بسم اللّٰهِ الرحمن الرحيم
Hadrat
Shaykh Ma'ruf al-Karkhi
(Rahimahullah) رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ
2 Muharram 200 AH
Abu Mahfuz
Born in the Karkh district of Baghdad. He belongs to the generation of the Tabi' al-Tabi'in — those who followed the Tabi'in, who themselves followed the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He holds the rank of the 9th Shaykh of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah spiritual order. — Karkh, Baghdad
- ◈Holds the rank of the 9th Shaykh of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah blessed spiritual order — a towering link in the sacred chain of spiritual succession.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Belongs to the generation of the Tabi' al-Tabi'in — those who followed the Tabi'in, who themselves saw and learned from the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈His spiritual master was Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh), from whom he received the secrets of the spiritual path and was established as his successor in the blessed chain.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈His most famous student was Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh), through whom the blessed spiritual chain continued onward to Hadrat Imam Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) and the great saints who followed.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) and Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in (rahmatullahi alayh) both sat at his feet and narrated from him — a testimony to the depth of his knowledge and the esteem in which the greatest scholars of his era held him.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) said of him that he possessed 'the root of the matter' — meaning true, deep taqwa (fear and consciousness of Allah) — the highest praise a scholar of his calibre could bestow.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Followed the Hanafi school of jurisprudence (Fiqh Hanafi) in his legal practice.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈His parents, who were originally non-Muslim, accepted Islam through his blessed influence — a great miracle and honour bestowed upon him by Allah Almighty.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈Sayyiduna Abd al-Wahhab (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'I have not seen a greater zahid (ascetic) than Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh)' — a testimony from one of the great scholars of his era to his unmatched renunciation of the world.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.10 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈He was a follower of Imam al-A'zam Abu Hanifah Nu'man ibn Thabit (rahmatullahi alayh) in matters of jurisprudence — rooting his outward practice in the great Hanafi tradition.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.5 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ◈He was raised to the station of al-Rafiq al-A'la — the highest company — because he did not worship out of longing for Paradise or fear of Hell, but purely to attain closeness to Allah Almighty. Imam Bishr al-Hafi (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'Unfortunately, there are many veils between him and I. Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) did not worship out of passion for Paradise and fear of Hell — rather he worshipped to attain closeness to Allah Almighty. Therefore, Allah Almighty raised him to al-Rafiq al-A'la and removed the veils between them.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.21 — Maktaba tul Madina
Born in the Karkh district of Baghdad
Born into a family that was originally non-Muslim. The divine light within him from his earliest years would eventually illuminate his entire household.
Refused the Trinity at his Christian teacher and fled
As a child being educated by a Christian teacher, he was instructed to say 'third of three' — the concept of the Trinity. He refused, could not bring himself to say words of disbelief, and fled from his teacher. This moment was the turning point of his life.
Came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh) and accepted Islam
After fleeing his Christian teacher, he came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh) and accepted Islam at his blessed hands. He then remained in his company and received spiritual training and authority from him — becoming the 9th Shaykh of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah order.
His parents accepted Islam through his influence
After his own acceptance of Islam, his parents — who had been non-Muslim — accepted Islam through his influence and character. This was a great honour and a testimony to the spiritual light Allah had placed in him.
Miracle of the river banks joining
At his command, the two banks of a river joined together, allowing those with him to cross safely — one of the miracles documented from his blessed life.
Great scholars narrated from him
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) and Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in (rahmatullahi alayh) both sat at his feet and narrated Hadith from him — a remarkable testimony to his standing in the eyes of the leading scholars of his age.
Established Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) as his most famous student
Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) became the most celebrated of his students and his spiritual successor in the blessed chain — through whom the chain continued to Hadrat Imam Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) and beyond.
Born in the Karkh district of Baghdad
Born into a family that was originally non-Muslim. The divine light within him from his earliest years would eventually illuminate his entire household.
Refused the Trinity at his Christian teacher and fled
As a child being educated by a Christian teacher, he was instructed to say 'third of three' — the concept of the Trinity. He refused, could not bring himself to say words of disbelief, and fled from his teacher. This moment was the turning point of his life.
Came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh) and accepted Islam
After fleeing his Christian teacher, he came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh) and accepted Islam at his blessed hands. He then remained in his company and received spiritual training and authority from him — becoming the 9th Shaykh of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah order.
His parents accepted Islam through his influence
After his own acceptance of Islam, his parents — who had been non-Muslim — accepted Islam through his influence and character. This was a great honour and a testimony to the spiritual light Allah had placed in him.
Miracle of the river banks joining
At his command, the two banks of a river joined together, allowing those with him to cross safely — one of the miracles documented from his blessed life.
Great scholars narrated from him
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) and Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in (rahmatullahi alayh) both sat at his feet and narrated Hadith from him — a remarkable testimony to his standing in the eyes of the leading scholars of his age.
Established Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) as his most famous student
Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) became the most celebrated of his students and his spiritual successor in the blessed chain — through whom the chain continued to Hadrat Imam Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) and beyond.
Born in the Karkh district of Baghdad
Born into a family that was originally non-Muslim. The divine light within him from his earliest years would eventually illuminate his entire household.
Refused the Trinity at his Christian teacher and fled
As a child being educated by a Christian teacher, he was instructed to say 'third of three' — the concept of the Trinity. He refused, could not bring himself to say words of disbelief, and fled from his teacher. This moment was the turning point of his life.
Came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh) and accepted Islam
After fleeing his Christian teacher, he came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh) and accepted Islam at his blessed hands. He then remained in his company and received spiritual training and authority from him — becoming the 9th Shaykh of the Qadiriyyah Ridawiyyah 'Attariyyah order.
His parents accepted Islam through his influence
After his own acceptance of Islam, his parents — who had been non-Muslim — accepted Islam through his influence and character. This was a great honour and a testimony to the spiritual light Allah had placed in him.
Miracle of the river banks joining
At his command, the two banks of a river joined together, allowing those with him to cross safely — one of the miracles documented from his blessed life.
Great scholars narrated from him
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) and Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in (rahmatullahi alayh) both sat at his feet and narrated Hadith from him — a remarkable testimony to his standing in the eyes of the leading scholars of his age.
Established Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) as his most famous student
Hadrat Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) became the most celebrated of his students and his spiritual successor in the blessed chain — through whom the chain continued to Hadrat Imam Junayd al-Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) and beyond.
- ♥When he delivered the Adhan (call to prayer), he trembled with fear of Allah Almighty — such was the depth of his awe and consciousness of the One he was calling upon. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr ibn Abu Talib (rahmatullahi alayh) narrates: 'I entered the masjid of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh). He gave salam and supplicated for peaceful lives. When delivering the azan, the fear of Allah overwhelmed him and he trembled. His eyebrows and beard hair stood on end when he said: Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa-llah. He stood up and I feared he would be unable to complete the azan. His back lowered, and he was close to falling to the ground.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.13 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Declared: 'I am a guest in the house of Allah Almighty. I eat if He feeds me and I adopt patience if He keeps me hungry, until He gives me food' — reflecting a state of complete detachment from the world and total reliance upon and presence with Allah.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.12 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Warned against any claim of love for Allah that was accompanied by love of the world, saying: 'Whoever claims to love Allah while holding love for the world has lied' — a sharp and enduring reminder of the incompatibility of worldliness with true divine love.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Refused to utter words of disbelief (specifically the Christian concept of the Trinity) even as a child under a Christian teacher — and instead fled and came to Imam Ali Raza (rahmatullahi alayh), accepted Islam, and began his journey on the path of Allah.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥One day, travelling somewhere, he saw a piece of wood in the path. Instead of stepping on it, he stepped over it. When asked about this, he replied: 'I stepped over it to avoid worrying the owner.' Such was his scrupulousness in protecting the rights of others — even in relation to an item of wood on the road.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.18 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Sayyiduna Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) asked him: 'How are the obedient slaves of Allah Almighty able to remain obedient to Him?' He replied: 'Due to the love of the world exiting their hearts. If the love of the world was in their hearts, they would be unable to perform a single prostration correctly.' — a saying that became a cornerstone of the Sufi understanding of tawbah and zuhd.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥He said: 'I was commanded to die in Baghdad because the righteous people of that city are from the true Abdal.' And indeed he passed away in Baghdad, his eminent resting place located approximately 6km from the resting place of Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (rahmatullahi alayh).
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Sayyiduna Qasim Baghdadi (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'I was Ma'ruf Karkhi's (rahmatullahi alayh) neighbour. One night I heard him crying as he recited this poetry: Which thing wants me to sin? It clings to me and does not part from me. If You show me mercy and forgive me, these sins cannot harm me, for now I have reached old age.' — a testimony to his humility and constant remorse before Allah Almighty.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.16 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥A man asked him to soften his heart. He encouraged the man to recite: 'Ya Mulayyinal Qulub! Layyyin Qalbi Qabl an Tulayyinahu 'Ind al-Mawt' (O Softener of the hearts! Soften my heart before softening it at the time of death) — a supplication he himself taught as a gateway to tenderness of heart.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.17 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Someone asked him: 'O Sayyidi! How can I become closer to Allah Almighty?' He took the man to the home of a rich man, where a servant with a broken leg was standing by the door. He pointed to the servant and said: 'Become like him and you will be closer to Allah Almighty.' — teaching that contentment with Allah's will, like a servant standing patiently at his master's door despite injury, is the path to proximity to Allah.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.15 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ♥Ma'ruf al-Karkhi's (rahmatullahi alayh) nephew Ya'qub (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'My paternal uncle said to me: Whenever you ask Allah Almighty to fulfil your need, supplicate through my intermediation.' And Sayyiduna Sari al-Saqati (rahmatullahi alayh) said that Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) advised: 'When you seek something, ask for it like so: O Allah Almighty! Grant me such-and-such for the sake of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi. You will certainly acquire what you seek.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.24 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦The two banks of a river joined together at his command, allowing those with him to cross — a clear miracle granted to him by Allah Almighty as a sign of his lofty spiritual station.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦A poor Sayyid whose wife had given birth with no food in the house wandered to the Tigris River and boarded a boat. He was taken to a nearby masjid where a pious man was worshipping. A representative then arrived with 500 dinars as a gift, and the pious man — Sayyiduna Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) — gave the entire 500 to the Sayyid, ending his poverty entirely. Sayyiduna Abu Abbas Mu'addib (rahmatullahi alayh) narrates this account.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.15 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦A non-Muslim neighbour of Sayyiduna Amir ibn Abdallah al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) wished for a son and was taken to Sayyiduna Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh). Though he refused Islam, Ma'ruf (rahmatullahi alayh) prayed: 'O Allah! Grant him a son who treats his parents well and at whose hands his parents accept Islam.' The son was born the most intelligent child in the neighbourhood. When taken to a non-Muslim school, the child refused to repeat polytheistic words and declared his love for Allah alone. The teacher's heart was moved and he accepted Islam — and then the entire family accepted Islam.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.7 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦Sayyiduna Ibn Mardawayh (rahmatullahi alayh) asked him about walking on water. He replied: 'I have never walked on water, but when I intend to cross it, its two ends join, so I place my foot on it and traverse it.' Sayyiduna Hasan ibn Abd al-Wahhab (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'If I was told he could fly in the air, I would believe that too.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.10 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦When asked by Sayyiduna Yahya ibn Ma'in (rahmatullahi alayh) about sajdat al-sahw (the prostration of forgetfulness), he answered: 'It is a punishment for the heart that becomes heedless and focuses on other than Allah Almighty during the prayer.' Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) heard this and declared: 'This shows your level of intellect.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.11 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦He desired to perform tawaf, so he left Baghdad during the night, travelled to Makkah, performed tawaf, and returned home — covering a journey that normally takes a month in a matter of hours through the divine blessing of tayy al-ard (the folding of the earth).
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.14 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦A man visited him and informed him that Allah had blessed him with a child that morning. Sayyiduna Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) instructed him to recite 'Ma sha Allah' 500 times. Midway through, a servant arrived with 500 dirhams from Umm Ja'far — a gift for the poor. Ma'ruf (rahmatullahi alayh) gave the entire 500 dirhams to the man who had just had the child, saying: 'You recited 500 times. If you had recited more, we would have increased it the same amount.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.15 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦After his passing, 300,000 people participated in his funeral prayer — a gathering that bore witness to his rank in the hearts of the people of Baghdad.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.20 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦One year after the death of a pious man's brother, the brother appeared in a dream. When asked how Allah had treated him, he said: 'He has freed me. When Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) was laid to rest near us, 30,000 sinners facing punishment, buried in each of the four directions of his grave, were relieved of punishment' — totalling 120,000 sinners relieved from punishment through the barakah of his burial place.
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.20 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦Sayyiduna Ahmad b. Fath (rahmatullahi alayh) saw Sayyiduna Bishr al-Hafi (rahmatullahi alayh) in a dream and asked how Allah treated Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh). He replied that Allah raised him to al-Rafiq al-A'la and said: 'Therefore, whoever wishes to present a need in the court of Allah Almighty, he should supplicate near the grave of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh). His supplication will be accepted, insha'Allah.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.21 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦Sayyiduna Yahya ibn Sulayman (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'I was poor and had a need. I visited the grave of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh), recited Surah al-Ikhlas three times and conveyed the reward to all deceased Muslims. Then I prayed for the fulfilment of my need. As soon as I returned home, my need had been fulfilled.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.22 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦Shaykh Ali ibn Hiti (rahmatullahi alayh) — the spiritual successor of Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (rahmatullahi alayh) — said: 'I went with Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (rahmatullahi alayh) to the shrine of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh). My shaykh gave him salam and we heard a reply from the shrine: Peace be upon you, O leader of the people of the age.'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.16 — Maktaba tul Madina
- ✦Shaykh Ali ibn Hiti (rahmatullahi alayh) said: 'I have seen four Shaykhs who have power of disposal of affairs like the living, whilst in their graves. They are Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Shaykh Ma'ruf al-Karkhi, Shaykh Aqeel Manbiji, and Shaykh Haya ibn Qays Harrani (rahmatullahi alayh).'
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.23 — Maktaba tul Madina
From Karkh, Baghdad. His parents were originally non-Muslim and accepted Islam through his blessed influence.
2nd of Muharram 200 AH
“I am a guest in the house of Allah Almighty. I eat if He feeds me and I adopt patience if He keeps me hungry, until He gives me food.”
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.12 — Maktaba tul Madina
“Whoever claims to love Allah while holding love for the world has lied.”
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi — Maktaba tul Madina
“Due to the love of the world exiting their hearts — if the love of the world was in their hearts, they would be unable to perform a single prostration correctly.”
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.19 — Maktaba tul Madina
“It is a punishment for the heart that becomes heedless and focuses on other than Allah Almighty during the prayer.”
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.11 — Maktaba tul Madina
“It is despicable for a man to sell his religion and eat from that.”
seerat-maruf-al-karkhi, p.26 — Maktaba tul Madina
- 🌟Hadrat Ma'ruf al-Karkhi (rahmatullahi alayh) was so brave that even as a young child he refused to say words he believed were wrong — and ran away to find the truth!
- 🌟He accepted Islam and then his whole family accepted Islam too because of his good character — how amazing is that!
- 🌟He once travelled all the way to Makkah to perform tawaf in the middle of the night and returned home without anyone noticing — through the miracle Allah gave him of covering great distances in a single step!
- 🌟When 300,000 people came to his funeral prayer, they showed how much everyone loved him — and scholars say that 120,000 people near his grave were forgiven on the day he was buried!
- 🌟When he called the Adhan, he trembled so much with the love and fear of Allah that people feared he might fall over — showing how deeply he felt every word he was saying!
- 🌟Even the greatest scholars like Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahmatullahi alayh) came to learn from him and said he had the deepest taqwa (fear of Allah)!
