Salaam and Greetings of Peace:
It is related that one year the Sufi Master Bayazid set out on the pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj. A few days later he came back. When asked about his sudden return, he gave the following account.
“I was three days walking in the desert when an old man encountered me on the road,” Bayazid recalled.
“‘Where are you going?’ he demanded.
“‘On the pilgrimage,’ I replied.
“‘How much money did you bring for your journey?’
“‘Two hundred dirhams.’
“‘Come, give them to me,’ the man said. ‘I am
a poor man with a family. Circle round me seven times. That
is your pilgrimage.’
“And so I did, and returned home.”
Ya Haqq!
Note: From Attar’s Memorial of the Saints. Also read the post Bayazid and the Dog for another example of the great blessing of giving in charity.
November 1, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I read the story before. I like Bayazid Bastami.. You know, he is from Bastam, near the ancient Bam city. The Bastam and Bam, completely were destroyed in 2003 horrible earthquake in Iran.
One of Farsi traditional sufi singer, who was famous died in the earthquake. His last name was Bastami too.. ;)
November 1, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Salaam Dear Sister Shahrzad:
Thank you for the comment :) I know of the Bam earthquake at least. There was a Nimatullahi Sufi khaniqah there that was destroyed, and many darvishes were killed, may Allah have mercy on their souls.
Alhamdulillah! Our Master, Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, had the khaniqah rebuilt, and also built a school for children in Bam.
Ya Haqq!
November 2, 2007 at 12:56 am
I have read this too somewhere but what an awesome thought!
November 2, 2007 at 6:31 pm
earlier i started thinking how if we follow all those circles we make during salat facing toward Mecca, it’s like everytime we pray we are already part of being there. did that make sense?
anyhow, it was interesting to read this after having had the thoughts i did earlier.
November 3, 2007 at 1:29 pm
That is an amazing story. I hope i can go for Hajj one day Inshallah
November 3, 2007 at 3:03 pm
subhan Allah! Thanks very much for pointing me this way….
November 4, 2007 at 6:35 pm
beautiful story.
November 7, 2007 at 3:00 am
I just found out about your blog…and enjoyed reading several of your post…Great spot, I will be back.
November 8, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Great story. It is similiar to a story told about the scholar, mujahid and Sufi Ibn Mubarak. He gave his Hajj money to a poor family, later he saw someone in a dream saying, ‘Your pilgrimage has been accepted, as have your rites, and your sins have been forgiven.’
December 6, 2007 at 3:12 pm
Assalamualaikum Sidi Irving,
Jazakallah khair for the beautiful post!
May all our hearts be continually circling around Allah Ta’ala.
December 1, 2008 at 9:54 am
Goes to show the importance of Khidmate khalq.. (service to the creation).
(just to add maybe the hajj he was going to go on was a Nafil Hajj)
December 7, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Salam Alaikum,
I just discovered your blog and it is a breath of sweet air of traditional Islam that is a comfort to me. The Hajj story is beautiful and contains within it the true meaning that we should all be focused on. Shukran.
December 7, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Salaam Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Sister Ayesha, welcome, and thank you for the kind words :) You have discovered this blog, and I have made a friend, and so Alhamdulillah!
Ya Haqq!
March 23, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Can somebody please help with the writings or sayings of Bayazid(Peace be upon him)
March 23, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Salaam Brother Mosesele:
You wanted help with the sayings of Bayazid, and here is a link to Attar’s Muslim Saints and Mystic, in pdf format, which has an entire section on Abu Yazid, also called Bayazid, beginning on page 119. Inshallah, it is what you need and will be of benefit.
http://www.omphaloskepsis.com/collection/index.html
It is one of the greatest collections of the life and sayings of Sufis saints, and a must read for all those interested in the path of Love and also Muslim history. I will also send you a private email with the information.
Ya Haqq!