The Way of Sufi Chivalry, by al-Sulami (d. 412/1021)

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The Way of Sufi Chivalry, by al-Sulami (d. 412/1021)

Show compassion to all Creation. Nasr ibn Muhammad reports that Junayd related that there was a shaykh in Damascus called Abu Musa al-Qumasi who was a man of Futuwwah (Chivalry); everyone praised him. One day, the shaykh's house collapsed on top of him and his wife. When people began to dig in the ruins, they found his wife first. "Leave me," she said. "Go and try to find the shaykh and save him. He was sitting in a corner over there." They left the woman, dug where she had pointed, and found the shaykh. "Leave me," he said. "Go and save my wife." Each wanted the other to be saved. That is the state of those who are together for the sake of Allah and who are friends and brothers in the name of Allah. They are in that compassionate state at all times. [ p. 61 ]

Bring joy in the lives of your friends and meet their needs. [p. 37]

Dhikr, or remembrance of Allah, will affect both your interior and exterior life. The effect of dhikr in the interior is acceptance (rida); in the exterior, its effect is humility and piousness (khudu' and khushu'). [p. 49]

Ja'far al-Sadiq was once asked, "What is Futuwwah?" He replied: "Futuwwah is not possible with quarreling and backbiting. Futuwwah is feeding people, giving to them, being pleasant and honorable to them, and not causing them difficulties." [p. 64]

You can correct your state by correcting your actions. Abul-'Abbas ibn al-Khashshab reports that Dhu Nun al-Misri said: "The one who settles his affairs find peace and comfort; the one who strives to come closer, comes closer; the one who keeps pure becomes cleansed; the one who trust in God finds security; the one who mixes himself into affairs that do not concern him may lose the things that should concern him." [p. 70]

Listen to good discources, participate in good conversations, and abide by the prescribed behavior upon these occasions. Having good manners means showing respect to those who are superior to you; loving friendship and agreement to those who are your equals; kindness and compassion to those who are lower than you; obedience and modesty to your mother and father; and compassion in the education of children. [p. 73]

Abu Bakr al-Razi reports that Abu Ya'qub al-Sufi said: "There are men who will devote fifty years of effort to guarding against the slips of the tongue in recitation of the Koran, yet are not at all mindful of the slips that their inner being makes. People in that state are misguided." [p. 77]

Know the value of time and how to act and behave in the present. [p. 87]

"...The right word at the right time helps love to endure." [p. 95]

'Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini reports that Abu Yazid said: "If you have a friend whose relationship with you is at its worst, the relationship will certainly improve if you act according to the code of behavior. If something is given to you, be thankful to Allah, because He alone turns the heart of others in your favor. If you suffer calamity, take refuge in repentance and patience, because your being will gather strength only with patience." [p. 102]