Harun al-Rashid Badshah, a descendant of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH), was the Caliph of Iraq during the Abbasid Caliphate.
When Caliph Harun al-Rashid Badshah went to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage, he expressed to his minister, Abul Fazl, that his heart desired to meet spiritually elevated saintly elders (Friends of Allah). Abul Fazl took the Caliph to a pious servant of Allah named Abdur Razzaq San’ani, who was residing in Mecca. After speaking with the elder for a short while, Caliph Harun al-Rashid said, “If you have any debts, please tell me; I shall clear them for you.” Upon hearing this, the elder detailed his debts. The Caliph handed him a purse of money and took his leave.
Later, the Badshah told his minister Abul Fazl, “My heart desires to meet a Friend of Allah who is even more spiritually excellent than him.”
Minister Abul Fazl then led Caliph Harun al-Rashid to the house of Sufyan ibn Uyaynah and knocked on his door. When a voice from inside asked, “Who is it?”, Abul Fazl replied that Caliph Harun al-Rashid had arrived. Immediately, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah opened the door, offered greetings of peace (Salam) to the Caliph, and invited him inside.
Furthermore, he said to the Caliph, “Why did you trouble yourself to come looking for me? If you had sent word, I would have rushed to see you myself.” Hearing this, the Caliph turned to his minister and said, “The kind of person I am seeking to see is not like this,” and began to leave from there.
Afterward, Abul Fazl took the Caliph to the house of Fudayl ibn Iyad (may Allah have mercy on him). As they approached the house, the Caliph heard the sound of the Quran being recited from inside. They drew close and knocked on the door.
When a voice from inside asked, “Who is it?”, Abul Fazl informed them that the Caliph had arrived. Immediately, a voice from within the house replied, “What connection is there between me and the Caliph? I am engaged in the worship of God. Leave from here without causing me any disturbance.” Abul Fazl replied, “Is it not your duty to obey the command of the Caliph?” To this, a voice from inside replied, “I have no business with the Caliph; do not trouble me in vain.”
Hearing this, Abul Fazl said, “If you do not permit us entry willingly, we will enter your house by force.” To this, Fudayl ibn Iyad (RA) replied, “That is up to your choice, but I cannot give you permission.”
The Caliph and Abul Fazl entered the house without permission. Seeing this, Fudayl ibn Iyad extinguished the lamp burning inside the house, plunging the entire room into darkness. In the darkness, the Caliph searched with his hands, found Fudayl’s hand, and shook hands (Musafaha) with him.
Then Fudayl said, “Oh, how soft these hands are! May they be granted freedom from the fire of Hell,” and he began to weep. Hearing this, the Caliph also became deeply moved and shed tears. Caliph Harun al-Rashid pleaded with Fudayl (RA), “Please give me some counsel for my spiritual well-being.”
To this, Fudayl ibn Iyad (RA) replied, “O Leader of the Believers! You know that your grandfather, Hazrat Abbas (RA), was the paternal uncle of the Prophet (PBUH). One day, your grandfather Abbas (RA) requested the Prophet (PBUH) to appoint him as a leader over a group of people. The Prophet (PBUH) advised him, ‘I have appointed you as a leader over your own desires. Subduing and ruling over one’s own desires is more virtuous than ruling over people for a thousand years. Ruling over people brings grief in the Hereafter, whereas subduing one’s desires brings joy in the Hereafter.’ Have you forgotten this, O Harun al-Rashid?”
Hearing this, the Caliph wept bitterly. “Counsel me further,” requested the Caliph.
Hearing this, Fudayl (RA) said, “O Leader of the Believers! I am reminded of Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (RA). When the Caliphate was bestowed upon him, he summoned eminent elders like Salim ibn Abdullah, Raja ibn Haywah, and Muhammad ibn Ka’b, and pleaded with them, ‘I have fallen into this great trial; give me counsel on how I should conduct myself among the people.’ “
“The three of them advised Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (RA), ‘If you treat the elders as your fathers, the youth as your siblings, the children as your own offspring, the elderly women as your mother, and the young women as your sisters, you will not be subjected to God’s punishment in the Hereafter.’ ” Hearing this, Badshah Harun al-Rashid said while weeping, “Please give me even more counsel!”
Then Fudayl ibn Iyad counseled him, “O Leader of the Believers! Consider the Muslims as your relatives and family members, and serve them. Go in search of the people before they have to come searching for you to fulfill their needs!” After advising this, he added:
“O Caliph! Fear God. For people like you, there are two accountings before God: one regarding your own self, and the other regarding those under your governance. Never forget for a single day that God will question you about each and every one of them. The position you hold is meant for doing good to the people. Do not forget that if an old woman goes to sleep hungry with an empty stomach on any night, Allah will hold you accountable for it in the Hereafter.”
Upon hearing this counsel, the Caliph fainted out of the fear of Allah and fell down. After a short while, Caliph Harun al-Rashid regained consciousness and pleaded with Fudayl (RA), “If you have any debts, please allow me to clear them.”
To this, Fudayl (RA) looked at the Caliph and said, “Yes! I have a debt toward my Lord. I am indebted for enjoying His bounties without offering enough gratitude. I must clear that debt myself; you cannot fulfill it on my behalf.”
To this, the Caliph said, “I did not ask about that. I asked if you owe any worldly debts to anyone so that I may clear them.” Fudayl replied, “Alhamdulillah! Allah is sufficient for my needs!”
Despite this, the Caliph placed a purse of money before Fudayl (RA) and said, “This is not public money; it is lawful (halal) wealth earned through my own personal labor. You may spend it as you wish. This is my gift to you.”
Immediately growing angry, Fudayl (RA) said, “O Caliph! You have wasted all the advice I gave you just moments ago! I am calling you toward salvation from sin, while you are calling me toward destruction! Do not make the very material wealth—the absence of which has brought me closer to Allah—a trial for me. Hand it over yourself to whomever needs it,” saying so, Fudayl refused to accept it.
Stepping out of the house, the Caliph said to his minister Abul Fazl, “The kind of man I was searching for is indeed this man. He has revivified me with his words. Such individuals are the true Friends of Allah.”
