Rab'ia Basri, Sayings and Prayers

The most famous Sufi woman, Rab’ia al Adawiya [d.801 AD], also known as Rab’ia of Basra, is mentioned only briefly in the earliest accounts of Sufi saints. The fullest account of her life and sayings appears in the Persian text Memorial of the Friends of God by the Sufi writer and poet of Nishapur, Fariduddin Attar [d.1230].

Rab’ia Basri is considered the pioneer of Divine Love in the mystical tradition of Islam. Her spirituality is marked by an intimate, loving and trusting relationship with Divinity which overrules all other concerns. She is the devotee, utterly consumed by Divine Love and Contemplation.

It is said that Rab’ia was once asked, "Where do you come from?" She said, "From that world."
"Where are you going?" "To that world."
"What are you doing in this world?" "Grieving."
"Why?" "I eat the bread of this world and do the work of that."
"Such a sweet tongue!" they said, "You are fit to be an abbess." She replied, "I am abbess of myself. Whatever is within me I do not bring out. Whatever is outside me I do not let in. If anyone enters and leaves, it has nothing to do with me. I watch over my heart, not mud and clay."

They said, "Do you love the presence of Majesty?" She said, "I do."
They said, "Do you hate satan?" She said, "Out of love of the Compassionate, I have no occasion for hatred toward satan."

They asked, "When is a servant of God contented?" She said, "When he is thankful for tribulation as he is for bliss."

It is related that once someone had tied a bandage on his head. She said, "Why have you tied a bandage on your head?" He said, "My head hurts."
She said, "How old are you?" "Thirty."
"In these thirty years, have you mostly been sick or healthy?" "Healthy."
"Have you ever, in these thirty years, tied on the bandage of gratitude? Now because you have a single headache, you tie on the bandage of complaint."

It is related that Hasan Basri, Malik Dinar, and Shaqiq Balkhi, God most High have mercy upon them, went to visit Rab’ia, God have mercy upon her. The conversation turned to the question of sincerity. Hasan said, "No one is sincere in his claim who is not patient under the blows of the master." Rab’ia said, "This talk stinks of egoism." Shaqiq said, "No one is sincere in his claim who is not grateful for the blows of the master." Rab’ia said, "We need something better than this." Malik Dinar said, "No one is sincere who does not delight in the blows of the master." Rab’ia said, "We need something better than this." They said, "Now you speak." Rab’ia said, "No one is sincere in his claim who does not forget the wound of the blow in the vision of his master. There is nothing strange in this. The women of Egypt did not perceive the wound of the blow when they viewed Joseph, peace be upon him. Why should it be strange if someone is like this while beholding the Creator?"

Rab’ia’s Prayers:

1. "O’ my God whatever share you have given me of this world, give it to your enemies, and whatever share of the next world you have given me, give it to your friends. You are enough for us."
2. "O Lord if I worship you for the fear of hell, burn me in hell. If I worship you in the hope of paradise, forbid it to me. And if I worship you for your sake alone, do not deprive me of your eternal Beauty."
3. "O my God, my work and my desire, in all this world, is recollection of you and in the afterworld, meeting with you. This is what is mine-----you do as you will."

By Naila Amat-un-Nur

December 2006



The Life of Rabia al Adawiya