3.8.9 - Shaykh Abdullah al-Baghi al-Shakkaz - (Granada, 595/1199)

In the first months of the year 595 AH, the Shaykh passed through the city of Granada to visit his companion Shaykh Abu Muhammad Abdullah al-Shakkaz, a native of Bagha in Granada. He says that he was one of the greatest shaykhs he met in this Way, and he did not see anyone hardworking like him.

In the Holy Spirit, he says that he visited him with his companion Abdullah Bader al-Habashi, and it was his custom, whenever he visited a Shaykh or one of the brothers, to give him all the money he had. However, at that time he had only one dirham in his purse, so he handed him that single dirham:

He was a most earnest man, usually to be found in a sad and tearful state. He hated sin as he hated unbelief, and he hated venial sins as much as greater ones. He had attained to the station of Preservation, being almost entirely free from sin of any kind. He spent his nights in worship and his days in fasting. No postulant could keep company with him because he would demand of them the same standards of spiritual exertion he imposed on himself, which frightened them away. He lived completely alone and had no mercy on himself. When it was pointed out to him that the Companions of the Prophet were more lenient towards themselves, he replied: If they had nothing else to their credit than the holy company they kept, when could we ever hope to attain to their station?

Shaykh Muhyiddin adds: I know none to compare with this man, except perhaps Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, one of the followers (and he was Ibn al-Arabi’s uncle as we mentioned in section

ef(al-khawlani of Chapter II). His earnestness and endeavor were such that he would cut and prepare sticks for the purpose of beating his legs whenever they grew weary of standing in prayer. At such times he would say to his legs, You are more worthy of a thrashing than my riding beast, continuing in this fashion until all the sticks were broken. Then he would say: Do the Companions of the Prophet think that they can have Muhammad all to themselves? By God, I will draw closer and closer to him till they realize that there are those who have come after them who are worthy of his company.

He was a witty man and pleasant to associate with. He regretted much, and was very fond of spiritual allusions. He would say: Consider well the following four categories of men: “... those who are true to their contract with God”, “... whom neither commerce nor business diverts from the remembrance of God”! “... those on the Heights” and “... men will come to you on foot”.