Bishr ibn al-Harith al-Hafi, known as Bishr Hafi, was a renowned Sufi saint and poet in the 9th century, born in Kufa, Iraq. His life underwent a profound transformation when he experienced remorse while intoxicated, leading him to renounce worldly pleasures and embrace Sufism wholeheartedly. Bishr Hafi lived a life of extreme asceticism and piety, wearing simple clothing, living in poverty, and prioritizing inner purity over outward displays of religiosity. He emphasized repentance, humility, and sincerity in spiritual practice and believed in the importance of the heart’s devotion to God. Despite his austere lifestyle, Bishr Hafi was highly respected for his wisdom and piety. His poetry, expressing deep love and devotion to God, remains influential. Bishr Hafi’s legacy continues to inspire Sufis and spiritual seekers, and his tomb in Baghdad, Iraq, remains a revered pilgrimage site for those seeking spiritual guidance.
Bishr Hafi Quotes
01. “If speaking pleases you, be silent! If silence pleases you, speak!”
— Bishr Hafi
02. “Unless the servant erects an iron wall around his baser self, he cannot taste the relish of his worship.”
— Bishr Hafi
03. “He who is inclined to worldly allurements is deprived of the blessings of the celestial abode.”
— Bishr Hafi
04. “He who wants to taste the sweetness of his adoration must keep his thoughts purified.”
— Bishr Hafi
05. “I would never like to sit in the company of the worldlings, nor did they like to sit in my companionship.”
— Bishr Hafi
06. “On a very cold day, someone saw him shivering by having taken off his robes, and asked Bishr Hafi, ‘Why are you wearing so few?’ He replied, ‘I remember the poor and their state, and I have nothing to give them. So, I wanted to suffer the cold as they do.'”
— Bishr Hafi
07. “Only the people of Divine realization are His chosen servants. These are the best souls whom nobody knows except God, nor anyone respects them.”
— Bishr Hafi
08. “Fear of God is a king that dwells only in the heart of a pious one.”
— Bishr Hafi
09. “The best station is that of firm belief in patience through poverty until the grave.”
— Bishr Hafi
10. “He who worships Him with the purity of intention remains fearless of the people.”
— Bishr Hafi
11. “God hasn’t given to mankind a more gracious gift than patience and gnosis (Marifat).”
— Bishr Hafi
12. “Renunciation is a king who does not dwell anywhere but in an emptied heart.”
— Bishr Hafi
13. “Water as long as it flows, remains clean; when it stagnates, it gets dirty and turns into mud.”
— Bishr Hafi
14. “Contentment recompenses respect in the world. To think that people should hold us exalted is just inclination toward temporal love.”
— Bishr Hafi
15. “Sorrow is a king who, when he dwells in a place, does not consent to have anyone dwell there with him.”
— Bishr Hafi
16. “He who desires worldly honor must avoid three things: To express one’s need to the created beings; to search sins of others; to accompany with the guest of others.”
— Bishr Hafi
17. “Three jobs are very difficult to perform:
(1) generosity in poverty;
(2) truthfulness in the state of fear;
(3) piety in solitude.”
— Bishr Hafi
