Ahmed Ibn Abu al-Hassan al-Nuri (Persian: ابو الحسین النوری) (d. 907 A.D.) was a famous early Sufi.^[1] He was born in Bagdad (in 840) where spent most of his life.^[2] He is the author of Maqamat al-qulub (Stations of the Hearts). He is famous for saying, " I love God and God loves me" (a'shaqu Allah wa-Allah ya'shaqun) ^[3]. He is one of the earliest sufis who was clearly mystical as illustrated by his saying "Joining with the Truth is parting from everything else, as parting with everything else is joining with it"^[4]

[edit] Stories and Beliefs

He, and several of his friends were accused of heresey and charged (in AD 878). Nuri offered to be tried before his companions. The regent at the time was impressed by such magnaminity and investigated the case and found these Sufis to be good Muslims. Thus he set the accused free. Al-Nuri, however was exiled to Ar-Raqqah in Syria, whence he returned some years later, much deteriorated physically.^[5]

Poetry and statements from him are narrated in popular Sufism. According to popular accounts, he gained the title "Nuri" because he "radiated light when talking". He was acquainted with Junayd Baghdadi.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Carl W. Ernst, "World of ectasy in Sufism", Suny Press, 1985. pg 97: "A Sufi of Iranian origin (d. 907) was one of the most eminent mystics of Baghdad
2. ^ N. Hanif, Biographical encyclopaedia of Sufis: Central Asia and Middle East, p. 368
3. ^ Al-Sarraj, Pages From the "Kitab al-Luma' , ed. AJ. Arberry (London: Luzac, 1947), p. 5
4. ^ Al-Sulami, Tabaqat, 153 = Sh., 166
5. ^ Carl W. Ernst, "World of ectasy in Sufism", Suny Press, 1985. pg 98

[edit] External Links

• [1]

Christopher Melchert, The Transition from Ascetism to Mysticism at the Niddle of the Ninth Century

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