2.4.2.1 - Some of His Qualities

The Greatest Shaykh says in the Holy Spirit about his Shaykh Abu Yaqoub, may Allah be pleased with him, that he accompanied Abu Madyan, may Allah be pleased with him, and he lived in Egypt for a period of time and was married in the city of Alexandria. He was offered the principality of Fez, but he refused. He has a well established comprehension in the Way, and Shaykh Abu Madyan, may Allah be pleased with him, used to describe him as the strong anchor for the ship. He used to perform many prayers, hiding his charity, honoring the poor while humiliating the rich, and always rushing to fulfill the need of the poor people by himself.

In the Holy Spirit, he adds: This Shaykh’s virtues, powers and expertise were such as I cannot possibly enumerate here. This Shaykh of mine provided me with much instruction concerning the matter of spiritual Union, expounded according to the following sayings: I am the chief of the sons of Adam; Adam and those that come after him are under my banner ; Direction is the half of livelihood; When God loves His servant He tries him ; The heart of the Quran is the chapter “Yaasiin”. None other in our land knew more than he on this matter and others which I cannot now remember, may God be pleased with him.

Shaykh Muhyiddin then adds in his description that he was a great vigilant, often by the Way of the Blaming, al-Malamiyyah who are considered the highest rank amongst the people of Allah, as we described in Chapter I, section 1.9.1. He was often seen with gloomy face, but when he sees the poor his face shines with mysteries, and he used to serve his companions by himself.

Additionally, one of the unique characters of Shaykh Yusuf was that if he assigns any job or prayer for his seekers, he would work with them equally, even when they are two or three, and he would work with everyone as they do. Shaykh Muhyiddin confirms that this is rare state amongst the educating shaykhs: It was a characteristic peculiar to this Shaykh that when he prescribed spiritual exercises for the postulant to perform, he always performed them himself, even if there were two or three of them working on different exercises. This never seemed to weary him.