Overview of Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili
Abu al-Hasan, Ali ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Jabbar al-Maghribi, was a distinguished imam and ascetic known for his unique contributions to Sufi knowledge during his time. He is the founder of the Shadhili order, which symbolizes the profound understanding of divine names. Born in 593 AH in the village of Shadhila near Tunisia, he fathered three sons and one daughter. Renowned for his insightful discourses on God and religion, he passed away in 656 AH, having lived for 63 years.
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili’s Teachings About God
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili articulated numerous profound statements regarding God, including the following:
- When God dishonors a servant, He reveals to them their own desires while concealing the flaws in their faith, leading them to indulge in their passions until their demise, oblivious to the danger.
- We perceive God Almighty through the insight of faith and certainty, which renders evidence and proof unnecessary. We thus come to understand creation through Him, discerning that nothing truly exists besides the Sovereign, the True God, whom we struggle to perceive; should we glimpse creation, we recognize them as mere dust in the air, intangible to touch.
- A servant cannot attain closeness to God while still clinging to any of their desires or wishes.
- One of the greatest acts of devotion to God is to detach oneself from their own will, seeking deliverance from it by abandoning what one craves in pursuit of a more fulfilling existence.
Advice from Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili offered valuable guidance beneficial to individuals, which includes the following:
- If you wish to connect with the Truth, disassociate from your ego and relinquish your own strength and capabilities.
- If you seek to master the art of transformation, release all worldly attachments from your heart, renouncing the expectation from God to provide anything other than what has already been decreed, and whatever you desire will manifest as you wish.
- Do not choose any specific matter; instead, opt for the absence of choice. Flee from choosing as you would flee from anything else, moving towards God Almighty. “And your Lord creates what He wills and selects” — All choices mandated by divine law belong to God; heed and obey, for this is the realm of divine wisdom and sacred knowledge, a terrain for understanding the truth derived from God for those who are upright; strive to comprehend.
- Stay close to the community of believers, even if they are sinners or transgressors. Impose the necessary boundaries upon them and dissociate out of compassion, not from disdain or condescension.
- Do not expect to sense the fragrance of divine oversight while being attached to worldly possessions and their inhabitants.
- If faced with a challenge that diverts you from God, remain steadfast. Allah states: {O you who have believed, when you meet a supported force, remain firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful}.
Diverse Sayings of Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili
Among the many famous sayings attributed to Imam Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili are the following:
- The sincere believer, irrespective of the disbelief from the inhabitants of the earth, will only become strengthened.
- I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and asked: “O Messenger of Allah, what is the essence of following?” He replied: “The awareness of the followed in all matters, with everything, and in all things.”
- There are three reasons for spiritual decline: a sin you have committed, worldly matters that have slipped away from you, or a person harming your soul or reputation. If you have sinned, seek forgiveness; if worldly aspects have departed from you, return to your Lord; if you are wronged, then be patient, for this is your cure. And if God has not revealed to you the reason for your spiritual decline, remain at peace under the flow of divine destiny, as it is but a passing cloud.
- One of the strongest defenses against calamity is prayer and seeking forgiveness, as Allah states: {And Allah would not punish them while you are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness}.
- Any form of piety that does not yield knowledge and enlightenment should not be regarded with reward, and any wrongdoing that leads to fear and a swift return to God should not be counted as a burden.