Hazrat Rabiah Basri (ra) was born between 714 and 718 in Basra Iraq. She was The Fourth Daughter of Her Family and therefore named Rabia, meaning “Fourth”.
Divine love is a gift from Allah, given to those whom Allah selects for this grace. He makes them free from both worlds and dedicates them solely to His love. A true lover sacrifices every blessing and comfort of this world for the remembrance of the Beloved, making the attainment of the Beloved’s pleasure the purpose of his life. Such lovers attain the ranks of perfect knowledge and are merged in Allah. There are many saints who reach the level of one who knows Allah after rigorous practice and struggle, but the one who is a perfect female saint and true lover, mentioned with deep reverence by the saints, is none other than Maryam Sani, Hazrat Rabiah Basri. Hazrat Shaikh Fariduddin Attar writes about her in “Tazkirat-ul-Auliya”: “Hazrat Rabiah Basri (ra) was a veiled lady, a paragon of sincerity. This lady, walking in the fire of divine love, was the second Mary. If someone asks why a woman is mentioned among men, I would answer that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated that Allah does not look at forms but at hearts and intentions, and on the Day of Judgment, the reckoning will be according to intentions. When Umm-ul-Mu’mineen Hazrat Aisha Sadiqa was allowed to take two-thirds of the religion, it is also permissible and lawful to gain religious benefit from her female servants. Therefore, if a woman engages in worship and devotion, she will also be included in the ranks of men. Furthermore, when men are called on the Day of Judgment, the first step will be that of Hazrat Maryam. Hazrat Rabiah Basri held such a position that if she was not present in the assembly of Hazrat Khwaja Hasan Basri, he would not deliver his sermon. It is also essential to mention Hazrat Rabiah Basri because this mention is made in accordance with Tawhid, wherein no distinction between “I” and “You” exists. Even in her time, Hazrat Rabiah Basri (ra) was unparalleled in the knowledge of Allah and deserving of this rank in the eyes of the elders.”
Definitions of Men and Women:
Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Najib-ur-Rahman, may his blessings be upon him, explains the definition of men and women in poverty: “The word ‘man’ is a name for a trait, and we do not define it by physical appearance; rather, ‘man’ is a quality and trait found in both women and men. Those who pursue the path of seeking the Divine Truth are ‘men’, so there are many women who are men and many men who are women.” The blessed statement of Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Muhammad Asghar Ali is: “According to Hadith, every seeker of the Lord is a man, thus Hazrat Rabiah Basri is also a man.”
Birth of Hazrat Rabiah Basri:
Hazrat Rabiah Basri’s status in poverty is as high as the obscurity surrounding her life events. Early biographers have not mentioned her birth year; however, modern biographers have emphasized her blessed birth in 95 or 99 Hijri. Before Hazrat Rabiah Basri’s birth, Shaikh Ismail had three daughters, and since she was born after them, she was named Rabiah. In the Arabic language, ‘Rabiah’ means the fourth. Although her father was deprived of worldly wealth, he was rich in the treasure of contentment. Since she was pious and virtuous, Hazrat Rabiah had no complaints about the lack of worldly riches. She was a manifestation of acceptance and surrender, always grateful to Allah, happy with the wealth of trust and contentment, and quietly enduring every hardship. The early life of Hazrat Rabiah Basri is filled with great events of secrets and insights, indicating that her childhood was different from that of ordinary children. Shaikh Fariduddin Attar states that on the night Hazrat Rabiah Basri was born, Shaikh Ismail’s house was in such disarray that there was no spare cloth to cover the newborn, nor was there any oil in the house to light a lamp at night, nor a single drop of oil to apply on the newborn’s navel. Seeing this dire situation, Hazrat Rabiah Basri’s mother said to her husband, “Go and ask the neighbor for a bit of oil, so we can have light in the house and apply it on the newborn’s navel.” Her father had vowed never to ask anyone except Allah alone, but under his wife’s insistence, he reluctantly went to the neighbor’s house and knocked lightly. When no one answered, he returned and told his wife that they wouldn’t open the door. While feeling this helplessness, he fell asleep and was blessed with a vision of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who said, “Do not be sad; this is a girl of acceptance and honor, through whom seventy thousand of my Ummah will be forgiven.” He then instructed, “In the morning, write a letter to the ruler of Basra about Isa Zamalan and remind him that he sends blessings upon me a hundred times a day and four hundred times on Friday night, but he forgot to do so last Friday. His expiation is that he gives four hundred dinars from his lawful earnings to the person delivering this message.” When Shaikh Ismail awoke in the morning, his eyes were filled with tears. Following the Messenger’s instructions, he wrote a letter to the Amir of Basra and left home with Allah’s name. After giving the letter to the doorkeeper, the Amir of Basra, upon reading the paper, became agitated and rose from his seat, saying, “Where is that esteemed person? Did he not leave after handing you the letter?” It was reported that he was waiting at the palace door. He should have called him to his palace with honor and respect, but the message he delivered necessitated that we personally receive him at the palace door.” At that moment, the Amir was barefoot and ran toward the door. He embraced Hazrat Rabiah Basri and took her to the assembly, seating her on the highest throne. He then presented her with four hundred dinars, regretting his mistake, shedding tears, and feeling joy in his heart that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) regarded him worthy of the message and helped a poor person through this means. The Amir of Basra said to her, “From today, I am not your Amir but your servant. From now on, whenever you wish, you may come to me.” This was Hazrat Rabiah Basri’s first blessing, occurring at her moment of birth, which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) testified to, elevating her status beyond the reach of imagination.
Life Events:
Trust and acceptance are the traits of the saints. From an early age, Hazrat Rabia Basri (ra) had to face countless tribulations, all of which she endured with immense patience and gratitude. She was only five years old when her parents passed away. During a severe famine in Basra, Sheikh Fariduddin Attar (ra) narrates: “Due to the famine and drought, her sisters were also separated from her, and thus she set off alone. A cruel man captured her and made her a slave. Later, she was sold, and the buyer took her to his home, subjecting her to harsh labor.”
Hazrat Rabia Basri (ra) spent her entire day engrossed in work and, by nightfall, was utterly exhausted. Yet, she never uttered a complaint. Her early upbringing in poverty was serving her well in these times of hardship. Once, her merchant master sent her out for some task. As she was walking, she suddenly saw a stranger and, startled, moved aside, losing her balance and breaking her wrist in the process. In that painful moment, she prostrated on the ground, and with her forehead touching the dust, she prayed:
“O Allah! Although I am poor, helpless, and a captive with a broken hand, I am not grieved by any of these conditions. I care for nothing but Your pleasure. Tell me, are You pleased with me?”
At that very moment, a divine voice called out to her, saying:
“Rabia, do not grieve! Tomorrow, your status will be such that even the closest angels in the heavens will envy you.“
Hearing this, she forgot all her sufferings. Joyfully, she rose from the dust and resumed her tasks in her master’s home as usual. Sheikh Fariduddin Attar (ra), in Tazkirat al-Awliya, recounts the events of her liberation: “Hazrat Rabia (ra) would fast every day and serve her master. However, at night, she would engage in the worship of Allah. One night, her master awoke, and despite the extinguished lamps, the entire house was illuminated with light. Astonished, he wandered around and finally came upon a separate chamber where Hazrat Rabia (ra) was prostrating, with a radiant light hovering above her head, like a halo. She was deeply engrossed in mystical prayers (munajat), saying:
‘O Lord, if I were not a slave to another, not even for a single moment would I neglect Your worship. But You have placed me under the servitude of others, which causes my delay in attending to You.’
Upon hearing these words and witnessing her devotion, the master was left astounded and, in his heart, he repented. He resolved never to demand any service from such a noble and virtuous soul again but, instead, to serve her himself. The next morning, he came to Hazrat Rabia (ra) and said: ‘You are free to go wherever you please. From today, you are no longer a slave. If you stay, I will serve you, but you are now free.’ After gaining her freedom, she left the house and immersed herself entirely in the worship of Allah.”
Yet, further trials were still written in her fate. Another man captured her and forcefully sold her to a prostitute. Due to her striking beauty, she attracted many admirers. However, the prostitute noticed that anyone who came to meet Hazrat Rabia (ra) left quietly, their eyes downcast, and did not return. Puzzled by this, the woman decided to investigate. She observed that whenever someone approached Hazrat Rabia (ra), she would greet them and say:
“It is better that we first perform ablution and offer two units of prayer so that Allah may forgive the sin we are about to commit.”
Both would perform ablution and stand for prayer. However, through her inner spiritual focus (batini tawajju), the man would be overwhelmed with the fear of Allah, tremble in awe, and repent from his sins at her hands before leaving. Witnessing this, the prostitute herself was struck by the fear of Allah and fell at Hazrat Rabia’s (ra) feet, seeking forgiveness for her sins. Hazrat Rabia (ra) remarked:
“Wretched one! Your needless curiosity has interrupted the flow of divine grace that was reaching here.”
With these words, she left the house. That year, through her spiritual attention, countless sinners and immoral people were transformed into saints (awliya).
Worship and Spiritual Practice
Afterward, Hazrat Rabia Basri (RA) made her dwelling in a deserted area and began her journey of worship and spiritual discipline (riyazat). She would offer one thousand units (raka’at) of prayer day and night, worshipping with such intense devotion and passion that she lost track of time, whether it was day or night, or the changes of seasons. She had no concern with the world or worldly matters. She fasted all day and spent the night in prayer. Reciting the Qur’an was part of her daily routine. Days would pass with nothing in the house to break her fast, often breaking it with just a sip of water, for which she would constantly thank God.
Observing her zeal for worship, someone once asked her, “Do you see the One you worship?” Rabia replied, “If I did not see Him, I would never worship Him.” Rabia was naturally very intelligent, and she memorized the Holy Qur’an in a short time. Along with this, she also studied jurisprudence (fiqh) and hadith. She surpassed many men in acquiring religious knowledge, and soon became adept at understanding the subtle complexities of jurisprudence, hadith, and exegesis (tafsir). Her mastery in these subjects was such that when she spoke, even the greatest scholars of hadith and fiqh were astounded. Prominent scholars would visit her with humility to gain from her knowledge.
Renowned personalities like Sufyan Thawri, Malik bin Dinar, and Sheikh Abdul Wahid were among those who attended her scholarly gatherings, quenching their thirst for knowledge. Since she was constantly engaged in the worship of Allah, the thought of the world never occupied any corner of her heart. This is why she never married, despite receiving several proposals. She refused all these offers because she wanted to dedicate herself entirely to the worship of Allah, without any distractions.
She once said that if she could be freed from three concerns, she would consider marriage:
- Whether she would die with her faith intact.
- Whether on the Day of Judgment, her deeds would be handed to her in her right hand.
- On the Day of Judgment, when people are sent to Paradise or Hell, to which side she would be directed.
When people replied that only Allah knows the answers to these concerns, she remarked, “Then how can someone burdened with such weighty thoughts tie themselves to another?”
She then recited these verses (translated):
“My peace and comfort lie in solitude,
For my Beloved is always with me.
There is no substitute for His love,
Among the perishable things, His love is my trial.
Wherever His beauty manifests, I will meditate upon it,
He alone is my altar, and He is the direction I turn to in prayer.”
Rabia was known for never engaging in unnecessary conversation. If she needed to communicate, she would use verses from the Qur’an. Since she had memorized the Qur’an, this form of expression was easy for her. On one occasion, she remarked, “I fear that I might utter something incorrect, which is why I avoid speaking except through the Qur’an.” All her acts of worship were solely for the purpose of attaining the pleasure of Allah and the desire to behold Him.
Once, during her prayers, she implored, “O Allah! If I worship You out of fear of Hell, then cast me into Hell. If I worship You for the sake of Paradise, then deny me Paradise. But if I worship You purely for Your sake, do not withhold Your sight from me.”
Journey to Hajj
Sheikh Fariduddin Attar narrates that after gaining freedom, Hazrat Rabia led a life of intense worship and spiritual practice. During this time, she embarked on the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (Hajj). She set out on this journey with her provisions loaded on a weak donkey. However, the donkey couldn’t endure the hardships of the journey and died along the way. The people in the caravan, out of compassion, offered to carry her belongings and suggested that she continue the journey with them. But she replied, “Go ahead, for I embarked on this journey relying solely on my Lord.”
The caravan moved on, leaving Rabia alone in the wilderness. Tears flowed from her eyes, and she prayed, “O Lord of Glory! You called me for Your house, but now You are preventing me from reaching it. You killed my donkey and left me alone in the desert. O Lord of all the worlds! I am weak, and I thirst for Your sight. Bestow Your grace upon me.” While she was still engaged in her prayer, the donkey suddenly rose up, alive again. Overjoyed, Rabia thanked Allah, loaded her belongings back on the donkey, and continued her journey toward Makkah.
When she reached Makkah, she saw the Ka’bah itself coming toward her to welcome her. She paused and said, “O stone structure, return to your place. I do not need your stony walls; I seek the Beloved who owns this house. My desire is not for your beauty, but for the vision of the Lord of Glory.”
This was the same time when Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (RA) had arrived in Makkah after performing two units of prayer at every step for fourteen years. When he entered Makkah, he did not find the Ka’bah in its place. Thinking that he had lost his sight or that his worship had been in vain, he heard a voice from the unseen: “O Ibrahim! Your vision has not failed, nor is your worship wasted. The Ka’bah is not in its place because it has gone to welcome a weak servant.”
Upon hearing this, Ibrahim bin Adham was overcome with emotion. Weeping, he asked, “O Allah! Who is this esteemed servant?” He was told to look ahead, where he saw Hazrat Rabia Basri, leaning on her staff, approaching, while the Ka’bah returned to its place.
Both Rabia and Ibrahim performed Hajj together. Rabia prayed with great humility, saying, “O Lord, You promised a reward for Hajj and also for patience in the face of hardship. If my Hajj is not accepted, then grant me the reward for patience, for what greater hardship could there be than an unaccepted Hajj?” After completing the pilgrimage, Rabia returned to her solitary worship and spiritual practice.
The following year, when the time for Hajj came again, Rabia felt the desire for the Divine vision once more. Sheikh Abu Ali Farmadi (RA), who was also the teacher of Imam Ghazali (RA), narrates that during the days of Hajj, Rabia began to roll toward the Ka’bah on her side, eventually reaching Arafat after seven years.
Sheikh Fariduddin Attar, in his Tadhkirat al-Awliya, narrates:
As soon as she entered Arafat, a voice from the unseen called, “Rabia, what is in this quest of yours? Had you asked Us in Basra, We could have granted you the vision there. Why have you come all this way?” Rabia responded, “O Lord! I am not capable of bearing the weight of Your manifestations. I only beg You to grant me poverty.” The voice replied, “Rabia, poverty is equivalent to our wrath. We reserve it only for those who are so connected to Us that not even a hair’s breadth separates Us. Then We deprive them of proximity and plunge them into the fire of separation, and yet they do not grieve. Instead, they renew their efforts to seek Our closeness. Rabia, you are still veiled by the world’s seventy layers. Until you have shed these layers and truly walked Our path, you should not even speak of poverty.”
Then Rabia was instructed to raise her head and look ahead. She saw a vast ocean of blood suspended in the air. A voice said, “This is the ocean of the tears of My lovers, who, in their pursuit of Me, have been so shattered that they weep blood. Their path is one of patience and trial.” Rabia requested that one of the lovers’ qualities be revealed to her, and at that moment, she experienced a physical affliction. A voice told her, “This is their state—that they roll on their sides for seven years to reach Us, only to be hindered by a minor ailment. Yet, they persevere, for this is the mark of true lovers.”
Rabia returned to Basra, where she continued to immerse herself in the remembrance of Allah. She remained engaged in worship until the end of her life.
Detachment from the World
The love of Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) for Allah was such that she turned away from all worldly things and focused solely on Allah. She would often fast for several days. She embodied submission (taslim) and contentment (rida), bearing everything in silence, and never complained to Allah. Rather, in every situation, she would express gratitude to Him. Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) was independent of the creation.
Once, Hazrat Malik bin Dinar (RA) came to visit her and saw that she had only a worn-out mat, resting her head on a brick as a pillow. She had a broken earthen jug from which she drank water and performed ablution. Observing this, he said, “I have wealthy friends. If you permit, I can request them to provide something for you.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) became angry and said, “Malik, what are you saying? Is there not one Sustainer (Raziq) for all His servants? Has He forgotten the dervishes because of their poverty and only remembered the rich because of their wealth? When He sees, hears, and knows everything, then why remind Him? If this is His will, we have no objection. We are content with whatever pleases Him.”
Similarly, a saint once saw her wearing tattered clothes and remarked that there were many people in the world who, with just a gesture from her, could provide her with fine garments. Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) replied, “I feel ashamed to ask anything from others because the true Owner of the world is Allah. Why should I extend my hand to someone who, in reality, has only temporary possession of everything? To ask from such a person is a cause of disgrace.”
One day, Hazrat Sufyan al-Thawri (RA) came to Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) and raised his hands in prayer, saying, “O Allah! I ask You for well-being.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) began to weep. When Sufyan (RA) inquired about the reason for her tears, she said, “You have made me cry. Do you not know that the well-being of this world lies in renouncing it, yet you are getting entangled in it?”
Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya (RA) mentioned in his book that a man once came to Hazrat Rabi’a al-Basri (RA) and spoke extensively about the evils of the world. After he had finished, she said, “Do not come to me again, for you are a lover of the world. A person constantly mentions what he loves, and you have spoken much of the world. Therefore, you do not need to visit me in the future.”
She displayed complete detachment (zuhd) from worldly possessions. Once, a wealthy admirer from Basra came to her and requested that she accept a year’s supply of provisions and clothing from him. She replied, “If you can guarantee that I will live for a year, then I will accept your offer.” Saying this, she resumed her worship, and the rich man, disappointed, returned home.
Divine Awe (Khashiyyat-e-Ilahi)
Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah have mercy on her) was constantly engaged in the remembrance of Allah. She was perpetually weeping and lamenting, and when people inquired about the reason, she said, “I fear being separated from the One I constantly envision. I dread the possibility that at the time of death, a voice might call out saying, ‘You are unworthy of the Divine Presence.’” One day, Hazrat Abdullah bin Isa visited her and saw an intense light radiating from her face. In her presence, someone recited a verse about Hell, and upon hearing it, she let out a loud cry and collapsed.
In the book Nayrat min Hayat al-Sabiqat, it is narrated by Sajaf bin Mansur: “I went to visit Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) and found her in the state of prostration. When she became aware of my presence, she raised her head, and I noticed that the place of her prostration was drenched with her tears. I greeted her, and she asked, ‘My son, do you have any business here?’ I replied that I had come merely to offer my greetings. Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah have mercy on her) prayed for me, saying, ‘May Allah conceal your faults,’ and then she returned to her prayers, so I left.”
Her Station in Faqr:
Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) held a high station in Faqr (spiritual poverty). She was among those chosen by God who had completely surrendered their will to the will of Allah. She entrusted all her needs to the Almighty. In fact, she once stated, “For thirty years, I have not asked anything of my Lord, yet He has never let me down.” Since she had renounced all worldly attachments, she attained the ultimate station of Faqr, where she witnessed the unveiled beauty of the Divine and experienced eternal union with her Beloved.
In one of her poems, she writes, “I have fled from this world and all it contains. My hope lies in nearness and connection with God, and this is the ultimate aim of my desire.”
Faqr signifies contentment with the will of Allah, and Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) not only negated her own self but also abandoned her will, becoming entirely pleased with the will of Allah. One day, Hazrat Sufyan Thawri (may Allah be pleased with him) was present with her and supplicated, “O Allah, be pleased with us.” Upon hearing this, Hazrat Rabia Basri immediately responded, “Sufyan, do you not feel ashamed to ask Allah to be pleased with you when you are not yet pleased with Him? You are not content with His will for yourself.” Hearing this, Hazrat Sufyan Thawri (may Allah be pleased with him) repented and sought forgiveness.
Once, someone asked Hazrat Rabia Basri, “When does a servant become truly content with God?” She replied, “When he feels as much joy in adversity as he does in prosperity.”
Trust in God (Tawakkul) in the Path of Faqr:
In the path of Faqr, Tawakkul (complete reliance on God) holds special significance. Tawakkul means to abandon all others and place one’s trust solely in Allah. It is one of the exalted stations of certainty reserved for those close to the Divine Presence. Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“Indeed, Allah loves those who rely on Him.” (Surah Al-Imran)
Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) was the leader of the group of Mutawakkilin (those who place full trust in Allah). She had reached such a state of Tawakkul that the seeker of the Divine becomes independent of all outward causes and leaves everything to Allah’s will. The worry of sustenance leaves his heart, and he surrenders his life’s journey to Allah.
Sheikh Fariduddin Attar (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in Tazkirat al-Awliya: “Two dervishes came to visit Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her). They were hungry, and after they sat down, two loaves of bread were placed before them. Before they could begin eating, a beggar called out, asking for food in the name of God. Hazrat Rabia immediately gave the two loaves to the beggar. The dervishes were astonished but remained silent. A short while later, a maid arrived with a large number of freshly baked loaves and said that her mistress had sent them. Hazrat Rabia counted the loaves and found there were eighteen. She returned them, saying, ‘These are not meant for us, take them back.’ However, the maid insisted they were for her. Hazrat Rabia sent them back again. The maid returned to her mistress, explained the situation, and was given two more loaves to make a total of twenty. When the maid returned with twenty loaves, Hazrat Rabia counted them and accepted them, saying, ‘Now these are indeed for us.’ She then placed them in front of the dervishes, who were astonished by her trust in Allah. After they finished eating, they asked her about the incident. Hazrat Rabia explained, ‘When you arrived, I knew you were hungry, and I knew two loaves would not be enough. When the beggar came, I gave the loaves away and asked Allah to fulfill His promise of returning tenfold for whatever is given in charity. I had complete trust that Allah would send twenty loaves. When only eighteen arrived, I knew something was amiss, which is why I sent them back. When the full twenty loaves came, I knew Allah’s promise had been fulfilled.’ The dervishes were left in awe of her trust in Allah.”
The Path of Faqr is the Path of Love:
The path of Faqr is also the path of love. Without love, one cannot reach the ultimate station of Faqr, which is the vision of the Divine. Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) was not the first to speak of Divine Love among the Sufis, but she was the one who emphasized it the most and spread its message through her teachings. Syed Ali Abbas Jalalpuri, in his book Wahdat al-Wujud te Punjabi Sha’iri, writes, “In Islamic mysticism, the tradition of pure love for God started with Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her). Her passionate and continuous expression of Divine Love was so profound that we can confidently say that her true religion was indeed the love of God.”
Sheikh Fariduddin Attar (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in Tazkirat al-Awliya: “Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) was consumed by the fire of Divine Love. She was intoxicated with the desire for God and longed for union with Him.” Hazrat Rabia Basri once said, “The fervor and yearning of a lover of God never cease until they are united with the Divine Essence.”
Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
Sajda mastana am bashad namaz
Dard-e-dil ba o bowad Quran-e-man
Translation: The ecstasy-filled prostration to the Beloved is the true prayer of the lovers, and the lamentations of a heart filled with pain are their Quran recitation. (Shams-ul-Fuqara)
Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her) consistently emphasized that love for Allah should not be driven by fear of Hell or the desire for Paradise. Instead, one’s love should be purely for the sake of His essence. One day, she was seen running with a vessel of water in one hand and a firebrand in the other. When people inquired about it, she replied, “I wish to set fire to Paradise with this flame, and with this water, I wish to extinguish the fires of Hell, so that these two veils that obstruct the true vision of Allah may be completely removed.” Her desire was for people to worship Allah without the concept of reward or punishment.
She was always immersed in divine love, oblivious to the world, constantly engaged in the remembrance and worship of her Beloved. Once, in a dream, she was graced with the vision of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, “O Rabia! Do you love me?” Hazrat Rabia (may Allah be pleased with her) responded, “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! Is it possible that I would not love you? However, my heart is so completely consumed by love for Allah and I am so deeply absorbed in the annihilation of self in Divine Unity (Fana fi Allah) that I have lost all awareness of friendship or enmity.”
Knowledge and Gnosis
Hazrat Rabia Basri (RA) spent much of her life in seclusion. She would often say, “I have never been alone; Allah is with me at every moment. I witness His manifestation and recognize Him, for how can one worship the Beloved without first knowing Him?”
Hazrat Hassan Basri (RA) once asked her, “How did you achieve such exalted spiritual ranks?” She replied, “By obliterating all things in the remembrance of Allah.”
When he further inquired, “How did you come to know God?” She answered, “By recognizing His formlessness and immateriality.”
Once, Hazrat Hassan Basri asked her to explain the knowledge she had directly received from Allah. She recounted, “I spun a small amount of yarn, sold it for two dirhams, and held one coin in each hand, fearing that if I held both in one hand, they would become a pair, which would contradict Divine Unity and lead to error. After that, all spiritual paths opened for me.”
In another gathering, Hazrat Hassan Basri, Malik bin Dinar, Shafiq Balkhi, and Rabia Basri discussed sidq (truthfulness). Hazrat Hassan Basri said, “One is not truthful in seeking the Beloved if they cannot endure hardship from Him.” Rabia responded, “This statement reeks of self-importance; the matter is far beyond this.” Hazrat Shafiq Balkhi added, “One is not truthful unless they enjoy the hardship given by the Beloved.” Rabia replied, “This also carries self-display.” Finally, Malik bin Dinar said, “A true seeker thanks the Beloved for hardship.” Rabia concluded, “One is not sincere in seeking the Beloved unless they are so absorbed in Divine vision that they forget any affliction.”
Miracles of Rabia Basri
It is well known that Allah grants special grace to His elect, allowing them to command the cosmos at His will. Hazrat Rabia Basri was one of those blessed with such divine favor. Despite her numerous miracles, she often concealed them and never regarded them as proof of closeness to Allah. Once, she told a companion, “What is so extraordinary about walking on water? Even small fish can do that. And what is so great about flying in the air? Flies do that too. These acts have no bearing on the truth.”
Nonetheless, when Allah willed, miracles manifested through her. Once, during a gathering of saints, her house was enveloped in darkness, and she lacked even a coin to buy oil for the lamp. As the gathering grew concerned, she recited a divine name over her fingers, which then emitted a bright light, astonishing everyone present.
On another occasion, someone asked how one could identify a saint. She replied, “If they command a mountain to turn to gold, and it does, yet they remain unaffected, that is a saint.” As she spoke, a nearby mountain turned to gold. She remarked, “I did not ask you to change; return to your original state,” and the mountain reverted to its natural form.
Sheikh Fariduddin Attar (رحمت اللہ علیہ) narrates in Tazkirat al-Awliya that there was a time when Hazrat Rabia Basri (رحمت اللہ علیہا) had not eaten for several days. When her maid began preparing food, she realized there were no onions in the house. The maid asked Hazrat Rabia (رحمت اللہ علیہا) if she should borrow one from the neighbors, but Hazrat Rabia (رحمت اللہ علیہا) replied, “Forty years ago, I made a covenant with Allah that I would not ask anyone for anything other than Him. Therefore, if there are no onions, it does not matter; I will eat without them.” No sooner had she finished her sentence than a bird flew in, carrying an onion in its beak, and dropped it into the pot. However, Hazrat Rabia (رحمت اللہ علیہا), perceiving this as a trick of Satan, chose to eat her bread without any stew and drank only water, saying, “I am not oblivious to the deceptions of Satan.”
On another occasion, a thief entered Hazrat Rabia Basri’s (رحمت اللہ علیہا) room one night while she was sleeping. He stole all her clothes, tied them in a bundle, and tried to escape but couldn’t find the door. When he placed the bundle down, the door became visible again, and when he picked it up, he once again lost sight of the exit. He repeated this act seven times. Finally, a voice from one corner of the room called out, “O man, do not put yourself in trouble. She has entrusted herself to Our friendship and protection for many years now, and even Satan does not dare to wander near her circle. How then can a mere thief have the audacity to steal her covering? If one friend is sleeping, does it matter? The other Friend is always awake.”
One day, after the Asr prayer, Hazrat Hasan Basri (may Allah be pleased with him) visited Hazrat Rabia Basri (may Allah be pleased with her). She was preparing to cook some meat, having placed water in a pot, but when Hazrat Hasan arrived, she engaged in conversation with him and remarked, “Speaking with you is far better than cooking this pot.” As they continued conversing, the time for the Maghrib prayer arrived. Both of them offered the prayer, after which Hazrat Rabia brought a piece of dry bread and a cup of water to break her fast.
After breaking the fast, Hazrat Rabia went to remove the pot from the stove, and it occurred to her that she had forgotten to light the fire under the pot. Despite this, her hand was burnt when she touched the pot. When she looked at it, she saw that the pot was boiling by the divine power of Allah. Hazrat Rabia brought the pot and found that the food had miraculously been prepared. Hazrat Khawaja Hasan Basri (may Allah be pleased with him) later stated, “I have never tasted food so delicious again. The meat was so exquisite that I could sense its flavor until my death.”
Allama Muhammad Yusuf Nabhani (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates in his book Jami’ Karamat al-Awliya (The Collection of the Miracles of the Saints), quoting Allama Sakhawi (may Allah be pleased with him), that once, Hazrat Rabia Basri set out with the intention of performing Hajj. Along the way, she encountered Shaiban al-Ra’i, who inquired, “Where are you headed?” She replied, “I have set out with the intention of Hajj.” Out of compassion, Shaiban al-Ra’i took out some gold coins from his pocket and offered them to Hazrat Rabia, saying, “Keep these; they may be of use to you on your journey.” Upon seeing this, Hazrat Rabia stretched out her hand into the air, and her hand became filled with gold. She remarked, “You took it from your pocket, and I took it from the unseen (ghayb), but I have no need for such things. I have complete trust and reliance on my Lord. I do not depend on worldly wealth and riches.” Hearing this, Shaiban al-Ra’i also resolved to always trust in Allah and embarked on the journey to Hajj with her.
During the journey, the miraculous revival of the donkey after its death and the Kaaba’s welcoming of Hazrat Rabia are further signs of her divine miracles (karamat).
The Last Days Hazrat Rabia Basri, due to his long life, performed many acts of good deeds and piety, that is why he holds the highest positions in the province. You are called Sukhta Ishq and Umm-ul-Khair because of your crying, waking up at night and intense love for Almighty God. Due to the intensity of Ishq-e-Ilahi, you became very soft-hearted. Sheikh Fariduddin Attar says in Tazkirat Awwaliya “Once you were busy in ministry when you were suffering from illness, and your friends said, ‘O respectable person of this world!’ We cannot find any apparent cause of your illness, then why are you moaning in pain. You said! My disease is inside my chest and the doctors of the whole world are powerless to treat it and the only salve for my wound is the association with a friend, only the sight of him can give me satisfaction.
In the last days of her life, she was very anxious to be with God, tears were always flowing from her eyes, the food was nominal. The body was completely weakened, but the heart was still strong, the strong desire to be near God. It was known that the shroud was always in front of ready eyes, there was nothing else in the house except a brick bed on which she slept and prayed on it.
Death (Wasal 180 AH)
When the wind struck him, he said to his friends and devotees who were sitting nearby, get up and open the way, the messengers of Allah are coming. Everyone got up with a heavy and heavy heart and went out. When they closed the door, they called Hazrat Rabia Basri He heard the voice of the word of martyrdom, then he heard another voice:
Translation: “O self-satisfied soul, go to your Lord, and He is pleased with Him, and He is pleased with you, then join My servants and enter My Paradise.”
After that, no sound was heard. When he returned, he saw that Hazrat Rabia Basri had passed away. Friends and neighbors arranged for his burial according to the will and bid him farewell with tears in his eyes. Mashaikh says, “Today, he has passed away who has never been arrogant in the glory of God, nor has he asked anything from his true creator and owner, besides begging for anything.”
Teachings of Hazrat Rabia Basri (RA):
- I see Allah, that’s why I worship Him. Allah should be worshiped purely for Allah’s sake, not because of the greed of heaven or the fear of hell.
- Man should not be ashamed before Allah by spreading his hands in front of others.
- Keep the heart under control and avoid illegitimate desires when the authority is obtained, this should be the meaning.
- The love of God and the world cannot be united in any heart.
- In whose heart the candle of God is shining, the wound of the heart is healed by Allah.
- Engaging in good deeds that benefit people is greatness.
- An ignorant person is one who forgets Allah and remembers the world.
- There is nothing better than the pleasure of Allah, so one should be satisfied and grateful for His pleasure.
- A person who does not forget his sufferings even while observing his lover, that claim is not true in love.
- Knowledge without action is like a body without a soul.
- A person who trusts in Allah never suffers from problems.
- The world is like a friend who looks like a friend but is an enemy inside. (eternal life)
- The disobedient cannot repent until Allah permits.
- The world is remembered by one who loves it.
- Allah is pleased with his servant when he gives thanks for labor as he does for blessings.
- Everything has a fruit and the fruit of knowledge is turning towards Allah.
