Hazrat Shibli is honoured

Allama Sakhabi (rahmatullahi alaihe) narrates that he was with Qari Abu Bakr Ebne Mujahid when Hazrat Abu Bakr Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe) came in. Hazrat Abu Bakr Ebne Mujahid welcomed Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe) and hugged and kissed his forehead. Upon witnessing this, Allama Sakhabi (rahmatullahi alaihe) asked Qari Abu Bakr Ebne Mujahid why he had accorded such a warm welcome to Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe) when most of the learned scholars of Baghdad did not think so highly of Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe). Qari Abu Bakr Ebne Mujahid replied that he had done precisely what he had seen the Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) to do in a dream.

Qari Abu Bakr Ebne Mujahid went on to say that in his dream he saw Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe) was at the august court of the Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). The Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) stood up and kissed the forehead of Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe). In the dream, the Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) remarked that for many years after every prayer, Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe) had been reciting the last two verses of the Surah At-Tawba of the Holy Qu’ran. When asked about it, Hazrat Shibli (rahmatullahi alaihe) acknowledged reciting the particular two verses on a regular basis.

The following are the last two verses of the Surat At-Tawba of the Holy Qu’ran:

(128)

لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ · رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(129)

· فَإِن تَوَلَّوْاْ فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

128. Now hath come unto you an Apostle from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful.

129. But if they turn away, Say: "Allah sufficeth me: there is no god but He: On Him is my trust, - He the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme!"