AL ASHARI SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

 Here’s the English translation:

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*Tazkira Sufiya-e-Kiram Series*  

*7) Tawus al-Fuqara Abu Nasr al-Sarraj (d. 378 AH) (Author of _Kitab al-Luma‘_)*

*Biography —*  

Very little is available about the life of al-Sarraj. The earliest biographers of the Sufis did not mention him in their works. For example, Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami did not record his mention in his work _Tabaqat al-Sufiyya_. However, he made up for this omission in his other work _Tarikh al-Sufiyya_. 

His mention is found for the first time in _Tazkirat al-Awliya_. Keeping that in view, Jami mentioned him in _Nafahat al-Uns_. After them, Dhahabi mentioned him in _Tarikh al-Islam_, Abul Falah Abdul Hayy in _Shadharat al-Dhahab_, and Dara Shikoh in _Safinat al-Awliya_. 

Dhahabi only wrote this much: Abdullah bin Ali bin Muhammad Yahya Abu Nasr al-Sarraj al-Tusi, author of _Kitab al-Luma‘_, acquired the knowledge of Tasawwuf from Ja‘far al-Khuldi Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Dawud. 

Sulami wrote that Abu Nasr al-Sarraj was from the descendants of ascetics, and in his homeland he was accepted for his _futuwwa_ [chivalry/spiritual nobility]. He was the spokesman of the people, an expert in the sciences of Sharia, and in his time he was the jurist of the Sheikhs of Sufism. 

Abu Nasr al-Sarraj was a resident of Tus. He acquired the knowledge of Tasawwuf from Ja‘far al-Khuldi, Abu Bakr Muhammad Dawud, and Ahmad bin Muhammad Shami. His family was famous for asceticism. Abu Nasr al-Sarraj based his work on the Sharia sciences. Besides Sharia, he was also an expert in Tariqa [the Sufi path], and among the class of Sufis he was recognized as an authoritative commentator on the science of Tasawwuf. Among his compatriots he was famous for _futuwwa_. He passed away in Rajab 378 AH. 

Persian biographers have written that his title was _Tawus al-Fuqara_ [Peacock of the Poor]. From the study of _Kitab al-Luma‘_ it is known that he traveled to most of the major cities of the Islamic world and exchanged views with the Sufis there. Among these cities, Basra, Baghdad, Damascus, Ramla, Antakya, Tarsus, Tripoli, Cairo, Damietta, Bastam, and Tabriz are especially noteworthy. 

He took very few people as his disciples. Among his disciples, only one attained fame, whose name was Abul Fazl, who was the spiritual guide in the Sufi path of Abu’l Khair. 

Al-Sarraj wrote in _Kitab al-Luma‘_ that he wrote this book at the request of a friend, whose name he did not disclose, and his purpose was to clarify the correct principles of Tasawwuf and to prove that these principles are in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah, and that following the Messenger and the Sunnah is their ultimate goal. 

Sheikh Fariduddin Attar wrote that the Sheikh of the time, Abu Nasr al-Sarraj, had virtues beyond description. He was perfect in the branches of knowledge, held a great status in spiritual exercises and conduct, and was a master in the explanation of the sayings and words of the sheikhs. 

His saying is: “Love is that fire by which the heart of the lover is melted, and everything other than Allah is burned to ashes.”