Ma'ruf al-Karkhi

One of the founding names of early Baghdad Sufism.

His full name was Abu'l-Mahfûz Ma'rûf b. Fîrûzân al-Karkhî. He was born in the Karkh quarter of Baghdad.

His family was not Muslim. In his childhood he was placed with a Christian tutor; when he would not accept the doctrine of the trinity he ran away and remained for years apart from his family. In the end he met 'Alî al-Ridâ and became a Muslim at his hand; thereafter his parents too entered his religion.

He was affected by the preaching of Abu'l-'Abbâs Ibn al-Sammâk; he served as doorkeeper to 'Alî al-Ridâ, and kept company with Sufis of the first generation such as Dâwûd al-Tâ'î.

He defines Sufism thus: to take hold of the realities and to give up hope of what is in the hands of people. His emphasis that divine love is not something obtained by learning but a grace from God markedly influenced later Sufism.

He died in the year 200 (815-816).

His Circle of Influence — His most famous student was al-Sarî al-Saqatî; and among al-Sarî's students was al-Junayd al-Baghdâdî. Many orders, among them the Qâdiriyya, the Naqshbandiyya and the Mawlawiyya, pass their chains of transmission through him.

His Tomb and Complex — His grave is in the Karkh quarter of Baghdad and has become a place of visitation; the early sources transmit the saying "the grave of Ma'rûf is a tried remedy".