Dalael-us-Suluk
CHAPTER 10
THE OFFICES OF THE AULIA
Sufi Terminology Derived from Hadith
T he misunderstandings prevalent among the masses about thevarious offices of the aulia and the consequent attempts to create ill-will against them on charges of heresy must be clarified and dispelled. While a detailed discussion follows in the next chapter, a number of Hadith, from animmense treasure on the subject, are:
- Abu Na‘eemwrites in his Hilya al-Aulia quoting the Prophet
, “There will be five hundred Akhyar(virtuous) among my followers in every age and forty ‘Abdal. This number will not decrease. When one dies from among the latter, the vacancy will be filled, by a Divine arrangement, from the former.” - Narrates Imam Ahmad, “There will be thirty‘Abdal among the followers of the Prophet whose hearts will resemble that of ProphetIbrahim
. Any vacancy due to death of anyone will be filled up immediately by Divine arrangement.” - Narrates Tibrani, “There will be thirty ‘Abdal among my followers. The earth shall owe its existence to them. They will be instrumental inbringing rains and ALLAH ’s succour.”
- Abu Asakar quotes the Prophet, “The ‘Abdal are in Syria, they are forty men. They bring rains and victory against your enemies, because of themthe afflictions of mankind are removed by the Almighty.”
- Narrates Tibrani, “The ‘Abdal will be in Syria, because of them youwill receive ALLAH ’shelp and provisions.”
- Narrates Imam Ahmad, “‘Abdal are in Syria and they are forty men. Any vacancies due to death are filled up byHis plan. Because of them you get rains and ALLAH ’shelp in encounters with your enemies. They are also instrumental in averting Divine retribution from the people of Syria.”
- Narrates Khalil in his Karamat-e Aulia and Wahlmi in his Musnad-e Firdaos, “‘Abdal are forty men and women. Casualties among them are replaced accordingly by a Divine arrangement.”
- Narrates al-Hakam, “‘Abdal are from among His slaves.”
- Narrates Ibn-e Abi Dunya, “The identification of ‘Abdal among my followers is that they do not invoke curse on anything.”
- Narrates Ibn-e Habban, “The earth shall not be without thirty and eighty righteous men, who shall be like Prophet Ibrahim . Because of them your afflictions will be removed and rains and provisions shall be bestowed on you.”
- Narrates Imam Bahaiqi, “The ‘Abdal from among my followers shall enter Paradise not by virtue of their deeds alone, but by ALLAH’s Mercy, munificence of their souls and enlightenment of their hearts.”
- Narrates Ibn-e ‘Adi, “‘Abdal are forty, twenty two in Syria and eighteen in ‘ Iraq. Casualties due to death are replaced under His arrangement. Doomsday shall follow their passing away, by ALLAH’s Command.”
- Narrates Tibrani, “Forty men who are like Prophet Ibrahim shall always inhabit the earth. They will be the cause of rains and ALLAH’s help to you. When anyone passes away, another will take his place by a Divine arrangement.”
- Narrates Abu Na‘eem, “There will always remain among my followers forty men, whose hearts shall be like that of Prophet Ibrahim . Due to their blessing, sufferings of mankind will be removed- they are called ‘Abdal.”
- A mention has also been made about Qutb by some of the scholars of Hadith, for example, Abu Na‘eem in his Hilya declares that a number of Hadith are available in corroboration of this point. Narrates at-Tirmizi and Abu Na‘eem, “There will be among my followers some foremost in ALLAH’s nearness and they will be there in all ages.”