The Man Who Reviled the Awliya’

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

There lived a man in Sanjar who used to ridicule the awliya’.  When he was about to die, he was able to talk but unable to recite the shahadah.  His attendants were worried and they went to Shaykh Sawa’id as-Sanjiri (q.s.).  The shaykh came, sat near the dying man, and did the silent dzikr.  When the shaykh raised his head, the man recited the shahadah several times.  Then the wali explained that because of his insolence towards the awliya’, Allah (s.w.t.) had Rendered his tongue unable to recite the shahadah.  When this was revealed to Shaykh Sawa’id as-Sanjiri (q.s.), he implored to Allah (s.w.t.) and Allah (s.w.t.) would Grant his du’a provided the awliya’ he used to ridicule forgave him.  Shaykh Sawa’id as-Sanjiri (q.s.) then contacted Shaykh Abu Mahfuzh Ma’ruf ibn Firuz al-Karkhi (q.s.), Shaykh Abu al-Hasan Sirri ibn Mughallis as-Saqathi (q.s.), Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi (q.s.), Shaykh Bayazid Thayfur ibn ‘Isa al-Bisthami (q.s.), and others. 

Shaykh Sawa’id as-Sanjiri (q.s.) presented the unfortunate man’s case and sought his forgiveness, and these awliya’ forgave him.  The man himself told that when he wanted to recite the shahadah, a black thing would grip his tongue and would say. “I am your blasphemy.”  When he was forgiven, a bright thing came and removed that black fiend and said, “I am the consent of the awliya’.” 

Then he said, “I am seeing illuminated horses between the earth and sky.  Their riders too are illuminated and they are bowing their heads in utter humility and reciting, ‘Subbuhun Quddusun Rabbana wa Rabb al-Mala’ikatihi wa ar-Ruh.’”  The man read the shahadah until his last breath.