to Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders:Sufism's Many Paths.
Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami stated, "His father used
to sell glasses. Hence he was called the flask seller (al-Qawariri).
His family origin was from
Nahawand, and he was born and raised in 'Iraq--that is what I heard Abu al-Qasim
al-Nasrabadhi saying. He was a scholar of jurisprudence (faqih),
having studied it according to the method of Abu Thawr [Ibrahim ibn Khalid
ibn al-Yaman al-Kalbi]. He would issue legal judgments in his circle of students. [As a student]
he [had] been in the company (sahiba) of Sari al-Saqati, Harith
al-Muhasibi, and Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Qassab al-Baghdadi, and
others. He was among the leaders of the folk and
among their masters, being well spoken of by all."
Sulami included Junayd as being among the transmitters
of the following hadith: The Prophet said, "Beware of the perspicacity of the believer, since he
sees by the light of God, may He be exalted.
Then he recited [the
aya]: Indeed in that are signs for those who have
insight (Qur'an
15:75)."
Sulami stated that Junayd said, "Nearness through ecstasy
(wajd) is 'in-gathering' (jam'); and absence through humanness is separation (tafriqah)."
Sulami stated that Junayd used to say, "We did not learn
(lit. take) Sufism by discourse, rather by hunger, abandoning the
world,
and severing [one's attachments to] familiar and pleasant things;
since
Sufism consists of purity of [one's] relationship with God. Its foundation
is in turning away from the world, as Harith [al-Muhasibi] said, 'My self (nafs) has turned away from the world; so I have spent my nights in wakefulness
and my days in
thirst.' "
Sulami stated that Junayd said, "Whoever knows God is
only made happy by Him."
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