5 - The renunciant Bishr al-Ḥāfī

Summary

I cannot recall ever staying up all night, nor fasting for a day without eating in the evening. But God Almighty in His grace and generosity has people give a believer more credit than he deserves.

Bishr b. al-Ḥārith al-Ḥāfī, apud al-Qushayrī

Introduction

Among the virtues ascribed to the Prophet and the early Muslim community was ascetic renunciation. According to a Ḥadīth cited in Ibn Ḥanbal's Kitāb al-zuhd, a believer is entitled to nothing more than shade from the sun, a crust of bread, and a garment to cover his nakedness. According to another Ḥadīth, a man once interrupted the Friday prayer to complain to the Prophet about eating only dates and wearing only rough cotton. “There will come a day,” Muḥammad replied, “when you will wear garments like the drapery of the Kaʿba, with platters of food appearing before you day and night.” However, he continued, “you are better of now than you will be then, because on that day you will be at each other's throats.” When the Prophet died, he reportedly left no property in cash or slaves, only his armor, which he had pawned for thirty measures of grain.