Mahabbah!

Aboo Bakr al-Kataanee said:

A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah, during pilgrimage season. The Shaykhs who were present spoke about this topic, al-Junayd being the youngest of them.

They said to him: What do you say, O ’Iraaqee?

So al-Junayd lowered his head and tears were gushing from his eyes, then he said:

“A servant should overcome his soul,
And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord,
Establishing the rights of his Lord,
Focusing upon Him with his heart,
The light of fear setting ablaze his heart,
Whilst drinking from the vessel of pure love,
And certain hidden realities being unveiled for him.
So when he talks, it is due to Allaah,
When he speaks, it is from Allaah,
When he moves, it is by the Command of Allaah,
And when he is serene, then it is from Allaah,
He belongs to Allaah, is for Allaah and is with Allaah.”


Upon hearing, the Shaykhs all started weeping, and they said:

"There is nothing left to add to that, may Allaah reward you O Crown of the Knowledgeable Ones.”