Sufism -- Early Sufis : 'Ali ibn 'Abd al-Rahim al-Qannad

Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders: Sufism's Many Paths

Professor Alan Godlas, University of Georgia

Early Shaykhs of Sufism : 'Ali ibn 'Abd al-Rahim al-Qannad (the sugar seller)

Sam'ani in his book al-Ansabnoted his name as being Abu al-Hasan 'Ali ibn 'Abd al-Rahim al-Wasiti al-Qannad al-Sufi. Sam'ani describes him as being one of the Sufis and as being among those who traveled without anything (safara 'ala al-tajrid). He met the shaykhs, and he himself was known to have discoursed (lahu kalam). He transmitted some of the words of al-Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj's (d. 922 CE). Three men who transmitted from him were 'Abd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Farisi, Ahmad ibn Abi Hatim al-Qazwini, and Abu al-'Abbas ibn Turkan (Sam'ani, al-Ansab,vol. 4, p. 545).

'Abd al-Karim al-Rafi'i al-Qazwini noted that Shaykh Abu Muhammad Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Abhari mentioned in the book Adab al-fuqara (Manners of the Poor) that he heard some shaykhs saying that Qannad dropped in on the Sufis (al-fuqara) in Qazwin. He said, "Greetings to you. Satan has no way to get to you, O my friends." Then he left. So they said [to one another], "He might be mocking us. So if he returns, we will strike him (darabnahu). [Later he returned.] He said, "Greetings to you. Satan has no way to get to you." So they grabbed him and said, "You are mocking us." He replied, "No, [I am not.] I said that on account of the words of God, 'Satan promises you poverty' (Qur'an 2:268). But you are in the midst of poverty, not fearing it. So Satan has no power over you."

---From al-Rafi'i al-Qazwini, al-Tadwin fi akhbar Qazwin,vol. 3, p. 367.

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