2.9.21 - Shaykh Salih al-Kharraz (the Cobbler)

A man from Seville who was most earnest in his worship of God. He had entered the service of God as a boy of only seven years. He used always to be engrossed in worship and never played games with the other boys or chattered with them. In his humility he worked as a cobbler to earn a living. He was devoted to his mother and, despite his tender years, copied out the whole of Ibn Assais great work. He kept aloof from men and maintained long periods of silence. His companions said of him that he spoke to them only when it was really necessary.

I used to keep company with him and we had a great affection for each other. He would never retract what he had said, since he always spoke the truth. He would do nothing for those who knew him, lest they should think well of him. Most of the work he did was for strangers visiting the city, people who did not know him and whom he did not know.

One day one of our companions took to him a shoe which he had deliberately damaged in order to have the opportunity of talking to him. He greeted him and al-Khamiz returned the greeting. Then our companion said to him, Would you please mend this shoe of mine? al-Kharraz said, I am busy with this shoe for which I have already been paid. While all this was going on I was standing nearby where al-Kharraz could not see me. Then our companion said to him, Keep it with you till you have finished the shoe you are mending, to which all Kharraz replied, I might die before that time; don’t you think you might take your shoe to someone else? Our companion said, But I don’t want anyone else to do the job for me, to which al-Kharraz replied, You have heard what I said, and continued with his Invocation. Our companion then told him that he would sit there until he had finished, at which al-Kharraz said, Do as you wish, but you have not heard my charge for the work yet. Our companion then inquired what his charge might be and was told that it was an eighth of a dirham. He then offered al-Kharraz a quarter, but was told that it was not a correct price. Then he told al-Kharraz that it pleased him to pay that amount, only to have al-Kharraz point out to him that he had earned sufficient for that day and that if he were feeling generous there were many people more needy than he. Despite further attempts, al-Kharraz told him that he was being troublesome and that he would not do the work for him. He then continued with his devotions and his work.

The companion then came over to me in dismay. I told him that he had tried too hard and that he should go back and suggest to al-Kharraz that he mend his shoe for God’s sake and without charge. When he had done what I had told him, al-Kharraz said, after a few moments silence, You have been sent by someone else with this suggestion. Then he looked up and saw me. Finally he said to our companion, Leave your shoe with me and be off. Come for it later in the afternoon and if I am still alive I will return it to you; if I am dead I will leave it with a neighbor for you. Then he looked at me and called me over to him. He said, Is this the way companions behave among themselves? Is it their practice to impose on their brothers what is not pleasing to them? Don’t do this sort of thing again! But for the love which God has put in my heart for you, I would not have taken any notice of you, so preserve my anonymity, as I wish.

I have never known one like this man. Later he went off into the wilderness seeking solitude and seclusion.