HOW TO
RECOGNIZE A WALI (SAINT)
Shaykh Mohammad Khushhal Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu “QSA” (May Allah sanctify his secret) related this story to his disciples to explain the signs of a wali (saint).
A man who wanted to see miracles (karamat) went to Imam Junaid Baghdadi QSA, and requested to be his servant. The Imam agreed and the man served him for many years, but did not see any miracles (karamat). When it was time for the man to go back to his town, he told Imam Junaid Baghdadi QSA that he was very sad because he had served for all these years with the intention of witnessing a miracle (karamat), but he did not see anything.
Imam Junaid Baghdadi QSA asked the man if he had ever seen him do any action against the Sunnah or Shari’ah in all the years that he served him. The man said that he did not. Imam Junaid Baghdadi QSA told him that this was the real miracle.
Imam Junaid Baghdadi QSA explained to the man that if it was a miracle (karamat) to walk on water, then the fish will have more accomplishment (kamaal) as they swim on water. Similarly, if it was a miracle (karamat) to fly in air, then the birds will have more accomplishment (kamaal). The real miracle (karamat) is when a person has made his state to be in complete obedience to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’la and has dedicated his life to the service of Sayyidina Rasūlullāh ﷺ. Everything else is fraud and useless.
Shaykh Mohammad Khushhal QSA would add that if a person wants to see miracles (karamat), he should go to a magician. He explained that a miracle (karamat) can only be done with the will of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’la. He advised that a person should instead, look to see how much God consciousness (Taqwa) and how much love of Sayyidina Rasūlullāh ﷺ that is in a person, as these are some of the real signs of a wali (saint).
O’Lord for the sake of Shaykh Rahimuddin and Shaykh Abu Bakr Shibli,
Bestow your grace on me for the sake of our master, Imam Junaid Baghdadi
Shah Rahimuddin O Shah Abu Bakr O Shibli Ka Tufail,
Fazal Kar Hazrat Junaid E Peshwa Ke Wasthey
O’Lord strengthen me with patience and perseverance,
and never let my hands slip from my connection to Hazrat Khushhal QSA
Sabr o Istiqlal Se Hum Sab Ko Thu Mazbooth Rakh,
Ya Ilahi Haath Se Choote Na Damaan E Khushhal
Silsila-e-Aaliya, Khushhaliya !
(Ref: Tazkira Hazrat Syed Nooruddin Mubarak Ghaznavi, pg. 51)