Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh Ali Huzwari (R.A.) in his famous book “Kashf Al Mahjub”
quotes Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi(R.A.) on eight qualities of Sufis,which are individual qualities taken from eight Prophets of Allah.
Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (R.A) says that Sufism is founded on eight prophetic qualities:
Sakahavat,Raza,Sabr,Ishara,Gurbat,Suuf,Sahayat & Faqr.
01.
SAKHAVAT -The Liberality (Generosity) of Ibrahim Alaihis Salam (Abraham,may blessings of Allah be on him),who is also called Kaleel-Ullah (friend of Allah) who offered his son for sacrifice when Allah asked him for it.
(And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands,
which he fulfilled: He (Allah) said: "I will make thee an Imam to the
Nations." He (Abraham) pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!"
He (Allah) answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers." :Quran–Chapter 2(Al-Baqarah) Verse 124
02.
RAZA-The acquiescence (acceptance) of Ismail Alaihis Salam (Ishmael,
may blessings of Allah be on him) who submitted to the command of Allah to give up his life
When Ibrahim A.S. told him that Allah wanted him to be sacrificed.
[Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said:
"O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what thy view
is!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me,
if God so wills one practising Patience and
Constancy!”] :Quran –Chapter 2( Al-Sãffãt) Verse 102
03.
SABR-The patience of Ayub Alaihis Salam ( Job may blessings of Allah be on him), who patiently endured the affliction of worms and the jealousy of the people.
Allah had granted Hazrat Aub A.S. great wealth and a large family, and he lived in comfort and peace. Allah wanted to test his steadfastness of faith in plenty and in deprivation. Once lightening struck his live stock and all his animals perished. This was followed by a storm that destroyed his crops. The test of deprivation continued, and his house collapsed over his family, killing all his children. Every time a calamity struck, he went down in submission to Allah acknowledging that the
Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.
The trial of patience continued, and Ayub developed ulcers over all his body, and the maggots ate his rotting flesh. At these troubled times, many of his friends and followers abandoned him. Only his beloved wife Raheemah stayed with him throughout his troubles. The towns people forced him and his devoted wife out into the wilderness. The series of painful trials did not shake him in his belief in the Benevolence of Allah. Allah was pleased with His steadfast servant. He gave him full recovery from his oozing sores.
["And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break
not (thy oath)." Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How
excellent in Our service! ever did he turn (to Us)!]
: Quran- Chapter 38 (Saad ) Verse 38
04.
ISHARA-The ability to communicate through symbols as Hazrat Zakarriya Alihis Salam (Zachariah, may blessings of Allah be on him).
The incidence is such that Hazrat Zakariya (A.S.) didn’t had offspring as his wife was infertile.He prayed to Allah for a son,Allah revealed to him that he would have a son very soon.Hazrat Zakariya was struck with amazement over possibility of having a son in this old age and requested him to give any sign for this.Allah gave Hazrat Zakariya his sign for his prophecy that he would be incapable of verbal communication.So Hazrat Zakariya was unable to talk for three days and soon afterwads he had son (Hazrat Yahya A.S.)
[He said: "O my Lord! Give me a Sign!" "Thy Sign," was the answer, "Shall be
that thou shalt speak to no man for three days but with signals. Then celebrate
the praises of thy Lord again and again, and glorify Him in the evening and in the morning."]
Quran - Chapter 3 (Aale-Imran) Verse 41
[So Zakariya came out to his people from him chamber: He told them by
signs to celebrate God's praises in the morning and in the evening.]
Quran Chapter 19 ( Maryam ) Verse 11
05.
GURBAT (Stranger hood) of Hazrat Yahya Alihis Salam (John the Baptist or Yohanna according to bible) who was born a stranger in his own country and an alien to his own kin.
06.
SUUF (Wearing of wool) of Hazrat Moosa Alihis Salam ( Moses , may blessings of Allah be on him) who wore woolen clothes through out his life.
It has been said in the Traditions (Hadis/Hadith) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) that the Prophet Musa A.S. (Moses) was wearing wool when he went to speak with God on Mount Sinai . In the early days wool was a very cheap commodity, worn by ascetics as a sign of humility and detachment. Wool is the opposite of silk.
In some Traditions( Hadis ) the Sufis are connected with the Companions of the Holy Prophet-.
“There was a group of very highly devoted and sincere seekers of God named
Ahl as-Suffa, the People of the Bench. They spent their lives in a state of
remembrance of God and complete detachment from this world.”
07.
SAHAYAT-The pilgrimage hood of Hazrat Isa Alihis Salam ( Jesus may blessings of Allah be on him),who was so detached therein from worldly things that he kept only a cup and a comb. He threw away his cup when he saw a man drinking water through use of palms of his hands, and the comb likewise when he saw another man using his fingers to dress his hair.
08.
FAQR-The Poverty & Humility Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), to whom Allah Almighty had given the keys of all the worldly treasures saying:
“Lay no trouble on you, but procure every luxury by means of these
treasures.”and he answered “Lord, I desire them not, keep me one day full-fed
and one day hungry.”
It is also recorded in Al-Tirmidhi (Tirmizi) Book of prophetic traditions that:
The Prophet used to pray, "O God, grant me life as a poor, cause me to die
as a poor and resurrect me in the company of the poor .." His wife asked him why
he said that, and he replied: Because the poor will enter the garden of bliss
before the rich. Do not turn away a poor man, even if all you can give is half a
date. If you love the poor and bring them near you, God will bring you near Him
on the Day of Great Resurrection.
In another tradition in Sahih Al-Bukhari (Hadith 5:738 ) Narrated byAmir bin Al Harith R.A. states that:
"Allah's Apostle did not leave a Dinaar or a Dirham or a male or a female
slave. He left only his white mule on which he used to ride, and his weapons,
and a piece of land which he gave in charity for the needy travelers."
