Hakim At-Tirmidhi; The only Sufi with the title Sang Bijak Bestari

 

Hakim At-Tirmidhi; The only Sufi with the title Sang Bijak Bestari

This article will begin with a question that is quite intriguing: Why is Sheikh Abu Abdillah Muhammad bin Ali bin Hasan (Hussein) the only Sufi who gets the nickname al-Hakim (the wise-bestari)? Weren't the Sufis before and after them also the bestari sages? Regarding this great Sufi from Tirmidz, in a previous article, I have briefly reviewed his biography and its influence on the study of Sufism after his death. Look at https://islami.co/hakim-tirmidhi-sufi-besar-yang-inspiring-ibnu-arabi-dan-al-ghazali/

The Story of Learning with Prophet Khidir

Fariduddin al-Aththar in his book Tadzkiratul Awliya  (91-92) tells the story of al-Hakim's study under the direct guidance of Prophet Khidir AS.

It is said, one day he and his two friends intend to go on a journey to seek knowledge. On the way, he received news that his mother had fallen ill. He got a "whisper". His mother said to him, "O my son, I am a weak and old woman. No longer have family and relatives who will help me. You are the only one who can take care of me. Then who else can I ask for help (besides you)?” His mother's words rang in his ears. He then decided to return home to meet his mother. Meanwhile, his two friends continued their journey.

Long story short, his mother died. Then he visited his mother's grave and wept bitterly while saying: Alas my fate, I am a fool and useless. As for my two friends, they will soon return home and surely they will gain a lot of knowledge.

Then suddenly suddenly in front of him a Shaykh whose face was shining. Then the Shaykh asked about the reason al-Hakim was crying. Then al-Hakim explained chronologically. The Shaykh finally said, "You don't have to lament about it. Will you teach me science every day. If you are willing, then it will not take long for you to catch up and even surpass the knowledge you get from your friends. Al-Hakim was happy to accept the offer. After a few years later, al-Hakim just found out that the Shaykh who taught him was the Prophet Khidir AS. He got this gift thanks to the prayers of his mother.

Even though in this story the Sufi was taught directly by the Prophet Khidir AS, it does not mean that he did not learn and did not have other teachers. Instead, he had many teachers who helped shape his spiritual thoughts and actions.

The Sage of Tirmidz

Uthman Ismail Yahya in the introduction to Hakim at-Tirmidhi's work, Khatam al-Awliya', whose ditahqiqnya lists the opinions of a number of scholars regarding the reasons for naming Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin al-Husain as the only Sufi as al-Hakim (the wise) from the city of Tirmidz . First , Arthur Arberry is an orientalist who has great attention to the study of Sufism and its characters in the introduction to the book entitled ar-riyadhah wa adab an-nafs., said that the title of al-Hakim for Abu Abdullah was due to his extensive knowledge of the anatomy of the body which showed that he studied and mastered medical science. Second, he has accumulated knowledge as well as his writings that explore the spiritual world and classical Islamic civilization and rational methods. Third, he was the first Muslim scholar who had great interest in Greek philosophical thought, where he became the founder of the esoteric school of thought in the Islamic Sufism tradition. Fourth, Uthman Ismail Yahya himself is of the view that the nickname or title of al-Hakim for Abu Abdullah refers to his success in laying a solid foundation or foundation for Sufism studies in which he exemplifies himself in his behavior. The teachings of Sufism in his hands are not just a behavior that is reflected in a Sufi, but the essence of an object that has its own uniqueness and characteristics. This can be proven in a number of his works.

 

Wallahu A'lam bis-Shawab