2.4.5 - Shaykh Salih al-Adawi al-Barbariy

Among those men who with whom Shaykh Muhyiddin Ibn al-Arabi was influenced is Shaykh Salih al-Adawi, al-Barbariy, from the Berbers, whom the Shaykh mentioned in the Holy Spirit and in the Luxury Pearl, where he said that he was knowing by Allah and he respecting the rules of God in all his states, and abiding by His Book, reciting it night and day, yet he never had a house nor took any medication, since he was working on the hadith of the seventy thousand who enter Paradise without reckoning [Kanz: 31931].

Shaykh Muhyiddin says that he accompanied him many years, yet he hardly talked with him because he does not speak much. However, he says that he had a sense of attachment and consideration with him, and he benefited from him and he told him of things about himself, which all came in the future consistent with what he said [Quds: pp. 51-52].

Shaykh Muhyiddin adds that this man was a true gnostic, sometimes he would be told that the Sun was well into its decline while he was still engaged in the first part of the forenoon prayer. Also, during his prayer he would groan and mutter so that no one could understand what he was saying. He stored nothing for the morrow and accepted nothing beyond his bare needs, whether for himself or for others.

Ibn al-Arabi adds that one year he was away from Seville around the time of the Great Festival. A certain jurist, a reliable man, told me that he was attending the gathering at Arafat and that he had been informed of this by one who had seen him there. He was attended in his illness by Abu Ali al-Shakkaz, whom we shall mention shortly in section 2.9.17. He remained thereafter in Seville for forty years until he died there, and we ourselves washed his body for burial by night and carried him on our shoulders to his grave where we left him for the people to pray over and then bury. By morning the news of his death had spread far and wide. Before long there remained with the Prince of the Faithful no-one but his door-keeper. When he asked what was happening he was told about the Shaykh’s death and also about what we had done and he realized what his men were doing among the people. Then the Prince went out and attended the burial, but was not accorded recognition by the people until he stopped looking upon them with contempt.

I was his companion for nearly thirteen years. Since that time I have never seen his like. The manner of his life was like that of Uwais al-Qarniy.footnote(Uwais al-Qarniy is an ascetic who lived in the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, but never met him. The Prophet, however, knew of him and described him to his companions, bidding them visit him to convey his greetings. After the Prophet’s death they sought him out and asked for his blessing. He warned them to be readyfor the Day of Resurrection. Later he died fighting for “کAll at the battle of Siffin.

Then in al-Durrah al-Fakhirah, the Shaykh says that al-Adawi spent forty years in the wilderness and forty in Seville: One day I came to see him when he was performing the ritual ablution. While performing this rite his color would change from shame and fear. When he was asked about this he replied, “How else should be the state of one who prepares himself, full of sin though he be, for converse with his Lord?” He performed his ablution meticulously, washing each part three times and each time making mention of God, as is proper. When he had completed his ablution he looked up and saw me standing there. He was sitting on a bench preparing to wipe himself down, and he called me over to him. At that time I had just begun to follow the Way and had received certain intimations of a spiritual nature which I had told to no one. He said to me, “O my son, when you have tasted the honey, taste no more of vinegar. God has opened the Way to you, so stand firm in it. How many sisters do you have?” I told him I had two sisters. He asked me whether they were both unmarried to which I replied that they were, but that the eldest was promised to the Amir Abu al-”کAla’ Ibn “کAazun. Then he said to me, “My son, know that this match is not to be, for both your father and this man you speak of will die and you will be left to look after your mother and sisters. Your family will try to persuade you to return to the world to care for your mother and sisters. Do not do as they ask nor heed their words, but recite to them God’s words: ((Enjoin prayer upon your family, and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the outcome is for righteousness.)) [Quran: 20.132] Do no more than this, for God has prepared a way of release for you. If you listen to them you will find yourself denied both in this world and in the Hereafter and left to make your own way.”

Ibn al-Arabi then adds that before the end of the same year, the Amir died before his marriage with my sister could be consummated. All other details happened exactly as Shaykh al-Adawi said. We shall come back to these details later in section 3.4.4 of Chapter III when we talk about the death of Ibn al-Arabi’s father and mother, and the marriage of his sisters, in section 3.7.3.