#sulami

[life-in-the-freefall]

"Grace in behaviour is a sign of spiritual chivalry (futuwwah). When Kharraz was asked about chivalry, he answered, 'To forget what one knows, to show patience against the wishes of one's ego, to give up expectations from others, not to want, not to expect thanks and rewards, to be generous, to hide one's own spiritual state (in humility, lest one make pretensions), and to be modest."

― Sulami (d. 1021 CE), Kitab al-Futuwwah, trans./ed. Tosun Bayrak (Vermont: Inner Traditions, 1991), 68.

[life-in-the-freefall]

[life-in-the-freefall]

[life-in-the-freefall]

"Be more occupied with your inner state than with your external state, because this is what God looks at, whereas the outward appearance is what people look at. Abu Bakr al-Razi reports that Abu Ya`qub al-Sufi said, 'There are men who will devote fifty years of effort to guarding against the slips of the tongue in reciting of the Quran, yet are not mindful of the slips that their inner being makes. People in that state are misguided."

— Sulami (d. 1021 CE), The Way of Sufi Chivalry, trans./ed. Tosun Bayrak (Vermont: Inner Traditions, 1991), 76-77.

[life-in-the-freefall]

“Futuwwah is the way of the fata. In Arabic, fata literally means a handsome, brave youth. After the enlightenment of Islam, following the use of the word in the Holy Koran, fata (plural: fityan) came to mean the ideal, noble, and perfect [human being] whose hospitality and generosity would extend until [she or] he had nothing left for [her or] himself; a [human being] who would give all, including [her or] his life. According to Sufis, Futuwwah is a code of honourable conduct that follows the example of the prophets, saints, sages, and the intimate friends and lovers of Allah.” – Hazrat Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami (may Allah sanctify his secret.)

[life-in-the-freefall]

[life-in-the-freefall]

Fatima al-Dimashqiyya رضي الله عنها She was unique in her time. She ignored the spiritual masters. I heard 'Ali b. Ahmad al-Tarsûsî say:

“When Abu l-Husayn al-Mâlikî entered Damascus, he gave a high quality course in the mosque. However, Fatima attended this assembly. 

She then said to him: 

"Abû l-Hassan! You spoke well! You, you know how to speak, but do you also know how to be silent?" 

Abu l-Hassan was silent and never spoke again after that. " - Sulami, Sufi Women

[life-in-the-freefall]

"Be more preoccupied with your inner state than with your external state, because the inner state is what God looks at, whereas the outward appearance is what people look at. 

Abu Bakr al-Razi reports that Abu Yaqub al-Sufi said,

'There are men who devote 50 years to guarding the slips of the tongue in recitation of the Quran, yet are not at all mindful of the slips that their inner being makes. People in this state are misguided."

 -  Sulami (d. 11th century)