HADHRAT YUSUF BIN AL-HUSAIN (RAHMATULLAH ALAYH)

HADHRAT YUSUF BIN AL-HUSAIN

(RAHMATULLAH ALAYH)

* Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain was the mureed of Hadhrat Zunnoon Misri (Rahmatullah alayh). He was extremely handsome. Once the daughter of an Arab chief fell in love with him. Finding an opportunity she presented herself to him. Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain overcome with fear fled and went to another village where another Arab tribe lived.

That night with his head on his knees he fell asleep. In his dream he saw himself in a place of exquisite beauty. There was a group of people dressed beautifully in green. In there midst on a throne was seated a man who appeared to be the king. Keen to know who these people were, Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain went forward. When they saw him approaching, they made way for him. He asked   about them, they said that they were Angels and that the person on the throne was Hadhrat Nabi Yusuf (Alayhis salaam). All of them had come to visit him (i.e. Yusuf Bin Al-Husain).

Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain wept and said: “Who am I? How can a Nabi of Allah come to visit me?” As he made this statement, Hadhrat Nabi Yusuf (alayhis salaam) alighted from the throne and embraced Yusuf Bin Al-Husain. Then Nabi Yusuf (Alayhis salaam) seated Yusuf Bin Al-Husain alongside him on the throne.

Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain said: “O Nabi of Allah! Who am I? Why all this kindness shown to me?” Nabi Yusuf (alayhis salaam) said: “When you had spurned the beautiful daughter of the Arab king, and sought refuge with Allah Ta’ala,   He revealed the scene to me and to all the Malaaikah. Allah Ta’ala sent me with these Malaaikah to visit you, and to give you the glad tidings that you are an accepted servant of Allah Ta’ala. In every age there is an outstanding person (Allah’s select Wali). In this era he is Zunnoon Misri. He knows the Ism-e-A’zam. Go to him.”

When he woke up, he set of for Misr (Egypt). He yearned for the Ism-e-A’zam of Allah Azza Wa Jal. When he reached Misr, he went to the Musjid of Hadhrat Zunnoon (Rahmatullah alayh). He was over-awed when his eyes fell on Hadhrat Zunnoon. He made salaam and Hadhrat Zunnoon responded. There was no further conversation. Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain remained in a corner of the Musjid for a full year. He was unable to muster up the courage to speak with Hadhrat Zunnoon.

After a year, Hadhrat Zunnoon said to him: “O young man! Why have you come here?” Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Al-Husain said: “To visit you.? This was the only talk. He again remained another year in the Musjid. After the expiry of the second year, Hadhrat Zunnoon said: “Have you any need?” Then, he mustered up courage and said: “I have come to acquire the Ism-e-A’zam from you.” Hadhrat Zunnoon was silent. Another year passed by in silence.

After a year had passed, Hadhrat Zunnoon gave him a bowl which was covered and instructed: “Cross the River Nile. In a certain place is a person. Hand him this bowl and remember the message he gives you.”   He took the bowl and left. While on his way, he felt movement in the bowl. He wondered what was in the bowl. His curiosity drove him to slightly open the lid. As he opened the lid, a mouse jumped out and ran off. Now he was bewildered. Should he proceed to the person across the Nile or return to Hadhrat Zunnoon? Ultimately he decided to proceed.

When he reached the person to whom he was sent, he (the person) smiled and said: “Perhaps you had asked Zunnoon to reveal to you the Ism-e-A’zam. Zunnoon observed your impatience, hence he sent you with the mouse. Subhaanallaah! When you are unable to guard a mouse, how can you ever guard the Ism-e-A’zam?” Yusuf Bin Al-Husian very much ashamed of himself returned to the Musjid of Hadhrat Zunnoon. Then Hadhrat Zunnoon said: “Yesterday I supplicated to Allah Ta’ala seven times for permission to impart the Ism-e-A’zam to you. But Allah Ta’ala refused permission. The time has not yet arrived. Allah Ta’ala said that I should give you a mouse as a test. Now return to your land until the time arrives.”

Yusuf Bin Husain asked for advice. Hadhrat Zunnoon said: “I give you three advices. One: a most superior advice; two: of medium calibre, and three: inferior. The most superior advice is Forget whatever knowledge you have acquired, so that the veils be lifted.” Yusuf Bin Husain said: “I am unable to do this.” Zunnoon said: “The medium calibre advice is that you forget me. Do not mention even my name to anyone. Do not say that my Shaikh said so and so.” Yusuf Bin Husain said: “This too I am unable of accomplishing.” Zunnoon said: “The inferior advice is that you advise and admonish people. Call them towards Allah Ta’ala.” Yusuf Bin Husain said: “Insha-Allah, I shall be able to do so.” Zunnoon said: “Give people naseehat on condition that you do not recognize yourself as the medium.” Then Yusuf Bin Husain travelled to the City of Ray.

* When Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain (Rahmatullah alayh) initiated his discourses, those scholars who lacked in spirituality began to oppose him. He was so severely criticized that people abstained from attending his discourses. One day when he came to the Musjid to deliver a wa’z, he did not find a single person. As he was about to depart, an old lady exclaimed: “Did you not pledge with Zunnoon that you would give discourses to people for the sake of Allah Ta’ala, and that you will not recognize yourself as the intermediary? Why do you now want to leave?” When he heard this, he was bewildered, and he commenced his bayaan (discourse). Thereafter he would always give a bayaan even if there was not a single person present.

* The effect of the companionship of Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain on Hadhrat Ibraaheem Khawwaas (Rahmatullah alayh) was so profound that he (Hadhrat Khawwaas) would journey through the desert and wilderness without any provisions and any mount whatsoever. Hadhrat Ibraaheem Khawwaas said: “Once I heard a Voice ordering me: ‘Go and inform Yusuf Bin Husain that he has been rejected.” Hadhrat Ibraaheem Khawwaas said: ‘If a mountain had to be struck on me, it would be easier than delivering that message. The second night, I heard the same Voice giving the same instruction. I took ghusl and recited Istighfaar in abundance. The third night, the same Voice repeated the instruction and added: “Get up and deliver the message otherwise you will be injured.”  

I went to the Musjid with great grief and fear. I saw Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain sitting in the mihraab. When he saw me, he said: ‘Do you remember any poem?’ I recited a poem which pleased him much. He remained weeping for a long time. After sobbing profusely, he said: “From this morning until now the Qur’aan was being recited in front of me but not a single tear drop came to my eyes nor   was I affected emotionally in any way. But, this one poem had such a profound affect on me that a storm gushed from my eyes. The people have spoken the truth that I am a zindeeq, and the instruction from the Divine Court that I am rejected is correct. A person who is so much affected by a poem, and not by the Qur’aan is indeed rejected And buffeted from the Divine Court.”

Hadhrat Ibraaheem Khawwaas said: “I was bewildered, and my confidence in him diminished. Full of fear, I left and went to the forest where I met Khidhr (alayhis salaam). He said: “Yusuf Bin Husain is a wounded Wali of Allah Ta’ala. He is on the Truth. His abode is Iliyyeen.”

* Abdul Waahid Zaid was an evil sinner. His parents had struggled to reform him, but to no avail. One day   as he was passing by the place where Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain was giving a talk, he (Abdul Waahid) heard him saying: “Allah calls the sinners with such tenderness as if He is in need of them.” This statement had such a profound affect on Abdul Waahid that he let out a loud shriek, removed the gaudy cloak and topi he was wearing and headed to the Qabrustaan.   For three days and nights he was lost in a state of ecstasy. Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain in his dream heard a Voice saying: “Find the repentant youth.”

Hadhrat Yusuf went in search of the youth until he found him laying unconscious in a corner of the Qabrustaan. He lifted his head on to his lap. Abdul Waahid opened his eyes and said: “You have come only after three days”, and he passed away.

* A trader in the city of Nishapur had purchased an extremely beautiful Turkish slave girl for a thousand dinars (gold coins). One day he had to go on a journey, but did not know to whom he could entrust the girl. Then it occurred to him to request Hadhrat Abu Uthmaan (Rahmatullah alayh) on whom he had great confidence. He asked Hadhrat Abu Uthmaan to keep the girl among his womenfolk until he returned. However, Abu Uthmaan refused. But, the trader persisted with his request saying that there is no one else to whom he could entrust the girl. Finally, he agreed to accept the girl into his house where she remained with the womenfolk.

One day, accidentally his gaze fell on the girl. That very moment he was captivated by her stunning beauty. He was beyond himself in love with the girl. He though that the only way for him to be saved from this calamity was to go to seek the aid of his Shaikh, Hadhrat Abu Hafs Haddaad (Rahmatullah alayh).

He met his Shaikh and explained his plight. Hadhrat Abu Hafs Haddaad advised him to go to Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain (Rahmatullah alayh), for he will be able to proffer the proper advice for this calamity. Thus, Hadhrat Abu Uthmaan set off on the journey to the city of Ray. When he arrived in Ray he made enquiries about the whereabouts of Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain. The people said: “You appear to be a decent person, a Sufi. It is lamentable that you want to meet that man who is a mulhid, zindeeq and extremely evil. Do you also want to ruin yourself in his company?”

When he heard this, Abu Uthmaan was greatly perplexed, and he   returned to Nishapur. He went straight to his Shaikh who asked: “Did you meet Yusuf Bin Husain?” Abu Uthmaan explained what had transpired. Since the love of the girl was overwhelming in Abu Uthmaan, his Shaikh again instructed him to go to Ray and meet Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain. Thus, he again set off for Ray.

On reaching Ray, he again enquired about Yusuf Bin Husain’s whereabouts. This time the people condemned and criticized him even more. Nevertheless, Abu Uthmaan (Rahmatullah alayh) said that he had some important work with him. Then the people directed him to the residence of Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain.

When he came to Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain’s house, the door was open. He saw a man whose face was radiant with noor. However, a young lad was sitting nearby and a bottle of wine was in front of Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain. Hadhrat Abu Uthmaan was bewildered. He greeted. Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain responded and began with a discourse. The effect of his discourse was so profound that Abu Uthmaan became unconscious. After he regained conscious, he said:

“O Khwaajah, why have you adopted this way of life. Despite such wonderful talks pertaining to transcendental realities and subtleties, you keep a bottle of wine and a young lad by you.” Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain said: “This is my son. I teach him the Qur’aan. People are unaware of him, and in this bottle is water.” Hadhrat Abu Uthmaan said: “For Allah’s sake explain this mystery. Why have you adopted this manner? People are reviling you so terribly because of this. I cannot even repeat what they have said about you. So what is the reason for this pretence?” He responded: “So that no one brings their Turkish girl to me to be kept in trust in my home.” Hadhrat Abu Uthmaan (Rahmatullah alayh) fell at the feet of Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain. He had now recognized the lofty status of Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain (Rahmatullah alayh). The effect of the carnal love had evaporated.

* After performing Isha’ Salaat, Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain (Rahmatullah alayh) would stand with the intention of engaging in Nafl Salaat. However, he would remain standing until Fajr time without performing Ruku’, Sajdah, etc. When he was asked to explain what type of ibaadat his act was, he said: “After Isha’, when I intend to engage in Salaat, the greatness and glory of Allah Azza Wa Jal overwhelm me to such an extent that I am unable to do anything but stand in awe and reverence, and this state endures until the arrival of Fajr.”

* He said: “In every Ummat there is an auspicious group who is the Amaanat (Trust) of Allah Azza Wa Jal. He keeps them hidden from people. In this Ummat, they are the Sufis.”

* “The calamity of the Sufis is in association with lads, people of the world and tenderness towards women (i.e. to ghayr mahrams).” Ulama who deal with females should heed this lesson. In this era they should not converse to ghair mahram females even from behind a screen.

* “He who loves Allah, regards himself with contempt.”

* “The sign of love for Allah Ta’ala is to be far from all and everything which is a barrier to His Remembrance.”

* “There are two signs of a Saadiq: He loves solitude and he conceals his ibaadat.”

* “The most contemptible person is he who is avaricious, and the noblest person is a Durwaish who is Saadiq and Saabir.”

* “After his demise, someone saw him in a dream and asked: “How did you fare by Allah?” He said: Allah forgave me.” He was asked: “Why?” Hadhrat Yusuf Bin Husain (Rahmatullah alayh) said: “Because I had never indulged in futility.”