2.2.22 - The Ascetic Abdullah Al-Qattan (Seville/Cordoba)

As we alluded above, from his early youth, Shaykh Muhyiddin used to sympathize with the poor and ascetics who were often insulted by princes and ministers because of the common opposition and criticism from the jurists who often applauded the ministers and supported them in their injustice, which the people of God’s way can not do or remain silence against. This is what happened with Shaykh Abu Muhammad Abdullah al-Qattan, who was responding to the words of the sultans and he does not fear in God the blame, even if he is exposing himself to murdering or imprisonment.

In the Holy Spirit, the Greatest Shaykh mentioned the story of Abdullah Al-Qattan, one of the first to benefit from in the Way of mysticism. He said that he was one those who have been disclosed the meanings of Quran, yet he did not write any book. On the contrary, when he saw the authors in the city of Cordoba, he said: “How poor are those who author and compose books, and how long they are going to remain in accounting (in the Hereafter)! Did they not find in the book of God (the Quran) what is convincing to them, and in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him.”

Ibn al-Arabi then adds that al-Qattan was courageous and he did not fear any blame in God, but he used to confront the (Almoravids) sultans right in their faces, with the ugliest response that they deserve. He exposed himself to being killed or for the many insulting acts of the sultans given their declared violation of the Islamic law. On the other hand, he was honest and sincere with his friends, yet he never enjoyed life, because he does not save any money, and he used to say: I am astonished of those who seek animals to ride, yet they did not proceed to thank God for what they are eating and wearing. He himself never collected more than his need of food and clothes, and he was a sever against the tyrannical who never missed an invasion in the Romans [Quds:, p. 72].

2.2.22.1- The Arrest of Shaykh Al-Qattan

2.2.22.2- The Advice of Shaykh al-Qattan to His Father