Abul Hassan Ali al-Kharqani (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ)
He was the Ghawth (Arch-Intercessor) of his time and unique in his station. He was the Qiblah (focus of attention) of his people and an Ocean of Knowledge from which saints still receive waves of light and spiritual knowledge.
He devoided himself of everything except Allah’s Oneness, refusing for himself all titles and aspirations. He would not be known as a follower of any science, even a spiritual science, and he said: “I am not a rahib (hermit). I am not a zahid (ascetic). I am not a speaker. I am not a Sufi. O Allah, You are One, and I am one in Your Oneness.”
Of Knowledge and Practice
Scholars and servants in the lower world are numerous but they don’t benefit you unless you are engaged in the satisfaction of Allah’s desire, and from morning to night are occupied with the deeds that Allah accepts.
About Being a Sufi
The Sufi is not the one who is always carrying the prayer rug, nor the one who is wearing patched clothes, nor the one who keeps certain customs and appearances; but the Sufi is the one to whom everyone’s focus is drawn, although he is hiding himself.
The Sufi is the one who in the daylight doesn’t need the sun and in the night doesn’t need the moon. The essence of Sufism is absolute nonexistence that has no need of existence because there is no existence besides Allah’s existence.
Sayings and Wisdom
He was asked about Truthfulness (Sidq). He said, “Truthfulness is to speak your conscience.”
Of Bayazid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) he said: “When Abu Yazid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) said, ‘I want not to want’ that is exactly the wanting which is real desire (irada).”
He was asked, “Who is the appropriate person to speak about fana’ (annihilation) and baqa’ (permanence)?” He answered, “That is knowledge for the one who is as if suspended by a silk thread from the heavens to the earth and a great cyclone comes and takes all trees, houses, and mountains and throws them in the ocean until it fills the ocean. If that cyclone is unable to move the one who is hanging by the silk thread, then he is the one who can speak on fana’ and baqa’.”
The Visit of Sultan Mahmoud al-Ghazni
One time Sultan Mahmoud al-Ghazni visited Abul Hassan (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) and asked his opinion of Bayazid al-Bistami (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ). He said:
Whoever follows Bayazid (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) is going to be guided. And whoever saw him and felt love towards him in his heart will reach a happy ending.
At that Sultan Mahmoud said, “How is that possible, when Abu Jahl saw the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) and he was unable to reach a happy ending but rather ended up in misery?”
He answered, “It is because Abu Jahl didn’t see the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) but he saw Muhammad bin `Abdullahصلی اللہ علیہ وسلم. And if he saw the Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) he would have been taken out of misery into happiness. As Allah said, “You see them looking at you but without clear vision” [7:198]. He continued with the saying already quoted, “The vision with the eyes of the head…”
Other Sayings
Ask for difficulties in order for tears to appear because Allah loves those who cry,” referring to the advice of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) to cry much.
In whatever way you ask Allah for anything, still the Qur’an is the best way. Don’t ask Allah except through the Qur’an.
The Inheritor of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) is the one who follows his footsteps and never puts black marks in his Book of Deeds.
His Passing
Grandshaykh Abul Hasan al-Kharqani (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ) died on Tuesday, 10th of Muharram in 425 AH/1033 CE. He was buried in Kharqan, a village of the city of Bistam in Iran. He passed on the secret of the Golden Chain to Hazrat Shaykh Abul-Qāsim ibn Alī ibn Abdullāh Gurgānī (رحمۃ اللہ علیہ).