Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad (R.A.) was one of the greatest masters in the world of Sufism and the spiritual journey (Sulook). He is also known as "Sayyid al-Ta'ifa" (The Leader of the Group), meaning the Chief of the Sufis. He lived during the 3rd Hijri century (approximately 830–910 CE), and he was born and resided in Baghdad.
Birth of Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi
Hazrat Sheikh Junayd of Baghdad (R.A.) was born in Baghdad around 218 AH. His original name was Junayd bin Muhammad, his attribution was Baghdadi, and his patronymic was Abul Qasim. His full name was Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd bin Muhammad al-Khazzaz al-Qawariri.
Family Background of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad
Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi's father was a trader of glass and cloth. His family's original homeland was Nahavand in Iran. Later, they migrated to Baghdad and settled there permanently.
Childhood of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad
From childhood, he was unusually intelligent and received his early education in Baghdad.
A narration tells that once, upon returning from school, he saw his father was worried. When he asked the reason, his father said that he had sent the Zakat (charity) money to his maternal uncle, but the uncle had returned it. This worried the father, who feared that his earnings might not be pure enough for the people of God.
Hearing this, young Junayd immediately took the money from his father and knocked on his uncle's door. When Sheikh Sari al-Saqati (R.A.) again refused to accept it, Junayd stood at the door and said loudly: "My father has fulfilled his duty; there is no blame on him now after giving the Zakat money."
Upon hearing these words, Sheikh Sari al-Saqati (R.A.) came to the door and said: "I accept this right of your father, and I also accept you."
Thus, from the age of seven, he began living in the company of his maternal uncle, Sheikh Sari al-Saqati (R.A.), and received his education and training there.
Education and Training
As mentioned, he received his early education in Baghdad and continuously benefited from the company of his maternal uncle.
Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi received his education in Shafi'i jurisprudence (Fiqh) from the famous scholar Abu Thawr Ibrahim bin Khalid al-Kalbi (a student of Imam Shafi'i), who was one of Baghdad's well-known jurists and scholars. He achieved mastery in Shafi'i Fiqh and, due to his academic capability, started issuing religious decrees (Fatwa) under his supervision. At that time, Hazrat Junayd was only 20 years old.
The Work of Mirror-Making
When he reached adulthood, he established a mirror-making shop in Baghdad. In that shop, he would draw a curtain and offer four hundred cycles of voluntary prayers (Nafl Salah) daily.
After some time, he left the shop and went into seclusion (Khilwat) in a room in the house of Hazrat Sari al-Saqati (R.A.). He stayed there for thirty years, performing the Fajr prayer with the same ablution (Wudu) he used for the Isha prayer, and spending the entire night in worship, remembrance of God (Dhikr), and spiritual exercises (Riyadah).
Spiritual Allegiance (Bay'at) to Hazrat Sari al-Saqati
He was a disciple (Mureed) of his maternal uncle, Hazrat Sari al-Saqati (R.A.), who was his spiritual guide (Pir-o-Murshid).
Someone asked Hazrat Sari al-Saqati if a disciple could achieve a higher status than his guide. He replied that yes, a disciple can attain a higher spiritual rank than his guide, "such as my disciple, Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi."
Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi received his spiritual education and training from him and purified his heart with the love and remembrance of God.
The Caliph's Trial of Junaid Baghdadi
Once, some mischief-makers complained about him to the Caliph (the ruler) and claimed that he was causing discord and unrest.
Consequently, the Caliph decided to investigate. He sent a beautiful enslaved girl (Kaniz), dressed her up, and instructed her to go to Junayd Baghdadi and tell him: "I am a rich woman, and if you sleep with me, I will give you wealth." The Caliph also sent a slave with her to witness the event.
When the girl reached Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi and stated her purpose, Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi bowed his head and sighed deeply, which caused the girl to die instantly.
Later, the Caliph came to him and apologized, saying, "Why did you need to kill such a beautiful girl?" He replied: "Why was there a need to trouble a believer? A Caliph is supposed to be the protector of believers."
Command to Give Sermons (Wa'az)
When his spiritual guide saw that his inner-self was illuminated and his soul was purified, he commanded him to give sermons to the people. However, Junayd said that he did not wish to preach while his guide was alive.
That same night, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came to him in a dream and commanded him to preach. In the morning, when he narrated the dream to his guide, Sari al-Saqati (R.A.), the guide said, "The Holy Prophet has also commanded you to preach."
When Junayd asked how his guide knew, the Murshid replied: "I dreamt that the Almighty God sent the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to urge Junayd to preach."
Hazrat Junayd then said that he could preach only on the condition that the gathering should not exceed 40,000 people.
Sayings of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad
Some of the sayings of Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi are:
- He said that he achieved all his spiritual ranks through fasting and night vigils.
- He said a Sufi is one who obeys God and His Prophet in such a way that he holds the Quran in one hand and deeds in the other.
- He stated that his Murshid was a follower of Hazrat Ali (R.A.), and when he would mention Ali's virtues, people would be unable to bear hearing them.
- He also quoted Hazrat Ali's saying: "God granted me knowledge of Himself, and He is so Unique that no one can resemble Him, He does not belong to any category, nor can He be compared to creatures. He is near while being far, and far while being near, and there is none higher than Him."
- Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi said: "When I realized the truth that speech comes from the heart, I prayed for thirty years." If he thought of the world during the prayer, he would repeat it. If he even thought of Paradise, he would perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sajda Sahw).
Miracles (Karamat) of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad
- Once, during a sermon, 22 out of 40 people fainted, and 18 passed away.
- On another occasion, during a sermon, a fire-worshipper (Atash Parast) came among the Muslims and said: "The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said to beware of the foresight of a Muslim, for he sees with the light of God." Hearing this, Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi said, "The meaning of this is that you should become a Muslim." Influenced by this miracle and statement, the fire-worshipper embraced Islam.
- Once, Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi suffered from an eye infection. A fire-worshipping doctor advised him not to put water on his eyes, but he said that performing ablution (Wudu) was essential for him. After the doctor left, he performed Wudu, prayed the Isha prayer, and went to sleep. When he woke up in the morning, the eye pain was completely gone. A voice was heard saying: "Since you did not care for your eyes for the sake of Our worship, We have removed your ailment." When the doctor asked how his eyes healed in one night, he said, "By performing Wudu." The doctor then said, "In truth, I was the patient and you are the doctor." Saying this, the doctor also became a Muslim.
- A person once saw Iblis (Satan) fleeing and found Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi in a state of great anger. The person suggested he should not be angry, as Satan dominates in a state of anger. He replied: "Yes, but Iblis runs away from my anger because I do this action not for my own ego but for the sake of God. Had God not commanded seeking refuge from Iblis, I would never ask for it."
- One day, he met Iblis in the form of a man and asked him: "What was the reason you did not prostrate to Adam?" Iblis said: "How can it be right to prostrate to other than God?" Junayd was momentarily impressed, but a voice from the unseen commanded: "Tell him he is a liar, because a servant is not allowed to disobey the command of the Master." Hearing this, Iblis fled.
- A woman whose child was lost came to him. He told her to have patience. She left and came back a few days later; he again told her to be patient. After a few more days, the woman returned and said she could not bear the separation any longer. He said: "Now you speak the truth. Go, your son has been found." The woman returned home and found her son there.
Notable Events of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad
- Once, during a sermon, someone said that his preaching was beyond his comprehension. He told the person: "Place your 70 years of worship under your feet and bow your head. If it is still beyond your understanding, then the fault is surely mine."
- Once, someone praised him during a sermon. He said: "In reality, this person is praising God."
- Someone asked: "When does the heart attain happiness?" He replied: "When God is in the heart."
- One day, someone presented him with five hundred dinars. He asked the person, "Do you have more?" The person replied in the affirmative. He then asked, "Do you need more?" The person said yes. Junayd then said: "Take your money back. I have no need, but you do."
- A poor person asked him for something. Junayd thought that since the person could work, it was not right for him to beg. That same night, he dreamt that the person's head was placed in a pot, and he was commanded to eat it. When he refused, saying he did not eat the dead, the command came: "Then why did you eat him during the day?" At that moment, he realized he had slandered (backbiting) the poor man, and this was the punishment for that crime.
- Once, a thief stole his cloak. The next day, he saw the thief selling the cloak in the market. The buyer was telling the thief that he would only buy it if someone could confirm the thief owned the item. Hearing this, Junayd went to the buyer and said: "I bear witness and I know this man." Hearing this, the buyer purchased the cloak from the thief.
The Incident of the Barber and Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi
Hazrat Junayd said: "I learned the lesson of sincerity (Ikhlas) from a barber."
The incident occurred while he was staying in Makkah. A barber was shaving a wealthy man. Junayd asked him, "Shave me for the sake of God." The barber immediately stopped shaving the wealthy man and started cutting Junayd's hair. After completing the work, he gave Junayd a small paper packet containing some money.
Junayd intended that whatever he received later, he would give it to the barber. Some time later, a person from Basra presented him with a bag of gold coins (Ashrafis). He decided to give this bag to the barber and took it to him.
The barber said: "I served you for the sake of God, and you have shamelessly come to offer me this bag? Do you not know that one who does work for the sake of God does not accept compensation from anyone else?"
Demise of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad
Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi passed away in the year 298 AH. His shrine is located in Baghdad, where devotees annually visit on his death anniversary.
According to one narration, at the time of his passing, his spiritual light was so radiant that those present felt his spiritual state had filled the gathering with light. Visitors to his shrine often report feeling a special sense of peace and spirituality that deeply affects their hearts and minds, indicating that the memory and spiritual power (Karamah) of Hazrat Junayd Baghdadi remain a source of spiritual guidance for the faithful even today.
