Rabia al-Adawiyya (quddisa sirruha), the luminary of tasawwuf and divine love, remains one of the most revered figures in tasawwuf.
According to Fariduddin Attar, her story begins with the trials of orphanhood in her early years. Following a famine in Basra that scattered her siblings, Rabia (quddisa sirruha) lived alone until she was sold into slavery for six dirhams by an oppressive man. By day, she endured grueling labor; by night, she immersed herself in devout worship.
One night, as she prayed, her master observed a radiant light above her head illuminating the room. Overcome with fear and awe, he freed her. Embracing her newfound freedom, Rabia (quddisa sirruha) resolved to embark on the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Her journey toward sufism and detachment from worldly affairs began during this pilgrimage. In one incident, her donkey died in the desert, leaving her burdened with goods. Though others in the caravan offered assistance, she declined, expressing her reliance solely on the Creator rather than His creations.
A widely recounted tale illustrates her profound devotion: on her way to Mecca, she perceived the Kaaba coming to greet her. She exclaimed,
- What need have I for the house when I seek the Lord of the house? He has promised, ‘Whoever draws near to Me by a span, I draw near to them by a cubit.’”
Rabia’s (quddisa sirruha) renunciation of worldly attachments mirrored the common stance of early ascetics, but what set her apart was her deep integration of divine love into this detachment.
After her pilgrimage, Rabia (quddisa sirruha) settled in Basra, where she rejected numerous marriage proposals. She believed that marriage would distract her from the path of divine love. It is said that Abd al-Wahid ibn Zayd (quddisa sirruhu) proposed to her, to which she replied,
- Find someone like yourself; have you seen any sign of worldly desire in me?
This response reflected her symbolic rejection of anything that could distance her from divine intimacy.
Another popular but historically implausible tale suggests that Hasan al-Basri (quddisa sirruhu) proposed to Rabia (quddisa sirruha). However, given that Hasan passed away seventy years before Rabia, this account is unlikely. Basra’s emir, Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Hashimi, also sought her hand, but she declined, emphasizing that worldly aspirations lead to pain, whereas renouncing them brings peace.
Rabia (quddisa sirruha) likened her spiritual state to a celestial marriage, where her heart was perpetually in communion with the Divine. Although reluctant to discuss her spiritual state out of humility, she became a source of guidance and inspiration. Esteemed mystics such as Rabi’ ibn Khaytham, Dhul-Nun al-Misri, Ibrahim ibn Adham, Sufyan al-Thawri, Shaqiq al-Balkhi, and Malik ibn Dinar (quddisa sirruhum) sought her company and wisdom.
Transforming Zuhd into Love
Rabia’s (quddisa sirruha) legacy stands as a turning point in Sufsim. Under her influence, the early sufis focus on fear and sorrow evolved into an emphasis on love, hope, and optimism. Sufi writers have referenced her teachings not only on divine love but also on repentance, humility, contentment, and submission.
Her perspective was rooted in the belief that all actions are ultimately the will of Allah. When asked,
- I have committed many sins. If I repent, will Allah accept my repentance? she replied,
- No! If He accepts your repentance, then you will repent.
This statement reflected her profound understanding of divine omnipotence and human reliance on grace.
Rabia (quddisa sirruha) often wept during prayers, embodying the sorrow common among early ascetics. Once, she admonished Sufyan al-Thawri, who prayed,
- O Allah, be pleased with me, by asking, Are you not ashamed to ask for His pleasure when you have not sought to please Him yourself?
Rabia (quddisa sirruha) believed in concealing good deeds, stating,
- If any of my deeds were seen by others, I would consider them void.
This sentiment reflected the malamat (self-reproach) characteristic of the earliest Sufi traditions.
Her Supplication
Rabia’s prayer is often quoted as an unparalleled expression of pure devotion:
“O Lord, if I worship You out of fear of Hell, then cast me into Hell. If I worship You in hope of Paradise, then withhold it from me. But if I worship You for Your sake alone, do not withhold from me the beauty of Your eternal countenance.”
With the Kaaba
One of the most compelling anecdotes recounts Rabia (quddisa sirruha) traveling toward Mecca when she encountered the Kaaba approaching her. She proclaimed,
- I seek the Lord of the house, not the house itself. What need have I for the Kaaba when its Master draws near to me?
In another tale, the Ibrahim ibn Adham (quddisa sirruhu) journeyed for fourteen years to reach the Kaaba, praying two units of prayer for each step. Upon arrival, he found the Kaaba absent and learned through a heavenly voice that it had gone to meet Rabia. Witnessing this, Ibrahim remarked,
- O Rabia, what is this commotion you have stirred? She replied,
- The commotion is yours, not mine. You have spent fourteen years to reach what I attained in a single moment of surrender.
Rabia al-Adawiyya’s (quddisa sirruha) life was a tapestry of devotion, wisdom, and love, illuminating the path for generations of seekers. Her profound teachings continue to inspire those yearning for a closer connection with the Divine.
