Shaykh Abul Abbs al-Murs

Translated by Arfan Shah1

His full name was Shihb al-Dn Amad ibn Umar ibn Al al-Khazraji al-Balansi whose noble lineage is traced back to the great companion Saad ibn Ubad al-Anar . He was known by the agnomen Abul Abbs and by the nickname al-Murs after the place he was born - Mursia. His grandfather was Qays ibn Saad, the leader of Egypt before our master Imam Al ibn Ab lib in 36 H. Our master Abul Abbs al-Murs was born in the city of Mursia in Andalusia2 in the Islamic year 616H [1219 AD]. His father worked there and sent his son to a teacher to study the Majestic Qurn and to understand the commands of the religion. Abul Abbs memorised the entire Quran in one year and went on to study the principles of Jurisprudence, reading and writing. His father was a Mursian trader and Abul Abbs used to participate with him in his business. The money which Abul Abbs received from the trade went into the pockets of the poor, the destitute and the wayfarers. The profits of his trade were sufficient to maintain him and his lifestyle. He engaged his heart in the remembrance of Allah and in doing so he proceeded day after day, a step at a time, on to the path of truth and realisation. Abul Abbs was known for being truthful, trustworthy, decent and possessing integrity in his business transactions. If the profits of his business were one hundred thousand he would give one hundred thousand to charity. He was an example for the other traders of his time in terms of etiquette and gentle manners required by the religion. He was also an example for the youth in holding steadfast to the pillars and the rights of Allah . He would fast for several days every month. He would observe night prayers for part of the night and he would restrain his tongue from foolishness or prattle.

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In the Islamic year 640H [1242 AD], his father resolved to perform pilgrimage to the house of Allah. So he accompanied him as well as his brother, Abdullah Jalal al-Dn and their mother Sayyida Faima, daughter of Shaykh Abd al-Raman al-Mliq. They travelled by sea from Algeria until they reached the furthest outpost of the shores of Tunisia when a violent storm hit them. All the passengers drowned except the ones in the care of Allah . Abul Abbs al-Murs and his brother were saved by Allah Most High and they proceeded to Tunisia where they took up residence. Abul Abbs al-Murs received the Spiritual Path at the hands of his teacher - the famous spiritual leader Abul asan al-Shdhil . Abul Abbs met him in Tunisia, in the Islamic year 640H after which he was nourished with the knowledge of the time relating to jurisprudence, Qurnic exegesis, Prophetic narrations, logic and philosophy. The seasons passed in the spiritual path until he mastered these sciences. Imm al-Murs said, When I arrived in Tunisia, I had come from Mursia in Andalusia, I was a young man at the time. I heard about Shaykh Abul asan al-Shdhil and a man invited me to visit him. I said I would request Allah for guidance [in this matter]. That night I slept and saw myself in a dream ascending a mountain top. When I reached the peak, I saw a man in a green cloak; he was sat with a man on his right and a man on his left side. He looked at me and said, You have found the vicegerent of the time. I woke up and it was time for the dawn prayer when the same man who had invited me to visit the Shaykh came again. So I went with him and entered into [the shaykhs] presence and noticed the same bench that I saw on the mountain peak - I was astonished. Shaykh Abul asan As-Shdhil said, You have found the vicegerent of the age. What is your name? So I informed him of my name and lineage. He said, Ten years ago I raised you up to myself. From that day onwards he accompanied Shaykh Abul asan al-Shdhil and travelled with him to Egypt. Al-Shdhil noticed that Abul Abbs al-Murs had a pure spirit and a good soul keen to approach his Lord. He gave him many gifts and took personal care of his spiritual nurturing because he would become his vicegerent after him. He said, O Abul Abbs, I swear by Allah that you did not accompany me, until I became you and you became me. O Abul Abbs, you have what the men of Allah have but the men of Allah do not have what you have. Amongst the narrations that have reached us about Abul asan al-Shdhil that are renowned in the spiritual circles is, Since Abul Abbs reached Allah he has not been veiled; even if he sought a veil, he could not find it. Abul Abbs knows the causeways of the skies better than the causeways of the Earth. It is authenticated that Abul Abbs al-Murs accompanied Shaykh al-Shdhil and became the leader in the path after Imam al-Shdhil. Before this, Abul Abbs married one of the daughters of al-Shdhil; who gave birth to children, amongst them Muammad and Amad. One of his daughters married Shaykh Yqt al-Arshi who was one of her fathers students in knowledge and mysticism. In the Islamic year 642H [1244 AD], Shaykh al-Shdhil saw the Prophet Muammad in his sleep who ordered him to move to Egypt. So he left Tunisia with Abul Abbs, his brother Abdullah and his servant Abu al-Azayim. They headed for Alexandria under the protection of the King al-li Najmuddn Ayyb.

Abul Abbs al-Murs said, I was with Shaykh Abul asan al-Shdhil headed for Alexandria on our way from Tunisia when I was overcome by a severe constriction. It weakened me until I could not bear its burden so I went to Shaykh Abul asan. When he felt my presence he said, O Amad? I replied, Yes, my master. He said, Allah created dam with his hands, prostrated the angels to him, made his abode Paradise then sent him to Earth. Before he was created Allah said, I will place a vicegerent upon the Earth,3 he did not say in the sky nor in Paradise. The descent of dam (upon him peace) to Earth was honourable, not dishonourable. He used to worship Allah, in Paradise, through experiential knowledge and when he was sent to Earth he worshipped through responsibility. Only when someone has passed through these two stages of worship does he deserve to become a vicegerent. You have a share of dam. Your beginning was in the realm of the souls in Paradise, experientially. Then you descended to world of the soul and worshipped through responsibility. So only when you passed through these stages did you deserve to become a vicegerent. Abul Abbs al-Murs said, As soon as the Shaykh finished this explanation, Allah expanded my chest and the constriction and the whisperings that I had, left. Abul Abbs al-Murs said, When we arrived in Alexandria, we came to Amd al-Sawr. We were in need and extremely hungry. A righteous man of Alexandria came with food. When the Shaykh was informed he said, No one should eat any of this food. We spent the night as we entered it, hungry. Morning came and the Shaykh led us in the dawn prayer then instructed us to bring the food; we presented it and ate from it. The Shaykh said, I heard a voice in my dream that said the most permissible item is that which you did not expect, and that which you did not request a man or a woman for. We settled down in the province of Kowm ad-Dakat. For the lessons of knowledge and spiritual gatherings al-Shdhil chose a famous masjid called masjid al-Aareen - also known as the masjid of the West. These lessons and gatherings were attended by a large number of the elite of Alexandria as well as the public. This was not by mere accident as Alexandria was, during this time, a distinguished city and a place of learning various major sciences. This was noticed by major figures before al-Shdhil and al-Murs had taken residency there. The attendees of the lessons had included alarawsh, Ibn al-Khaab al-Rz and fi Abu hir al-Salaf. alh al-Dn al-Ayb was keen to spend the month of Ramadan in Alexandria in order to listen to Prophetic traditions from al-Hfi Abu hir al-Salaf. Abul Abbs continued to strive with al-Shdhil in terms of his spiritual nurturing and proceeded upon the path. He did not leave him for a moment until al-Shdhil passed away. Abul Abbs al-Murs spent forty three years in Alexandria spreading knowledge, purifying souls, nurturing students and setting examples of piousness and devotion. Many received knowledge at the hands of Abul Abbs al-Murs, scholars and companions alike, such as Imam al-Buir, Ibn Ataillah Al-Sakandar, Yqt al-Arshi, Ibn al-Laban, Izz al-Dn ibn Abd al-m, Ibn Ab Shma and others. He passed away on the twenty fifth of Dhul Qaida in the Islamic year 686/1287 and was buried with his sons Muammad and Amad in the province of Ras al-Teen.

Srah al-Baqarah 2:390

Abul Abbs received the leadership of the Shdhil spiritual path after the passing away of Abul asan al-Shdhil in the Islamic year 656/1258. At that time he was forty years old and he remained holding the banner of knowledge and spirituality until he died. After he had spent forty years in Alexandria the shine of the Shdhil path finally passed on into the horizon. The States tates of Man According to Abul Abul Abb Abb Abbs al-Murs Murs Imam Abul Abbs al-Murs apportioned the states of man into four they are; Blessing, Tribulation, Obedience and disobedience. I swear by Allah, in every state there is a right of servitude that is necessary upon you through divine decree. In states of obedience be grateful for the blessings from Allah upon you. Allah guided you to it and established you therein. In states of disobedience seek forgiveness. In states of blessing show gratitude thus joining the heart with Allah. In states of tribulation, be satisfied with the decree [of Allah] and be patient. The Greatest Invocation Imam Abul Abbs al-Murs used to advise others to invoke the name of Allah. He advised his companions to make their invocation the name of Allah because it is the name of the Ruler of the Heavens. To Him is increase and benefit; the increase is knowledge and the benefit is light. The light is not an intention in itself, it is only to support and uncover. All of the names of Allah can be attributed to creation except the name Allah. An example of this is when you call him O Patient4 you address him from the name The Patient. He is The Patient and his servant is patient. If you call him Noble, you address him from the name The Noble. He is The Noble and his servant is noble. This is likewise for all the names of Allah except the name Allah, this is solely his; as it is constitutes divinity and cannot be attributed to creation. From the Speech of Our Master Abu Abul Abbs alal-Murs The Prophets (upon them peace) are presents to their nations; our Prophet is a gift. The difference between a present and a gift is, a present is for the needy and a gift is for the lovers. The Messenger of Allah said, I am only a merciful gift. He commented on the Prophetic statement of our master the Messenger of Allah , Without boast, I am the master of the children of dam. Meaning he is not boasting about his mastery but he is boasting about his servitude to Allah mighty and majestic.

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The entire existence is subservient and you are a servant in His presence. I swear by Allah that I did not sit with the people because they plundered what I had. Someone said to me, If you do not sit with them so that they can take from you, then we will not bestow unto you. For forty years the Messenger of Allah has not been veiled from me for a blink of an eye. If the Messenger of Allah was veiled from me; I would not consider myself to be a part of the Muslim nation. Encompassment is of two types: major and minor. Minor encompassing is for the commonality of this group in that that the Earth is folded up for them from its east to its west within a single soul. Major encompassment is that of the peculiarities of the soul.