Thursday 28 May 2015

‘Intoxicated’ Sufi- Bayazid Bistami



Impressive Entrance of Bayazid Bistami's Shrine



Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Bayazid Bistami is famous for propounding the doctrine of "annihilation of the self in God" (fana fi 'Allah') and "subsistence through God" (baqa' bi 'Allah).He is also regarded as the first intoxicated Sufi for expressing his feelings openly. Many shunned him and called him heretic due to his bizarre sayings. Bayazid never suppressed his feelings or his love for Imams. His paradoxical sayings gained a wide circulation and soon exerted a captivating influence over the minds of students who aspired to understand the meaning of the wahdat al-wujud(, Unity of Being).It is widely believed that Bayazid learnt this doctrine from the Twelve Imams, who declared "We are the Wajhullah (Face of God), we are the Eyes of Allah, we are the Hands of Allah"
Bayazid's predecessor Dhul-Nun al-Misri, a student of Jābir who was a student of the sixth Imam Jafar Sadiq, had formulated the doctrine of marifat (gnosis).With the help of this doctrine, a Murid(initiate) was able to communicate with his sheikh (guide). Bayazid took a step further and highlighted the significance of ecstasy. He referred the state as a means of self-annihilation in the Divine Presence. To him, Sufism was based on piety and obedience. Bayazid placed the concept of divine love at the core of Sufism.
He was born in Bistam in 804 CE. His grandfather was a Zoroastrian who embraced Islam. His grandfather had three sons, Adam, Taifur and Ali. All of them were ascetics. Bayazid was son of Taifur. His early life shrouds in mystery .Much is not known of his childhood. It is however known that Bayazid spent most of his time in meditation and seclusion in his house and the mosque. Although he remained in isolation but he did not detach himself from people. He welcomed people into his house and used to discuss with them about Sufism. In later years, he renounced all worldly pleasures in order to be one with God. His efforts led him to a state of "self- annihilation". According to Sufis, a person closest to the God can only attain this state. He received initiation from Imam Ali ar-Reza. It is also believed that he was also associated with the succeeding Imams, namely Muhammad Taqi, Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-Askari. This assumption is based following his existence during the lifetime of three Imams.It is widely believed that he left for his heaven,y abode either in 874 Ce or 877 CE. His life span covers the period of the three Imams who succeeded Imam Reza.Being a disciple of the Twelve Imams and the first amongst the Sufis to formally articulate the doctrine of "annihilation" of the self in Allah, it is also claimed that Bayazid was expressing the annihilation of his self in the presence of awaited Imam Mahdi who was four years old when he was first seen publicly at the funeral of his father Imam Hasan al-Askari

Being a true Imami he never bothered about the social or any other consequence of his sayings. He preferred to earn the title of an intoxicated Sufi but did not behave like mystic Junaid who reserved his feelings within himself and did not allow his expressions to be observed to the outside world. In India, Bayazid is known as the patron saint of mystic Hazrat Badi Uddin Zinda Shah Madar who is considered as the founder of Madariya Sufi order. Like Bayazid, Shah Madar is also famous for his love for Panjatan and his last resting place Makanpur is still a prominent center of taziadari in north India. The wandering mendicants, commonly known as Malangs, who attend his annual Urs are also diehard admirers of Panjatan-E-Pak. While performing Dhammal (Dance), they raise slogans like Ek Nara Panjatan, Ya Ali, Ya Ali, Ya Ali, Ya Ali. They always wear black clothes to indicate their mourning on a permanent mode.  (References available on request) Photo Courtesy- Google Images

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