"but the Ka`ba has gone to meet a woman who is approaching." said A Voice. - Part 6

LEARN TO LOVE YOUR LORD FROM THIS WOMEN SUFI SAINT Rabe’a al-Adawiya

Anecdotes of Rabe’a


10- There is a story that Rabi`a was once on her way to
Mecca. When she was half-way there she saw the Ka`ba coming to meet her and she said,

"It is the Lord of the House Whom I need. What have I to do with the House? I need to meet with Him Who said: 'Whoso approaches Me by a span's length I will approach him by the length of a cubit.' The Ka`ba which I see has no power over me. What does the Ka`ba bring to me?"

And again, a story of the same nature is as follows: It is related that Ibrahim ibn Adhan, a very holy person, spent fourteen years making his way to the Ka`ba because in every place of prayer he prayed two ruk`u and at last when he reached the Ka`ba he did not see it. He said to himself,

"Alas, what has happened to my eyes. Maybe a sickness has come to them."

Then he heard a voice which said,

"No harm has befallen your eyes, but the Ka`ba has gone to meet a woman who is approaching."

Ibrahim was seized with jealousy and said,

"O indeed; who is this?"

He ran and saw Rabi`a arriving,and the Ka`ba was back in its place.


11-Once when Rabi`a, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked,
"Where have you come from?"

She said, "From that World."

They then asked her, "Where are you going?"

She replied, "To that World."

They asked, "What are you doing in this world?"

She said, "I am sorrowing."

They asked, "In what way?"

She said, "I am eating the bread of this world and doing the work of that World."

Then someone said, "One so persuasive in speech is worthy to keep a guest-house."

She replied, "I myself am keeping a rest-house. Whatever is within I do not allow to go out, and whatever is without I do not allow to come in. If anyone comes in or goes out, he does not concern me, for I am contemplating my own heart, not mere clay."