'Ya Junayd!' The Tale of Junayd and A Disciple

Discussion in 'Siyar an-Nubala' started by Aqdas, Feb 16, 2006.

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  1. Aqdas

    Aqdas Staff Member

    In al-Malfuz, Imam Ahmad Rida Khan rahimahullah was asked which book this incident is in. The Imam replied he thinks it is in Hadiqa-tun-Nadiya.
     
  2. Wadood

    Wadood Veteran

    Madad Ya Sayyidi Junaid al Baghdadi Madad





    radziAllahu 'anhu
     
  3. 1. ‘Ya Junayd!’





    One day a disciple of Imam Junayd was at the banks of the river Euphrates when, suddenly, he spotted his Master approaching the river. He followed Imam Junayd and, to his astonishment, watched the Imam approach the river and begin walking on the water, saying “Ya Allah! Ya Allah!” as he began to cross the mighty Euphrates on foot. The disciple was still dumbfounded at this miracle of his Shaykh when Imam Junayd, whilst walking on the water, turned around and, smiling at his disciple, called to him to follow his lead, saying ‘Just follow me and keep on repeating the words, “Ya Junayd!” as you walk on the water and you will be fine.’ Trusting in his Shaykh, the disciple began to cross the river and due to his faith he was able to walk on the water too. As he walked he kept on repeating ‘Ya Junayd’ as a litany.



    When he had reached the middle of the river and the Imam had gone a little further, Iblis, the accursed Satan, suddenly swooped down to him and began his mendacious whisperings in the disciple’s ear. Satan said to him, “Look at the Imam! He is saying Allah’s name, while he asks you to commit shirk and repeat his own name! Why don’t you also trust in Allah alone and say, ‘Ya Allah!’ too?”

    Having said this the Accursed One disappeared. The disciple was convinced by the logic of the Devil and stopped saying the words ‘Ya Junayd’ and began to say ‘Ya Allah’ instead. As soon as he began to repeat the name of Allah, he started to sink into the water! As he was on the verge of drowning he became terrified and shouted out ‘Ya Junayd’ again. Immediately, he rose to the surface of the water and began to walk on the water again. He continued repeating Ya Junayd until he had reached the other bank of the river safely. The Imam had reached the river bank a few minutes before him.



    When he had reached the other side of the Euphrates river he went up to Junayd of Baghdad and asked him, “O’ Shaykh what is the meaning of this? I was able to walk on the river whilst I said your name but as soon as I said Allah’s name I began to sink! And yet you yourself repeated Allah’s name whilst you crossed the river. Please explain this to secret to me!’



    “You are trying to reach Allah and yet you haven’t even reached Junayd yet!” replied Imam Junayd Baghdadi.



    (translated into my own words from a talk by Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Madani MiyaN al Ashrafi al Jilani)
     

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