Sayyidunā LaꜤl Shahbāz Qalandar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه and his Murshid

Sayyidunā LaꜤl Shahbāz Qalandarرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  spent around a year under the guidance of his murshid, Sayyidunā Ibrāhīm al-Qādirī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, traversing the stages of spiritual purification and self-discipline. When his murshid observed that Sayyidunā LaꜤl Shahbāz Qalandar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه had now become a perfect murīd and completed the higher stages of the spiritual path, he honoured him with khilāfah and ijāzah (spiritual succession and authorisation). He then instructed Sayyidunā LaꜤl Shahbāz Qalandar رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه to travel in the path of Allah Almighty and dedicate his life to Islam.^[1]

Sayyidunā Bāyazīd Bisṭāmī’s devotion for his Shaykh

For many years, Sayyidunā Bāyazīd Bisṭāmīرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  loyally served his murshid, Imam JaꜤfar al-Ṣādiq رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه. He loved him so much that he never turned his attention anywhere else, not even for a single moment.

One day, Sayyidunā Imam JaꜤfar al-Ṣādiq رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said, “Bāyazīd! Bring me that book from the shelf.”

He asked, “Where is the shelf?”

The Imam said, “You have spent so much time here, yet you still do not know where the shelf is?”

Sayyidunā Bāyazīd Bisṭāmīرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  responded humbly, “I have no time except for beholding you and benefitting from your company; how could I pay attention to where the shelf is?”

In other words, he said, “I only know you and your words. I do not know where the book or shelf is.” Hearing this reply, Imam JaꜤfar al-Ṣādiq رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه became very pleased and said, “If this is your state, then you may now return to Bistam your work is complete.”^[2]

Imam Aḥmad Razā Khan’s love for his shaykh

Imam Aḥmad Razā Khanرَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه  displayed the highest level of respect,