Rabia al-Adawiyya (c. 716–801 CE), also known as Rabia al- Basri, is one of the best-known saints in Islam. Rabia is considered by some to be the first prominent female Sufi saint. Rabia al-Adawiyya has been called "the Foundress of Early Islamic mysticism." Rabia introduced the idea that purity of heart means loving God for His own sake, above all else. Rabia remains one of the most popular saints in the Muslim world, over 1200 years after her passing.

A Life Marked by Hardship and Faith

Rabia was born into a poor family in Basra, now part of Iraq. Legend has it that she was orphaned early in life and sold into slavery during a famine/social unrest. She grew up with a highly developed spiritual awareness that eventually led to her being known as perhaps the greatest of her generation spiritually.

According to traditional accounts, Rabia's master was deeply moved by her spirituality and eventually set her free. After gaining her freedom, Rabia lived a life of solitude, prayer, and meditation. Some traditions claim she never married (as was common in her era) and devoted her life to God by seeking Truth. This was because she remained celibate, devoting herself to God.

The Doctrine of Divine Love

Rabia's greatest gift to Islam is believed to be the concept of Divine Love. In Rabia's time, much focus was placed on fulfilling God's commandments out of fear of punishment in Hell or hope of reward in Paradise. Rabia taught that believers should worship Allah purely out of love for Him.

She was quoted as saying:

"O Allah! If I worship You in fear of Hell, then destroy me in Hell. If I worship You in hope of Paradise, then exclude me from Paradise. But if I worship You for Yourself alone, withhold not from me your eternal beauty."

In this one prayer, Rabia brought forth a new spiritual ideal - to love God for who He is rather than for what He can give us.

A Revolutionary Spiritual Vision

Possibly the most famous legend surrounding Rabia is the one in which she walked through the streets of Basra with a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. Asked what she was going to do, she answered that she was going to set Paradise on fire and quench the fires of Hell so that people would worship their God neither for reward nor from fear of punishment.

Whether this episode ever happened or not, it certainly summarizes her thoughts. Rabia wanted piety cleansed of self-interest and uplifted through love for Allah. Rabia challenged seekers to give themselves over entirely to the love of God, bringing ethical and mystical implications that would influence later Sufi doctrine.

Scholar, Teacher, and Spiritual Guide

In addition to being an ascetic mystic, Rabia was viewed as a scholar and sage whose moral teachings earned her the attention of many of the great scholars and religious figures of her day. Renowned scholars such as the famed jurist-theologian Sufyan al-Thawri were said to have been among the seekers who consulted Rabia and deferred to her exceptional spiritual authority.

It is particularly remarkable that Rabia reached this stature at a time when only men were publicly religious leaders. Because of her wisdom, devoutness, and spiritual understanding, Rabia became a leader in the first few hundred years of Islam.

Enduring Legacy

Rabia composed no treatises or letters on spirituality; her knowledge was transmitted orally and through written biographies of her life. Persian poet and Muslim mystic Farid al-Deen Attar contributed to the writing of Rabia's life story, preserving it for future generations in his book of biographies of Muslim saints and mystics.

From Mystic Hidden Pictures.

Rabia al-Adawiyya is remembered today as one of Islam's most popular saints. She stands as the founding pillar of Sufism and as an example to Muslims worldwide of love and devotion to God. Her wisdom cuts across cultures and countries. She teaches that the only reason we should love God is that He is love. She reminds us that our relationship with Allah should not be rooted in fear of Hell or desire for Paradise but should exist because of our love for Him above all else.

In our uncertain times, Rabia's wisdom teaches us about sincerity in faith, compassion towards others, and true love for Allah.