Abu Bakr al-Shibli

Shaykh Abu Bakr Shibli (أبو بكر الشبلي; 861–946) was an important Sufi of Persian descent, and a disciple of Junayd Baghdadi. He followed the Maliki school of jurisprudence (fiqh). Abu Bakr Shibli was born in Samarra, although his family was of Iranian origin from the village of Shibliyah in Osrushana, Transoxania. His father was Jafar bin Yunus al-Shibli. Abu Bakr al-Shibli was a high official of Baghdad before he embarked on the spiritual path and became a disciple of Junayd Baghdadi. His name was mentioned by the Persian poets such as Attar, Rumi and Sanai. He was also associated with Hallaj. According to one source, he was in a constant state of jazb and was finally committed to an asylum. Others assert that he feigned madness. Attributed to him is the saying: O people! I go to a place beyond which there is no beyond. I go to the south and the north, to a place beyond which there is no beyond. Everything that I saw after that I could see in one hair of my little finger. Shibli was imprisoned many times by the Caliph despite his influence and enormous wealth. Shibli went into self-imposed exile and began searching for divinity. Meanwhile, in the Sultanate, the Caliph realised that Shibli had not committed any wrongdoing and a search party was sent out to find him. The officials carried a set of royal robes that the Caliph had sent for Shibli to wear. The officials offered the robes to Shibli saying that a decree had been passed reinstating him and that he could return without fear of being prosecuted. Shibli took the robes and wiped his sweating face with them. Shocked at such demeaning behaviour, the officials reported the incident to the Caliph. Shibli was charged with contempt. Shibli responded: O great Caliph! You are annoyed because I did not accept your gift and return to you. How angry great God should be that even after He gave me the robe of His Divine Love, I shunted all His duties and went about aimlessly in this world forgetting Him every moment? This body is given by Him, yet I ignored Him.