Al-Shushtari: Sufi Poet of the People

As we continue our series on some of the less known (and sometimes controversial) Sufis of the Middle Ages, we reach the Andalusian poet Abu-l Hasan al-Shushtari. He was a student of Ibn Sab'in but is also famous as a master-poet and Sufi master in his own right.
Sources/Suggested Reading:
Alvarez, Lourdes Maria (2009). "Abu-l Hasan al-Shushtari: Songs of Love and Devotion". In the "Classics of Western Spirituality" series. Paulist Press.
Alvarez, Lourdes Maria (2005). "The Mystical Language of Everyday Life": Vernacular Sufi Poetry and the Songs of Abu Al-Hasan Al-Shustari". Exemplaria. 17:1, 1-32, DOI: 10.1179/exm.2005.17.1.1.
Johnson. N. Scott (1995). "Ocean and Pearls: Ibn Sab'in, Shustari and the Doctrine of Absolute Unity". In "Sufi: Journal of Sufism" Issue 25.
#Andalusia #Poetry #Sufism

[@bambajirekla6820]

Your videos are being a source of motivation for me, particularly in the divinity world. As a Muslim and lover of people of Tareeqah I love you for the seek of Allah. May the Almighty reward the highest position of Janah as well as travel you with those he love.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Wonderful analysis on a figure I knew very little about. Thanks for making his works and life accessible! Glad you are back to producing content! Would love a treatment of Al-Hallaj and Rabia and women sufis in general. One thing I look on with some sadness is the dirth of women mystics/philosophers in the Jewish world at this time and that they existed in the Islamicate (and Christian) context makes me exciting to learning more about them. Also, glad to help with the lens - the world is a better place when we help each other amplifier each others voices!

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Rabia is so interesting, and a lot of the earliest Sufis were actually women, even if their names don't always survive. Obviously, medieval Christian mysticism was almost dominated by women. I want to do videos on some of them too! Is there a lack of female philosophers/mystics in the Jewish world (at this time)? Or are they simply not talked about?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

@@LetsTalkReligion To my knowledge there is a real lack. Of course, they are there in the background as wives, mothers, sisters, etc., and are doing the work that society to this day still renders invisible but sadly I don't think anything survives from a woman's hand on this topic from the medieval period if it ever existed.

[@mateuszgrzesiak7082]

Hey, I've been a subscriber for some time now, and I really appreciate the effort you put into these videos. Thanks for bringing us the jewels of Sufi philosophy, I am looking forward to see the next video!

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I appreciate that a lot :)

[@majmulBahrain67]

incredible work!, you've done a great job on covering the western Arab Sufis who barely get any attention.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Glad to hear it! :)

[@Straightforwardpk]

I drink wine from the goblet and from myself, I come closer to myself In myself it is my self I love ~al-shushtari

[@timelordofinfinitehugs8933]

I am honestly touched by your words on this incredible man and your selection of his work has brought me to tears. Thank you.

[@kidscribbles210]

what a great channel, I had almost entirely forgot about Al-Shustari, what a great sufi, what a great saint.

[@syndrome3215]

Your vidoes are perfect! the only issue I have with this one is that it's talking about arabic poems but is showing persian poems usually. Nonetheless you are my aboslute favorite channel and I'm looking forward to more of your content every day!

[@aaroseha]

What a blessing! I discovered Omar Metioui's rendition of Al-Shushtari's songs and was so struck by the beautiful composition. Wanted to learn more about the man behind the words, and it led me to your wonderful exposé. Thank you so much for helping me understand this great Imam and his place in the history of the Muslim West. I so vibe with his “Sufism for the people” inclusive approach. And the translations of his poems left me awestruck - almost indistinguishable from Coleman Barks' translations of Rumi's verses! God bless you for teaching us all. I'll be sure to support you in your endeavors when I have more means, God Willing!

[@abidaaziz]

Beautiful , what an introduction I have heard about Alshustary for the first time. He reminded me of Yunus Emre from Turkey. It would be lovely to see a video on Yunus Emre and a bit of a comparison among the two

[@mohamedhamadalqubaisi5188]

I love your channel and how you introduce these complicated topic in simple beautiful way. You mention that the shushtari introduce the zajel in sofi poem and I want to introduce you to one of his famous zajel which was sang by current Bahraini singer in marvelous way cuz Andalusian Arabic is close to gulf and yamani dialict. We use to listen to it as a romantic song when we are young and lately know that is a sophic poem parsing Allah. I will attach you the link of the song in the next comment🌹

[@nadjiguemarful]

I've always seen things in life as correlating with my states of mind, and since I was a child I noticed the feeling of my centrality in the world. Im Algerian too but I was never explicitly raised as a Sufi, just a regular Sunni Muslim but my father believed that toil towards the most excellent things, the creation of art and so on as forms of worship, and always taught my that all things are expressions of Gods essence.. And I guess Ive been a Sufi all my life without knowing it, this is the case with so many Algerians too

[@moby786]

You have so many sufis on your doorstep. You have Al Gawth Abu Madyan in Telemcen. Then you have Shaykh Al Hashimi al Shadhili as well as Shaykh Ahmed Al Alawi. As a Shadhili myself I would love to visit Algeria to gain barakah from their resting places.

[@nadjiguemarful]

@@moby786 In Wahran I was in my grandmothers Tareeka and her Shaykh said to my Mum that I was a big Soul and she started treating me way better lool.. The only problem I have is the institutionalized nature of it now, I like Abd Al-Qadir's writing because he believed in Chaos and a persons ability to jump over all of humanity and go straight to Allah swt without any help.. Even though he did believe in the institutions for the average man.. But sometimes the Shaykhs I see on youtube look like they're more about the ego and followers.. But I will look into the ones you mentioned! Thank you and Ramadan Kareem in advance

[@abdalhaqqasswiri6112]

Asalamu alaikum khoya, I'm moroccan and i understand you completely. We north Africans especially mgharabiyin we don't realize that the heart of our faith is tasawwuf. In every movement we take we exalt Allah explicitly and covertly. Look at our music, not just gnawa or diwan, and not just explicit expressions with andaloussia music or qasidas, but things like chaabi, ahwach.. And of course the more recent ghiwane style... All of them are based around sufi poetry pretty clearly. Not just this of course and I'd argue that in all the Islamic world the core of the 99% faith is massively influenced by tasawwuf, but the thing is, we are often blind to it in North Africa. We know who people like abu Madyan... Sidi Bouchaib... Tjani... Sidi abderrahmane medjoub... Lalla zaynab, fatma n'soumer etc Moulay abdelkader and literally thousands of these noble people are by name, but we don't know what they really did. We forget the very hidden treasure we sit up upon akhi. And what's sad is some between us decide to follow munafiqun and think for them being Arab they are better. And these are the ones who are most destructive, you know who they are I will not name them... But they want to destroy us just like hadith of nejd says. I remember the brave sufiyin of kabyle, the tariqa rahmaniya and their strong hearts during l7arb. And the institutionalization is true. Unfortunately our corrupt mkhzen uses some sufi tariqas now to try and combat al munafiqun whom they once supported and whom they've political relations with you know these said countries (whom the west created of course) and via this well they limit what tasawwuf really is. Alhamdulillah though because it's good that in some areas said institutionalization hasn't really happened. Especially in l3irobiya and in areas of west Africa... And really all over but just outside of the big areas... Regardless, look wherever we look, there is Allah's face, and sadati represent and show us the true meaning of some of his names. I pray to find a tariqa one day insha'allah, rather that allah show me one and a sheikh. Kulchi b sabr. Allah yhafd dz, blad sadati dyal bssa7... Lhaqiqa fuq mn lfronteirs li daro lcolonialistes.... Al Haqq f al qalb lfuqara ya khoya. I also critique cherifism as well because it places too much énfasis on the blood and not the heart itself.. (not that cherifs like moulay abdelkader are bad absolutely not rather that lfuqaha wa al Ghaniyin well they use cherifism to legitimate their rule... Ghir kayn Wahd Malik liya...) allah yhafd dz u lfuqara u lmuslimiyin... Bghit nmchi Bladek insha'allah... 7na wahda 3aliya... Allah yhafdek u lwaliydin

[@nadjiguemarful]

@@abdalhaqqasswiri6112 I like everything you said btw I am Qbayli and I love all the great Morrocan noble people who contributed so much to our regions spiritual excellence as well as the Maliki Fiqh and so on.. I agree about how some Tariqas became Political, also many became scared of Wahabis and diluted themselves.. In qbayliia there was a lot of resistance like constontine etc.. If you look at Tebboune the new president, he leaves many hints that he is embracing the older traditions like he had Abdal Qadir Jilanis book on his desk, behind him a portrait of Abd Al Qadir Al Djazairi during an interview.. But these Wahabis have brainwashed a whole generation so we have much work to do to remove this subversion which was aided greatly by the British Zionists

[@abdalhaqqasswiri6112]

Absolutely akhi. We have people fighting over these stupid frontiers, Homa qsmouna lfransiyin with the help of the dynasties and elites who sold their souls for money and power. Al haqiqa isn't in wahabism or in modern politics, or in physical power, it's in the heart. I say alhamdulillah because Allah has given us many brilliant men and women across our world who encompassed many truths by Allah following the path set out by nabina (SAW). From lalla zaynab to abdelkader al jazairi to obviously the greatest of the great sheikh of older times like ibn arabi al muhiydin and the great founders of tariqa orders all over... And let us remember ar rahma Allah f kulchi 7it loujh Allah f kulchi, that's why we find wise men and women of all origins who Allah' made to listen to their hearts.... And follow the Muhammad path of the heart. And yup akhi, the western empires created dangerous ideologies like Wahabis Zionists and salafies on top of paying off our corrupt political leaders like the alawi dynasty to create chaos. They are agents of chaos. And especially regarding the wahabis homa al qurnayn al shaytan. (hadith najd). And let us be clear, u have no issue with lya7ud, my grandmother Allah' yrhamha knew many and in many travels I've met many moroccan ones, good decent people, ahl al kitab, but those who support governments of evil and terrorism (whomever they are) like the Israeli or Saudi governments are people who embrace hate. And let's be clear ana mgharbi welakin there's always been a link between lmkhzen mghrebi (7it Homa schfarin) and the Israeli government... Same with Saudi and wahabis... And even the Khomeinists.. Because they're all ideologies financed by the west.. Allah Y3wna mnhom. Insha'allah Allah yhafdna dima, kul faqir wa mslim f kul blasa. Allah yhafdek wa al waliydin. ❤️

[@maryamcheema8427]

You're providing a valuable service to Muslims! It's intriguing that even among our own Muslim scholars, the intricate historical context you're sharing here might not be well-known. The Mu'tazila perspective appears reasonable to me, particularly in a time when we seem to lack comprehensive solutions to the challenges facing Muslims today.

[@mazyar_]

Excellent introduction. Judging from his name and his association with Suhrawardi one can make the conjecture that Al-Shushtari was Persian in origin, as the old city of Shushtar is located in Iran. I hope you'll make a video on the Shaikh al-ʿIshraq Suhrawardi too.

[@dd615]

Ulema and Fuqaha don’t have the EYE of Sufi there is difference between Zahir and Batin. Don’t know how Mystical Arabic poem sound but Persian poems for instant of Mavlana Rumi will elevate your Soul towards the MOST HIGH.

[@hassanraza-tu8nw]

Great work! Please do a video on Al Ghazali also.

[@datodrali3998]

An excellent work Sidi..👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼💞💖

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Thank you! :)

[@azlanameer4912]

Uffffff What the man Al Shustri was and equally a blasting introduction. If u ever come to Pakistan ... u would find Al Shustri's match in BULHE SHAH and MADO LAL HUSAIN. There poetry is in Punjabi language. The both were anti norms. Stay blessed for introducing BULHE SHAH of North Africa.😍😍😍

[@amyl1715]

Wonderful

[@naradaian]

Woah! Gracias

[@kidscribbles210]

These are so wonderful, could you consider a video on the importance of the "people of the bench".

[@jubairuddinarman6691]

This channel deserves to get more subscribers & views. Could you please make a video on how modern day Bangladesh became a Islamic one?

[@mohammadrahal5394]

Does anyone else see a relation between Ibn 'Arabi > Ibn Saba'in > Al-Shushtari Socrates > Plato > Aristotle Lao Zi > Zhuangzi > Lie Yukou or is it just me ?

[@Mahmood42978]

Now this, is good.

[@mansoorvakili5077]

Thanks!

[@Zillur-Rahman]

♥

[@OAbdoun1394]

As alway great video. Just sub’d to your patreon

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Wow, thank you so much! :)

[@salmantabatabai]

Thanks so much for the informative video. I have a suggestion: I think it would be great if you also talk briefly about the names and meanings of the names of the people you talk about. For example, here Al-Shushtari is from Andalusia, but his name comes from the city of Shushtar (in current Iran and where there is the tomb of the prophet Daniel). It would be nice to know why he had such a name, as people used to have the name of their native place of birth or living in their names.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I talk about this in my more recent remake of this video. He was called Shushtari because the village he was from in Spain was also called Shushtar.

[@salmantabatabai]

@@LetsTalkReligion Thanks! That's interesting 🙏

[@naseemperez-bouktab4853]

Great video allah yhafdek can you make video on sufism in Maghreb? Thanks you

[@LetsTalkReligion]

This video kind of is about Sufism in the Maghrib? :) But I will do more!

[@beny43]

as salem aleykum , i like your videos , can you make one about Abu madyan ? may ALLAH bless you

[@badrbenali7279]

Excellent video, Can you make contents about the Sufi branches in the world like budchichiya, tijaniya ect...

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I'll be talking about them more in the future :)

[@alimirzamani979]

I am guessing that Al-Shushtari was either Persian, or came from Persia. I guess that because of his name Shushtari. Sushtar is a province in southern Iran with Arabic speaking inhabitant. Historically, many pick the surname, or part of their surname, which includes the local where they, or their ancestor lived. Also, many Persian scholars wrote in Arabic. So, I would like to see what are your thought on his background?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

No, Shushtar was also the name of the village in Spain where he grew up.

[@fire.smok3]

Interesting

[@mustafarehman1580]

I would like you to do a video of the greatest Pashtu Poet Rahman Baba, He was a Sofi and His poetry is very simple and very deep philosophically.

[@sufiboy4597]

Can you do a video about the Bektashi order, most people don’t know about it

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I will!

[@barca29np]

Could you cover sufism in north west Africa? (Morocco Algeria Tunisia Senegal Malí etc)? Thank you you do a great job

[@LetsTalkReligion]

If you're interested, I do have a 40 minute documentary on the Tijaniyya (largest Sufi order in west africa) on my channel called "Tijaniyya & Ziyara Bogal: a modern pilgrimage"

[@AbdulRehman-oy9xt]

My dear, Pls make videos on difference between vedanta and wahdat ul wajood plsssssss

[@nasirfazal2787]

Is there an Englsh translation of Shushtri poetry? Prof.Dr.Nasir Fazal

[@aplhaz.8374]

Al zahrawi was also great andalusian scholar

[@thalibrazi]

If anyone wants to hear an amazing rendition of Shushtari, here is طابَ شربُ المدامِ في الخَلوَاتْ where he writes about asking a scholar whether drinking is allowed during Hajj, the scholar mistakenly assumes he means drinking wine and tells him it's forbidden, then he says, "If only you tasted (this level of faith), you would have left this world and what you were involved in and lived wandering until the day of your death!" May Allah reward him for his good and forgive him for any mistakes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2nWZJqYo8-oacU

[@rezaghaffari6142]

Shushtar is a city in Iran. Is there any connection?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

No, in this case it refers to the village in Guadix where he was born, which is also named Shushtar.

[@justusscepticushumanus4848]

@@LetsTalkReligion Neither does the renown Shiraz /Xerez Wine with the city Shiraz in Iran ...well one wonders ... !

[@shadbakht]

I wonder if the Persian musical dastgah named after him.

[@mallemehryar9965]

And the ancient city of Shushtar. Isn't it confusing?

[@Yoosana]

@@mallemehryar9965 the city shushtar was called shushtar or susa way before islamic conquests :)

[@mallemehryar9965]

@@Yoosana it is possible when the last king of sassanid dynasty fled Iran as far as Europe for safety, music, language, names and what have you migrated with them. Just guessing. Couldn't help my surprise.

[@LaNo1955]

Shushtar is a town in Khozestan providence sought of Iran. Any idea why his name is Iranian? Thanks

[@ThePicasso65]

It is Interesting to point out that Shushtari is a Persian Name which simply means from the region or city of ancient city of Shushtar in Iran.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Not in this case, as Shushtar was also the name of a village in Andalusia where Shushtari was from.

[@chotuprija7418]

how do you do that?

[@Shihaabtm]

Please make a video on unlettered Sufi Shaykh Abdul Aziz dabbagh. There’s a book written on him called Al ibriz (pure Gold)

[@moby786]

The Moroccan one?

[@Shihaabtm]

@@moby786 Yes. Famous of all dabbagh.

[@alybudwani3011]

How do we end our existence so that only He remains and appears ?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Good question! :)

[@706easy]

I have yet to see one piece of evidence that there was a city in Spain by the name of Shushtar.

[@saraqostahterra4548]

A village rather. It was a name used in al-Andalus. Thus Spaniards would either Latinize the name or give it a new name. So, looking at current Spain has no point.

[@AliAhmed-pu8pk]

Would you mind to include Drisiyya sufi history and current status in the muslim world with your busy schedule in near future?

[@DrNickMawani]

I think the notion of I see God everywhere. Wherever I turn my face, I see the face of god. Or even he who knows himself knows God. These notions are from Hazrat Ali the cousin and son in law of the Holy Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).

[@samdis1890]

Its from the quran

[@shekebramzi3093]

Faqeer in the language of sufism has a different meaning. When calls bimself faqeer thats because he feels the poverty of being and who is always in need of Gods reflection.

[@irajyaghootifam3635]

Al shustary , is another persian Sufi That is written in Arabic.😢shuster is a city in south of Iran in province of AHVAZ .

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Nope. The name comes from the village in Spain that he was from. It was named Shushtar because the original settlers came from the Iranian city of the same name.

[@Beginnerarttutorials]

Reminds me of the Indian mystic Kabir

[@shadbakht]

Do you think Ibn Al Arabi and Al Ghazali were influenced at all by Shi’a and Hadith from the Imams?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Not directly, but Ibn Arabi had certainly adopted ideas that had origins in the Ikhwan al-safa, who were shia.

[@nasirfazal2787]

You have no accent while speaking Arabic words?

[@dd615]

The issue I want to rise is difference between Intellect and Reason those are two separate faculties Reason is sublime faculty of Brain, Intellect is a Sublime faculty of the Heart in many poems I see wrong translation of Rumi poems where they refer Reason to Intellect. The Intellect is Guide and Reciever of Theophanies while Reason Guide that Enriches the Soul to the Path of its Creator through Knowladge of its creation.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

It is interesting that the arabic word "aql", which is usually translated as "intellect", arguably means something closer to "consciousness" (not just as passive awareness but the full conscious experience). This is of course in line with the classic Neoplatonic understanding of "Intellect" but not so much with the modern conception. Reason becomes a faculty of intellect, but not the same thing.

[@dd615]

INTELLECT is EYE that SEES GOD

[@chishti_nizami]

Love your content, waiting something on ameer khusrau and chishti sufis

[@LetsTalkReligion]

That's a subject that is definitely on my list :)

[@chishti_nizami]

Ill be glad to help

[@nadeembux1556]

Ibn al Arabi forbidden book ?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

How do you mean?

[@kidscribbles210]

@@LetsTalkReligion Many Current Salafi Shiekhs forbide the reading of Ibn-Arabi, and even some sufi orders do not want Murids reading him unless they are very advanced.

[@leamubiu]

wait... he drank wine? When did the ban on alcohol in Islam occur then?

[@taleenbright563]

Ut was but its nt in law to prevent pple to drink alcohol so if we want to drink you can .. still that in most arabian countries

[@leamubiu]

@@taleenbright563 Thank you for your kind reply :)

[@taleenbright563]

@@leamubiu you are welcome ☺️ im arabian and muslim so any question i ll answer it happily ❤️

[@quality6823]

شوشتر شهری در ایران. ایران سرزمین تنوع و زیبایی. چشم بدخواهان اش شور!

[@asgerhashim3913]

His name sounds persian.

[@MrChelseaboy25]

Lol but let’s be honest everyone has a tough time understanding Moroccans and Algerians, rest of Arabs can more or less understand each other

[@saraqostahterra4548]

Because Algerians and Moroccans are Moors. Not Arabs. Although they have been influenced by Arabs.