Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ruwaym ibn Ahmad (q.s.) in Brief

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu al-Qasim ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Huzan al-Qushayri (r.a.) recorded, in his Risalah al-Qushayriyyah, Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ruwaym ibn Ahmad (q.s.) was born in Baghdad.  A great Sufi master, he died in the year 303.  He was a teacher of the Qur’an and jurist, who adhered to the school of Imam Dawud ibn ‘Ali azh-Zhahiri (r.a.). 

Shaykh Ruwaym (q.s.) said, “The wisdom of the wise man consists of dispensing freely pious admonitions to his brethren, while at the same time imposing them stringently upon himself.  His dispensation to others means adherence to religious knowledge, while his stringent imposition of them upon himself is evidence of pious scrupulosity.” 

Imam al-Qushayri (r.a.) wrote that he heard Shaykh Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Habib as-Sulami (q.s.) say, “I heard ‘Abd al-Wahid ibn Bakr say, ‘I heard Abu ‘Abdallah ibn Khafif say, ‘I asked Ruwaym to give me a piece of advice.  He answered: ‘This affair is achieved only by exerting one’s spirit.  If you enter it through this, fine.  If not, then you should not engage in the follies of the Sufis.’’’” 

Shaykh Ruwaym (q.s.) said:,“When you keep company with any group of people, this is better for you than keeping company with the Sufis.  This is because all people study the externals, whereas this community studies the true realities.  While all people seek to impose upon themselves the outward rulings of the Divine Law, the Sufis impose upon themselves the True Reality of pious scrupulosity and continuous sincerity.  Therefore if anyone deviates from them in something that they have achieved, God will Remove the light of faith from his heart.” 

Shaykh Ruwaym (q.s.) also said, “I was walking in a street of Baghdad during a hot afternoon.  I was thirsty.  I came to a house and asked for water.  A girl with a pitcher opened the door.  When she saw me, she said, ‘A Sufi who drinks during the day!’  Since then I have never broken my fast.” 

Shaykh Ruwaym (q.s.) said, “God has Bestowed upon you word and deed.  If He Takes Away from you the word and leaves you with the deed, this is a Blessing.  If He Takes Away from you the deed and leaves you with the word, this is an affliction.  However, if He takes away both from you, this is a terrible punishment.”