Bahlul al-Majnun; The “Crazy” Sufi Who Advises the Caliph Harun al-Rashid

 

Bahlul al-Majnun; The “Crazy” Sufi Who Advises the Caliph Harun al-Rashid

Bahlul al-Majnun's full name is Abu Wahb Bahlul bin Amr as-Shairafi al-Kufi. The attribution to al-Kufi shows that he was born in Kufa, Iraq. He was a Sufi who lived during the time of Caliph Harun ar-Rashid. He died in the year 197 H or coincided with the year 810 AD. Bahlul was one of the Sufis who was simultaneously a poet, an ascetic and a storyteller.

Fuat Sezgin in his magnum opus, Geschichte  des arabischen Schrifttums (volume 4 in 13 volumes and has been translated into Arabic under the title Tarikh at-Turats al-Arabi ) states that Bahlul's biography can be traced in a number of sources, al-Bayan wa at-Tabyin, the work of al-Jahiz, al-Rijal by At-Thusi, Lisan al-Mizan by Ibn Hajar, al-A'lam by al-Zirkili, as well as in the Geschichte  der arabischen Litteratur which has also been translated into Arabic with the title Tarikh al-Adab. al-Arabi by Carl Brockelmann.

As for the works in the form of qasida attributed to him, they are al-Qashidah al-Bahluliyyah, Qashidah Ibn Arus, and al-Qashidah al-Fiyasyiyyah ." Sezgin himself placed Bahlul as the third Sufi in the Abbasid era where in the early Abbasid dynasty there were far more texts containing zuhud expressions and behaviors than during the Umayyad dynasty. At this time, according to Sezgin, attention to writing ( attadwin ) the themes of Sufism occupies the most important position. Where many hadith experts at this time were ascetics (zahid).

It is said that he lives in a public cemetery every day. Young children in Baghdad often make it entertainment. Even sometimes he was stoned by children who did not recognize the nature of Bahlul.

Most common people in his time belittled his advice and advice even though what he told was the truth. He can see things that are not seen by ordinary people. One time he went out to the city (Baghdad), on the way he met naughty children. They threw stones at Buhlul while shouting "Bahlul al-Majnun" and "Bahlul ya Majnun". He did not reply except with a verse:

It is enough for me to surrender to you, Lord

From everything they did to me

There is no eternal refuge except towards You

Advice to the Caliph

One narration tells a story of Bahlul with Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Bahlul who was harassed by the people of Baghdad at that time with the nickname al-majnun alias madman. In fact, he was the wisest and most intelligent man of his time. The scholars of his time were also many who took wisdom and istifadah and mauidzoh from this Sufi.

 

O Bahlul, when will you recover from your madness? asked Caliph Harun al-Rashid.

He asked again, "I or you who is crazy, O Caliph?

The Caliph retorted, "You who sit on a grave every day are crazy".

Bahlul replied, "I am the sane one!"

"Why is that?" Sergah Harun.

Bahlul replied, "Yes, because I know that your palace and power -while pointing to Harun's palace- will be destroyed. And there (pointing to the grave) you will be immortal. Therefore I am preparing to live here forever. While you are actually busy building your palace which later on by His destiny it will be extinct! You seem to hate graves so much when there will be your final resting place!” Bahlul continued, “If that is the case, then which of us is crazy! O caliph?!”

Caliph Harun was silent for a moment without being able to speak a word. Then he said to Buhlul while sobbing, "By Allah. What you say is very true, O Bahlul."

The Caliph asked this Sufi for advice and guidance. He said, "Advise me, O Bahlul."

"It is enough for you to hold and practice the book of God ."

The Caliph continued, "Well, do you want something from me?"

“Yes!” Answer Bahlul. "I have three requests of you that if you are willing to do I will thank you very much!"

First, can you increase or extend my life? Ask Buhlul

The Caliph replied, "Of course I could not possibly be able to do it"

Second, can you protect me from the angel of death?

"Of course I won't be able to either". Answered the Caliph

"Third, can you put me in Heaven and keep me away from Hellfire?" Pinta Bahlul

"It's also impossible for me to do."

Bahlul then retorted, "Then I don't need your help!"