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The figure said to have been the first spiritual guide of Ahmad Yasawi, founder of the Yasawiyya order. In the Yasawi legends he is remembered as the one who, centuries later, delivered to Yasawi the date that had been entrusted by the Prophet. Some sources record his name as Baba Arslan, Arslan Baba or Arab Arslan Baba.
The dates of his birth and death are unknown. According to the Yasawi legends he was of black race, one of the great Companions, and lived 400 or 700 years.
According to the legend, many centuries later he found the newly orphaned seven-year-old Ahmad Yasawi in the town of Sayram in Turkistan and delivered the trust to him; by some accounts he also clothed him in a cloak given by the Prophet. He taught Yasawi the thousand-and-one remembrances, announced that he would shortly die, and ordered him to lead his funeral prayer. Following his last indication, Ahmad Yasawi went to Bukhara and continued his training under Shaykh Yusuf al-Hamadani.
The source states that this information is wholly legendary, while allowing that Arslan Baba may nonetheless have been a real historical person. Fuad Köprülü suggests that he may have been the brother of Shaykh Ibrahim, father of Ahmad Yasawi.
His Circle of Influence — All sources agree that Mansur Ata, chief deputy of Ahmad Yasawi, was the son of Arslan Baba. Besides Yasawi he is recorded to have trained a man named Sufi Muhammad Danishmand. Hasan Nisari, author of the Mudhakkir-i ahbab, and Hazini, who wrote several valuable works on the Naqshbandiyya and the Yasawiyya, also claimed descent from Arslan Baba.
His Tomb and Complex — Where he is buried is not known for certain. Some sources say he lies at Otrar, others in the tomb of Ahmad Yasawi at Yasi (Turkistan); by another account the Arslan Baba Tomb in the Bazar-Korgon district near the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan is his. The source records that the site of this tomb, demolished in 1964 by order of the Kazakh Communist Party, is still visited by the people today.
Miracles
The following are accounts that appear in the source as TRANSMITTED reports; the Atlas records them not as "this is what happened" but as "this is what the sources relate".
The entrusted date — According to the Yasawi legends, in two separate versions, the Companions grew hungry either during a campaign or at a gathering in Arslan Baba's house. Through the Prophet's prayer Gabriel brought a plate of dates from Paradise. When one date fell to the ground Gabriel said it was the portion of Ahmad Yasawi, who would be born in the future. The Prophet asked his Companions, "Who will carry this date to Yasawi?"; Arslan Baba volunteered for the task and the Prophet placed the date in his mouth. Many centuries later Arslan Baba found the orphaned seven-year-old Ahmad Yasawi at Sayram and delivered the trust. (Source: TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam, ARSLAN BABA, vol. 3)
A shroud of silk — In the same legend, Arslan Baba announced his approaching death and ordered Yasawi to lead his funeral prayer; the houris came to assist Yasawi, cut a shroud of silk for Arslan Baba, and carried him to Paradise. (Source: TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam, ARSLAN BABA, vol. 3)
Differing Scholarly Views
The site of his grave — The source lists three possibilities and treats none as certain: Otrar; the tomb of Ahmad Yasawi at Yasi (Turkistan); and the Arslan Baba Tomb at Bazar-Korgon near Osh in Kyrgyzstan. The Atlas's marker is at Otrar, which is only one of the three possibilities the source names; the Atlas goes no further than the source on the location of the grave.
His historical identity — The source says that what is told of him is wholly legendary, yet allows that he may have been a real historical person. Fuad Köprülü proposes that he may have been the brother of Shaykh Ibrahim, father of Ahmad Yasawi. The Atlas does not choose between the two.
His name and lifespan — The sources record his name as Baba Arslan, Arslan Baba and Arab Arslan Baba. The legends say he was a Companion and lived 400 or 700 years; the Atlas conveys these spans as legend.
Sources
- TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (DİA) — Hamid Algar · vol. 3, p. 400, entry “ARSLAN BABA”
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Permanent ID: EA-Z-000359 · this address reaches the same record even if its name changes; use it when citing.
External records: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam article