2.9.8 - Shaykh al-Sidrani

He was from Shubarbul, a village in the Aljarafe, about six miles from Seville. He spent most of his time in the wilderness. He was a companion of Abu Abdullah al-Mujahid and earned his livelihood by the sweat of his brow. He entered on the Way before he had reached puberty and continued on it until he died. Ibn al-Mujahid, the leader of our order in this country, showed him great respect when he came to visit him and said of him, Seek the supplication of Abu al-Hajjaj al-Shubarbuli. It was Abu al-Hajjaj himself who related this to me.

He told me that he used to visit Ibn al-Mujahid, our Shaykh, every Friday and that on one particular Friday he found him repairing a wall of his house which had fallen down, in order to provide shelter for his household. after he had greeted him Ibn al-Mujahid said to him, O Abu al-Hajjaj, you have departed from your usual practice; today is Thursday. To this Abu al-Hajjaj replied that it was Friday. He went on to tell me that Ibn al-Mujahid, on hearing this, clapped his hands and cried, Woe is me, this is all because of the job I had to do; what on earth would happen if I had more to do? He then grieved for the time he had lost for worship. Abu al-Hajjaj himself was weeping as he told me about it. Finally he said, Thus do the brethren grieve for any opportunity they have missed for practicing the presence of God.