The Story of Bayazid Al Bustami: About Ujub and Takabur

 

The Story of Bayazid Al Bustami: About Ujub and Takabur

Bayazid al Bustami was the foremost Sufi teacher of his time. He has a Sufi hermitage with many students. One of Bayazid's students already has his own college, he also has many Jama'at. His position as a scholar makes the student always wear a white robe, turban and perfume, as a form of following the sunnah of the prophet. This attribute is a sign that the student is a pious person.

One time, his student complained to Bayazid,

“Master, I have worshiped for thirty years. I pray every night and fast every day, but strangely, I haven't had the spiritual experience that Tuan Guru describes. I have never seen anything Mr. described. My heart is always restless, can't calm down."

Bayazid replied:

"If you worship for three hundred years, you will not achieve a single dust of brilliance in your life."

The disciple was astonished: "Why, Master Teacher?"

“Because you are closed to yourself,” replied Bayazid.

"Can you treat me to reveal the hijab?" asked the student.

"You can," said Bayazid, "but you won't," Bayazid continued

"Of course I will," objected the student.

"All right then," said Bayazid, "now take off your clothes. Instead, wear clothes that are tattered, torn, and tattered. Hang around your neck a bag of nuts. You go to the market, gather as many little children there as possible. Tell them, "Hey kids, whoever among you wants to slap me once, I'll give you a bag of peanuts."

“Then come to a place where your congregation often admires you. Also tell them, "Who wants to slap me in the face, I'll give you a bag of beans!" Bayazid continued.

"Subhanallah, masha Allah, lailahailallah," said the student in surprise. Bayazid said, “If these holy words are spoken by a disbeliever, he becomes a believer. But if that sentence is uttered by someone like you, you change from a believer to a disbeliever.".

The student was astonished, "Why is that?"

Bayazid replied, “Because it looks like you are praising Allah, when in fact you are praising yourself. When you say: God is holy, it's as if you are purifying God even though you are highlighting your holiness.". ”

"Then," the student asked again, "give me another piece of advice."

Bayazid replied, "Didn't I tell you you wouldn't be able to do it!"

The story of the dialogue between Bayazid and his student is so smacking. Ujub, self-admiration and arrogance make worship a thousand times useless.

Worship becomes a hotbed for showing off arrogance, not a form of humility and obedience. Worship does not make the heart soft and compassionate, but instead makes the heart hard and rough.