh) — the leading scholar of Baghdad — kissed his forehead and seated him next to himself upon meeting him. He explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had appeared to him in a dream embracing Shibli, kissing his forehead, and saying: 'He recites the verse (9:128) after every salah, then recites salat upon me.' This was one of the greatest public recognitions of his rank.
Cured the Caliph Harun al-Rashid (rahmatullahi alayh) through recitation of salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Caliph had suffered from an untreatable illness for six months when he requested Hadrat Shibli's visit. He arrived, reassured the Caliph of his recovery, recited salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), passed his hand over the Caliph's body — and the Caliph was cured instantly.
The miracle of the two doctors accepting Islam
On two separate occasions — once during an illness when a king's non-Muslim doctor was sent, and once during a journey with forty murids — doctors who witnessed his condition and blessed presence accepted Islam. In the first case, he recovered immediately upon the doctor's conversion. In the second, he instructed all his murids to pray for the doctor — who then accepted Islam and became a high-ranking murid.
The forty-day fast that led to a Christian monk's conversion to Islam
Travelling from Makkah to Sham, he encountered a Christian scholar who claimed to worship Sayyiduna Isa (alayhis salam) because he had fasted forty days without food. Hadrat Shibli stayed and fasted forty days himself without eating or drinking. When he offered to fast further, the monk was astounded. He then declared his religion to be Islam — the path of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The monk accepted Islam, took the kalimah, was brought to Damascus, and eventually became so devoted that people began to consider him a saint.
Passed from this world while acting upon the Sunnah
He left this world in a state of complete adherence to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — a life lived entirely in submission ending in the most blessed manner a believer could hope for.
Born in 247 AH near Baghdad in the locality of Samarah
Born into a distinguished household — his father served as the Governor of the Nahawand region. From his earliest years the signs of spiritual favour were evident in him, even amidst the comforts and status of a governing family.
Devoted thirty years to acquiring sacred knowledge
He spent thirty years in the pursuit of sacred knowledge, memorising the Muwatta of Imam Malik (rahmatullahi alayh) in its entirety and becoming a recognised expert in jurisprudence and Hadith. He followed the Maliki school of law throughout his scholarly life.
Left his position of governance and repented to Allah after meeting Hadrat Khayr al-Nassaj (rahmatullahi alayh)
At a pivotal moment in his life, he left behind the life of worldly governance associated with his family's status. He first came to Hadrat Khayr al-Nassaj (rahmatullahi alayh), repented sincerely, and turned completely toward Allah Almighty — marking the beginning of his formal spiritual journey.
Took bay'at at the hands of Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh)
After his repentance, he came to the greatest saint of his age — Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) — and took the pledge of spiritual allegiance (bay'at) at his hands. Under his guidance he underwent rigorous spiritual training and ascended to the highest stations of nearness to Allah.
Appointed as the chosen Khalifah (successor) of Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh)
Out of all his murids, Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) chose him as his Khalifah — his successor and representative — in the blessed spiritual order. This appointment established him as the 12th Murshid of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah chain.
The leading scholar of Baghdad, Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh), honoured him based on a dream of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh) — the leading scholar of Baghdad — kissed his forehead and seated him next to himself upon meeting him. He explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had appeared to him in a dream embracing Shibli, kissing his forehead, and saying: 'He recites the verse (9:128) after every salah, then recites salat upon me.' This was one of the greatest public recognitions of his rank.
Cured the Caliph Harun al-Rashid (rahmatullahi alayh) through recitation of salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Caliph had suffered from an untreatable illness for six months when he requested Hadrat Shibli's visit. He arrived, reassured the Caliph of his recovery, recited salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), passed his hand over the Caliph's body — and the Caliph was cured instantly.
The miracle of the two doctors accepting Islam
On two separate occasions — once during an illness when a king's non-Muslim doctor was sent, and once during a journey with forty murids — doctors who witnessed his condition and blessed presence accepted Islam. In the first case, he recovered immediately upon the doctor's conversion. In the second, he instructed all his murids to pray for the doctor — who then accepted Islam and became a high-ranking murid.
The forty-day fast that led to a Christian monk's conversion to Islam
Travelling from Makkah to Sham, he encountered a Christian scholar who claimed to worship Sayyiduna Isa (alayhis salam) because he had fasted forty days without food. Hadrat Shibli stayed and fasted forty days himself without eating or drinking. When he offered to fast further, the monk was astounded. He then declared his religion to be Islam — the path of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The monk accepted Islam, took the kalimah, was brought to Damascus, and eventually became so devoted that people began to consider him a saint.
Passed from this world while acting upon the Sunnah
He left this world in a state of complete adherence to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — a life lived entirely in submission ending in the most blessed manner a believer could hope for.
Born in 247 AH near Baghdad in the locality of Samarah
Born into a distinguished household — his father served as the Governor of the Nahawand region. From his earliest years the signs of spiritual favour were evident in him, even amidst the comforts and status of a governing family.
Devoted thirty years to acquiring sacred knowledge
He spent thirty years in the pursuit of sacred knowledge, memorising the Muwatta of Imam Malik (rahmatullahi alayh) in its entirety and becoming a recognised expert in jurisprudence and Hadith. He followed the Maliki school of law throughout his scholarly life.
Left his position of governance and repented to Allah after meeting Hadrat Khayr al-Nassaj (rahmatullahi alayh)
At a pivotal moment in his life, he left behind the life of worldly governance associated with his family's status. He first came to Hadrat Khayr al-Nassaj (rahmatullahi alayh), repented sincerely, and turned completely toward Allah Almighty — marking the beginning of his formal spiritual journey.
Took bay'at at the hands of Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh)
After his repentance, he came to the greatest saint of his age — Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) — and took the pledge of spiritual allegiance (bay'at) at his hands. Under his guidance he underwent rigorous spiritual training and ascended to the highest stations of nearness to Allah.
Appointed as the chosen Khalifah (successor) of Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh)
Out of all his murids, Hadrat Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) chose him as his Khalifah — his successor and representative — in the blessed spiritual order. This appointment established him as the 12th Murshid of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah chain.
The leading scholar of Baghdad, Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh), honoured him based on a dream of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid (rahmatullahi alayh) — the leading scholar of Baghdad — kissed his forehead and seated him next to himself upon meeting him. He explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had appeared to him in a dream embracing Shibli, kissing his forehead, and saying: 'He recites the verse (9:128) after every salah, then recites salat upon me.' This was one of the greatest public recognitions of his rank.
Cured the Caliph Harun al-Rashid (rahmatullahi alayh) through recitation of salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Caliph had suffered from an untreatable illness for six months when he requested Hadrat Shibli's visit. He arrived, reassured the Caliph of his recovery, recited salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), passed his hand over the Caliph's body — and the Caliph was cured instantly.
The miracle of the two doctors accepting Islam
On two separate occasions — once during an illness when a king's non-Muslim doctor was sent, and once during a journey with forty murids — doctors who witnessed his condition and blessed presence accepted Islam. In the first case, he recovered immediately upon the doctor's conversion. In the second, he instructed all his murids to pray for the doctor — who then accepted Islam and became a high-ranking murid.
The forty-day fast that led to a Christian monk's conversion to Islam
Travelling from Makkah to Sham, he encountered a Christian scholar who claimed to worship Sayyiduna Isa (alayhis salam) because he had fasted forty days without food. Hadrat Shibli stayed and fasted forty days himself without eating or drinking. When he offered to fast further, the monk was astounded. He then declared his religion to be Islam — the path of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The monk accepted Islam, took the kalimah, was brought to Damascus, and eventually became so devoted that people began to consider him a saint.
Passed from this world while acting upon the Sunnah
He left this world in a state of complete adherence to the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — a life lived entirely in submission ending in the most blessed manner a believer could hope for.
- ♥When he saw a person engrossed in worldly pursuits and heedlessness, he would immediately make sajdah in gratitude and say: 'All praise for Allah Who granted me safety from that He afflicted you with, and granted me superiority over much of His creation' — turning even the sight of others' heedlessness into an occasion for remembrance and thankfulness.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.8 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Held the blessed name of Allah in such veneration that he would kiss it wherever he found it written — an expression of boundless love that he carried with him throughout his life.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.6 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Despite being the son of the Governor of Nahawand and having every door of worldly status and comfort open to him, he chose to leave it all behind in pursuit of nearness to Allah — a detachment from the world that defined his spiritual character.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Passed from this world while acting upon the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) — testament to a life anchored entirely in the prophetic example until his final breath.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Purchased a miswak for one dinar (a gold coin) when none was available, refusing to abandon the sunnah at any price. When people remarked 'Has a miswak ever been bought for this price?', he replied: 'In the sight of Allah, this world and everything in it has less status than the wing of a mosquito. How will I answer if Allah asks me on the Day of Judgement: Why did you abandon the sunnah of my beloved?'
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.15 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥On the plains of Arafah during Hajj, he remained completely silent until sunset. When he performed sa'i and passed the two green mileposts, tears began flowing from his eyes. He then expressed his feelings with Arabic couplets: 'I set forth with the seal of your love stamped upon my heart. Only your love is what shall remain within it. If only I were steadfast; if only I could keep my eyes close, and not open them until I beheld you. When tears pour from the eyes onto the cheeks, it becomes apparent who is truly crying and who is merely pretending.'
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.16 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥On a journey with forty of his murids, he told them to trust in Allah's guarantee of sustenance and left them for three days. On the fourth day, a non-Muslim doctor appeared and provided them with food. He immediately made all his murids pray for the doctor — whereupon the doctor accepted Islam and became a high-ranking murid
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.11 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥When asked about his threshold for zakat by Ibn Bashshar (who sought to test him), he explained: 'According to shari'ah, one goat is wajib. The ruling for us is to give them all in zakat.' When asked who he followed as his imam in this ruling, he replied: 'Hadrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu), as he gave all his wealth in charity. When the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked what he had left for his family, he replied: Allah and His Messenger.' Ibn Bashshar was so moved he never forbade anyone from meeting the Sheikh again.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦When he fell extremely ill and a king sent a non-Muslim doctor, the doctor declared he would need to cut flesh. Hadrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'Treatment can be achieved for less — become Muslim.' The doctor accepted Islam and Hadrat Shibli immediately regained his health — his recovery came with the doctor's conversion, not from any medical intervention.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.12 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦During a journey with forty of his murids, a non-Muslim doctor appeared on the fourth day of their trust in Allah's sustenance. Hadrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alayh) instructed all his murids to pray for the doctor — upon which the doctor accepted Islam and became a high-ranking murid, his soul transformed by the blessed company of the saint.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.11 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦He was blessed with the ability to discern the spiritual state of people — 'fortunate' or 'misfortunate' — written upon their foreheads as he observed them in the marketplace, a gift granted only to those of the highest spiritual rank.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.6 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦He cured the Caliph Harun al-Rashid (rahmatullahi alayh) after six months of untreatable illness — medicine and treatment had both failed. When the Caliph requested his visit, he arrived and said: 'Do not worry. By the mercy of Allah, you will recover today.' He then recited salat upon the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and passed his hand over the Caliph's body — curing him instantly.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.17 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦During a deceased neighbour's appearance in his dream, the neighbour described having encountered severe difficulties answering Munkar and Nakir in the grave due to 'speaking unnecessarily in the world' — but a luminous angelic figure appeared (created from his salat recitation) and helped him answer, after which the punishment was lifted. This vision arrived as a teaching and a mercy.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.7 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦While travelling from Makkah to Sham, he encountered a Christian scholar in a monastery. When the monk claimed to worship Sayyiduna Isa (alayhis salam) because he fasted forty days without food, Hadrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alayh) stayed and fasted forty days himself without eating or drinking. When he then offered to fast further, the monk was astonished. He told him he was from the ummah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The monk forsook his religion, recited the kalimah, became Muslim, and was taken to Damascus where he later became so pious he began to be considered a saint.
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.18 — Maktaba tul Madina
Governor of the Nahawand region — a man of worldly authority and status, whose son chose the path of Allah over the path of governance
“The filth of sitting with evil individuals leads to developing ill-opinions of the pious.”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
“Thankfulness is to focus on He who granted bounties, not on the bounty itself.”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
“Whoever loves Allah after beholding His mercy is not sincere in his love.”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli — Maktaba tul Madina
“In the sight of Allah, this world and everything in it has less status than the wing of a mosquito. How will I answer if Allah asks me on the Day of Judgement: 'Why did you abandon the sunnah of my beloved? Whatever wealth I gave you does not hold the value of a mosquito's wing in My court. Why did you not spend such lowly wealth for an esteemed sunnah?'”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.15 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Do not worry. By the mercy of Allah, you will recover today.”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.17 — Maktaba tul Madina
“According to shari'ah, one goat is wajib [for zakat on five camels]. The ruling for us is to give them all in zakat. My imam in this is Hadrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu), as he gave all his wealth in charity.”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
“I set forth with the seal of your love stamped upon my heart. Only your love is what shall remain within it. If only I were steadfast; if only I could keep my eyes close, and not open them until I beheld you. When tears pour from the eyes onto the cheeks, it becomes apparent who is truly crying and who is merely pretending.”
seerat-abu-bakr-shibli, p.16 — Maktaba tul Madina
“The filth of sitting with evil individuals leads to a person developing ill-opinions of the pious.”
Statements of our Pious Predecessors, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Thankfulness is to focus on He who granted you bounties, not on the bounty itself.”
Statements of our Pious Predecessors, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Whoever loves Allah after beholding His mercy and bounties is not sincere in his love.”
Statements of our Pious Predecessors, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
- 🌟Hadrat Abu Bakr al-Shibli (rahmatullahi alayh) memorised an entire book of Islamic law — the Muwatta of Imam Malik (rahmatullahi alayh) — from memory! That is thousands of narrations learned by heart!
- 🌟Even though his father was a Governor — one of the most important people in the land — he gave it all up to be close to Allah. He chose Allah over everything!
- 🌟When he saw someone spending all their time chasing the world and forgetting Allah, he would make sajdah (prostration) and say 'All praise for Allah Who kept me safe' — he thanked Allah even when he saw others making mistakes!
- 🌟Two different doctors accepted Islam just by being near him — one during his illness and one on a journey. His blessed presence changed their lives forever!
- 🌟He had such love for the name of Allah that he would kiss it wherever he saw it written — can you imagine loving something that much?
- 🌟Once, a monk who fasted for 40 days without food thought he was worshipping properly. Hadrat Shibli stayed with him and fasted for 40 days without eating or drinking — and then offered to fast even more! The monk was so amazed he accepted Islam and eventually became a saint!
- 🌟He once paid a whole gold coin (a dinar!) just for a miswak — because he refused to miss a single sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) for any price!
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