2.4.2 - Shaykh Abu Yaqoub Yousef Ibn Yakhluf al-Kumi al-Absiy

As we have seen before, Shaykh Abu Yaqoub al-Kumi was one of the first shaykhs who has a great impact on Shaykh Muhyiddin, especially in contemplation. It seems that he also was the first to mention to him Shaykh Abu Madyan whom he considers as his Shaykh although he could not meet him in this natural world as we’ll see in the following chapter.

We will also see that Shaykh Muhyiddin maintained his relationship with Shaykh Yusuf until the last moment before he left Maghreb, where he went especially from Andalusia to the city of Salأ© in southern Maghreb to bid farewell to him. Also he used to accompany him when they were together in Fez.

In the Holy Spirit, Shaykh Muhyiddin explains: This Shaykh had been one of the companions of Abu Madyan and had met many of the most prominent Sufis of this land. For a time he had lived in Egypt and had married in Alexandria. Abu Tahir al-Salafi had wanted him to marry into his family. On one occasion he was offered the governorship of Fez, but he refused. He was one of those who are well established on the Way. Abu Madyan, who was the spokesman of our order and the one who revived it in the West, said of Abu Yaqoub, that he was as a safe anchorage is to a ship.

He was much given to private devotions and always gave alms in secret. He honored the poor and humbled the rich, ministering in person to the needs of the destitute. While I was in his charge he instructed me and looked after me most excellently.

My companion, Abdullah Bader al-Habashi, knew him well and the Shaykh died at his house. He used to say of the Shaykh that he could, if he wished, raise the postulant from the lowest depth to the highest spiritual height in a moment. His powers of Concentration were considerable. He followed, for the most part the rule of the Malamiyyah. He was seldom to be seen without a frown on his face, but when he saw a poor man his face would light up with joy; I have even seen him take one of the poor into his lap and he himself frequently acted as servant to his followers.

Ibn al-Arabi Adds: I saw him in a dream on one occasion and his breast seemed to be cleft asunder and a light like that of the sun shone out from it. In the dream he called out to me to come to him. I came to him with some large white bowls which he proceeded to fill to the brim with milk. I drank the milk from the bowls as fast as he filled them. Wonderful indeed is the spiritual grace I have received from him, as also from Abu Muhammad al-Mawruri, whom I will mention later.

This Shaykh had a great affection for me, but concealed it from me by showing more favor to others and displaying a distant manner towards me, commending what others had to say, but taking me to task at gatherings and sessions. He went so far in this that my fellows, while we were all together under his charge and in his service, began to think little of my spiritual progress. However, praise be to God, I alone of the whole group achieved real success in my studies with him, which the Shaykh himself later admitted.

As we mentioned above, Shaykh Muhyiddin remembers his first learning about Sufism, before he knew anything about the Epistle of al-Qushairi1 or any other master: being quite unaware that any of our Way had written anything, nor was I acquainted with the proper terminology of the Sufis.

Then he recalls that: one day the Shaykh mounted his horse and bade me and one of my companions follow him to Montiar, a mountain about three miles distant from Seville (maybe: Montegil). Accordingly, when the city gate had been opened in the morning, I set out with my companion who had with him a copy of al-Qushairi”™s Epistle. We climbed the mountain and found the Shaykh at the top and his servant holding his horse. Then we entered the mosque at the top of the mountain and performed the ritual prayer. When we had finished, he turned his back on the milriib and gave me the Epistle, telling me to read from it. My awe of him was so great that I could not put two words together and the book fell from my hands. Then he told my companion to read it and expounded upon what was read until it was time for the late afternoon pray er which we performed.5 after the prayer the Shaykh suggested that we all return to the town. He mounted his horse and set off, while I ran alongside holding onto the stir up: Along the way he talked to me of the virtues and miracles of Abu Madyan. As for myself, I was so absorbed by what he was telling me, looking up at him all the time, that I was completely oblivious to my surroundings. Suddenly he looked at me and smiled and, spurring his horse, made me run the more quickly to keep up with him. Then he stopped and said to me, Look and see what you have left behind you! When I looked back I saw that all the way was waist-high with thorn bushes and that the whole ground was covered with thorns. Then he told me to look at my feet and my clothes. I looked and found not a single trace of the thorns. Then he said, This is the result of the spiritual grace engendered by our talking of Abu Madyan; so persevere on the Way, my boy, and you will surely find salvation. Then he spurred his horse on and left me behind. I learnt much from him.

One day, when I was sitting with him after the late-afternoon prayer, he perceived that I was anxious to leave. When he inquired of me the reason for my unease I explained to him that I had four obligations to fulfill for certain people, that I had only so much time in which to do so and that if I stayed with him I would no longer be able to find the people concerned. At this he smiled and said, If you leave me now and go off, not one of your obligations will be discharged, so sit with me while I tell you of the spiritual states of Abu Madyan. As for your tasks I will ensure that they are carried out. I sat with him and when the time came for the sunset prayer he said to me, Go home now and you will find that before you have prayed the sunset prayer all your obligations will have been fulfilled.

So earnest was I in seeking his company that I used often to wish that he might be present with me in our house at night to deal with some problem or other. At such times I would see him before me, whereupon I would put questions to him and he would answer me. In the morning I would go and tell him what had happened. The same thing would also happen during the day when I was at home, if I wished it.

2.4.2.1- Some of His Qualities

2.4.2.2- His Upbringing and Education of Ibn al-Arabi

2.4.2.3- The First Issue He Delivered to Ibn al-Arabi

2.4.2.4- Another Difficult Issue (586/1190)

2.4.2.5- Hiding His Love to Him and Showing Some Intensity

2.4.2.6- Some Early Charismata due to Shaykh Abu Madyan (Seville, before 580/1184)

2.4.2.7- His Benefits on Ibn al-Arabi

2.4.2.8- Reaching the Almighty Allah

2.4.2.9- Mutual Benefits in Education and Findings - 586/1190