al-Mohasebi
The account given by Attar of al-Mohasebi, one of the greatest figures in the history of Islamic mysticism is surprisingly jejune. Born in Basra in 165 (781), Abu Abd Allah al-Hareth ibn Asad al- Basri al-Mohasechi early in his life removed to Baghdad where he studied Traditions and theolo- gy and was closely involved with the leading per- sonalities and prominent events of his times. He died in 243(857). The influence of his teachings and writings upon later mystical theorists, includ- ing in particular Abu Hamed al-Ghazali, was pro- found and far-reaching. Many of his books and pamphlets have been preserved, the most impor tant being the Ketab al-Reaya (edited by Dr. Margaret Smith, London, 1940),
The austerity of Hareth-e Mohasebi
Hareth-e Mohasebi inherited thirty thousand dinars from his father
"Take it to the Treasury, Let the authorities have it," he ordered.
"Why?" they asked.
"The Prophet said," he explained, "and it is a true Tradition that the Qadarites are the Magians of this
commaniry. My father was a Qadarite. The Prophet also said that a Muslim cannot inherit from a Magian. My father was a Magian, as you ser, and I am a Muslim,"
God's providence in preserving him was such that, when he stretched out his hand towards food whose lawfulness was doubtful, a nerve in the back of his fin ger became tant so that the finger did not obey the command to move. Thus he knew that the morsel in question was not proper,
"Hareth came to me one day and was visibly hun gry, reported Jonaid, "Uncle, I will bring some food," I said. That would be welcome, he answered. So 1 went to the larder and looked for some food. I found some remains of a wedding-feast which had been brought to us for supper. I brought this a offered it to him. His finger would not obey him. He put morsel in question was not proper.
"Hareth came to me one day and was visibly hun- gry, reported Jonaid, " "Uncle, I will bring some food,' I said. That would be welcome, he answered. So 1 went to the larder and looked for some food. I found some remains of a wedding-feast which had been brought to us for supper. I brought this a offered it to him. His finger would not obey him. He put morsel in his mouth, but despite all his efforts it would not down. He turned it about in his mouth, then at last he got and put it out in the porch and took his departure.
"Later I questioned him about what had happened. Hareth said, 1 was certainly hungry, and I wanted to please you. But God has given me a special sign, that any food that is doubtful will not go down my threat and my finger refuses to touch it. For all that I tried, it would not go down. Where did that, food come from?" 'From the house of a kinsman of mine, replied.
"Then I said, "Today will you come to my house?" 1 will, he replied. So we entered, and fetched a piece of dry bread, and we ate. Hareth remarked, "This is the kind of thing to offer dervishes."