His Name:

Sari bin Al-Mughallis

His Title:

Al-Saqti

His Kunya:

Abu Al-Hassan

His Birth and Residence:

He was born in Baghdad.

His Path:

He followed the Alia Qadiri path.

His Contemporaries:

He was a companion of Sheikh Ma’ruf Al-Karkhi, who was also his uncle.

His Early Life:

Sheikh Al-Sari Al-Saqti was one of the prominent figures in Sufism. His spiritual journey began with a remarkable act of repentance. He once came across a servant girl who dropped something, and when it broke, he suspected something was wrong and gave her a replacement. When Sheikh Ma’ruf Al-Karkhi saw this, he was impressed and told him, “May Allah make the world hateful to you and relieve you from it.” This moment deeply affected Al-Saqti, who left his shop and devoted himself to the path of Allah, beginning his spiritual struggles and guiding others towards righteousness.

His Life:

Al-Sari Al-Saqti was one of the earliest scholars to speak of the unity of Allah and the realities of spiritual states. He was regarded as the Imam of the people of Baghdad and a revered Sufi leader in his time. He dedicated a large portion of his life to worship, with his daily routine consisting of five hundred units of prayer. He had a great impact on his community, known for his pure speech and wise words.

His Miracles:

One of the most famous miracles of Sheikh Al-Sari Al-Saqti was when Alaan bin Al-Khayyat narrated that a Christian servant stood up in his gathering and asked him the meaning of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ: “Beware of the insight of the believer, for he sees with the light of Allah.” Sheikh Al-Saqti confidently replied, “Embrace Islam, for the time has come for your Islam.” Immediately, the servant embraced Islam, and this is considered two miracles in one: the insight into the servant’s disbelief and his immediate conversion to Islam.

Another famous miracle involved Sheikh Al-Sari Al-Saqti when Satan appeared to him in the form of a servant to serve him for free. After ten years of service, Satan asked to leave because he could not find a moment of neglect in the heart of Sheikh Al-Saqti. Sheikh Al-Saqti replied, “I knew you from the beginning, and your deeds will not be rewarded in the afterlife.” Satan left, defeated after being shown the truth.

His Sayings:

  • “Sufism is the soothing of hearts and the adornment of thoughts with the cloaks of loyalty, cultivating generosity and joy in meetings.”
  • “Gratitude is not to seek Allah’s blessings in His disobedience.”
  • “The seeker has no period, the knower has no knowledge, and knowledge has no relation.”

His Passing:

Sheikh Al-Sari Al-Saqti passed away in the year 253 AH. He was buried on the western side of Baghdad, in the region of Al-Shuwaynizah. His legacy and miracles continue to be a testimony to his great position in Sufism, and his name is remembered as one of the great Sufi masters of Baghdad.