Bishr the Barefoot
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Bishr the Barefoot | |
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Theologian | |
Born | c. 767 Ahmad Ibn Hanbal |
Bishr ibn al-Ḥārith (
Biography
Bishr was born in Merv and settled in Baghdad[1] where he spent his nights and days in impudence.
Conversion
One story of his conversion involves
When the slave girl came back into the house, she gave Bishr an account of what took place between her and al-Kadhim. It is said that Bishr quickly jumped to his feet and headed to the door barefooted, but the pious man had already left. He left in pursuit of the man and when he finally caught up with him asked him to repeat his words and he obliged. Bishr was so taken aback by his words that he fell to the ground and began to cry, saying "No, I am a slave, I am a slave!"
From then onwards he walked without shoes and people began calling him Bishr al-Haafi (The barefooted one). When asked why he did not wear shoes, he would reply "My master Allah guided me when I was barefooted, and I will remain in this condition till death".[2]
Another story of his conversion was narrated by
Thou hast perfumed My Name, so I have perfumed thee. Thou hast exalted My Name, so I have exalted thee. Thou hast purified My Name, so I have purified thee. By My Majesty, I will surely perfume thy name in this world and the world to come.[3]
The venerable man was perplexed by the dream, as he knew Bishr to be dissolute, so he went back to sleep. However, the man had the same dream two more times during that night and, after rising in the morning, went in search of Bishr to tell him of the dreams.[1] The venerable man found Bishr at a drunken party but warned him that he had a message from God and told Bishr of his dreams. Bishr immediately understood the man and told his companions:
I have had a call. I am going. I bid you farewell. You will never see me again at this business.[citation needed]
Attar further narrated that from that day onwards, Bishr lived in such a saintly manner that few equaled him in righteousness. One of Bishr's customs, Attar narrates, was to walk barefoot wherever he went and as such he earned the name "Bishr the Barefoot".[1]
He was also known to be an acquaintance of Ahmad al-Muhajir, the grandson of Jafar Al-Sadiq.
Education
To learn hadiths, Bishr travelled to Kufa, Basra and Mecca. He learned hadiths from individuals such as Hamad b. Zayd, 'Abd Allah b. Mubarak, Malik b. Anas and Abu Bakr al-'Ayyash. He also learned from Ibrahim b. Sa'd al-Zuhri, Sharik b. 'Abd Allah, al-Fudayl b. Ayaz and Ali b. Khushram (uncle of Bishr). People including Abu Khuthayma, Zuhayr b. Harb, Sirri al-Saqati, 'Abbas b. 'Abd al-'Azim and Muhammad b. Hatam transmitted hadiths from him.[citation needed]
See also
- Ali al-Uraidhi ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq