9th Muharram: Urs of Shaykh Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, 4th Grandshaykh of the Golden Chain

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

The 9th of Muharram marks uroos/passing of Shaykh Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakrق.

Heق was the grandson of Abu Bakr as-Siddiqر and the 4th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain.

Grandshaykh Sharafuddinق and his successor, Grandshaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestaniق (the 38th and 39th Grandshaykhs in the Naqshbandi Golden Chain) narrated the following story:

In the year that Abu Muhammad Qasimق was to leave this world, on the third of Ramadhan, he went on pilgrimage. When he reached al-Qudayd, a common stopping place for pilgrims, God opened his vision to witness angels descending from heaven and ascending in countless numbers. They would come down, visit the place, then return above. These angels were carrying blessings sent by God, and it was as though that light and spiritual power was poured directly into his heart, filling it with sincerity and deep God-consciousness.

As this vision unfolded, he fell asleep. In his dream, he saw Abu Bakr as-Siddiqر  coming to him. He asked, “O my grandfather, who are these heavenly beings, descending and ascending, who have filled my heart with this awareness of God?”

Abu Bakr as-Siddiqر  replied, “The angels you see have been assigned to your grave. They visit it constantly, drawing blessings from the earth where your body will rest. In reverence to you, God ordered them to descend and seek blessings for you. O my grandson, do not be heedless of your death. It is near, and you are going to be raised to the Divine Presence and depart from this world.”

Qasimق  opened his eyes and saw his grandfather before him. He said, “I just saw you in a dream.” Abu Bakrر  answered, “Yes, I was ordered to meet you.” Qasimق  said, “Then I am going to leave this world.” His grandfather confirmed, “Yes, you will leave the world and join us in the hereafter.”

Qasimق  then asked, “What deed should I focus on in the last moments of my life?” Abu Bakrر advised, “O my son, keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of God and keep your heart present with it. That is the greatest thing you can achieve in this world.”

Abu Bakrر then disappeared. Qasimق  began engaging in dhikr with his tongue and heart. He continued his journey to Makkah and stood at Mount Arafat on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. That year, many saints, both men and women, were spiritually present there, and Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abu Bakr as-Siddiqق  met with them.

While they were standing, they heard the Plain of Arafat and its mountain crying mournfully. They asked, “Why are you crying like this?” The mountain replied, “I and all the angels are crying because today the earth will lose one of its pillars.”

They asked, “Who is this pillar the earth is losing?” The mountain answered, “Abu Muhammad Qasimق  is leaving the world. The earth will no longer be honored by his steps. I will no longer see him on my plain, and I will miss him. That is why I cry. Not only me, but his grandfather Muhammad ﷺ, his grandfather Abu Bakrر, his grandfather Aliر, and the whole world is crying. They say the death of a scholar is the death of the world.”

At that moment, the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr as-Siddiqر were spiritually present at Arafat and were crying. The Prophet ﷺ said, “With the death of Qasimق, great corruption will appear on earth. He was one of the pillars that held it back.”

This kind of mourning from Mount Arafat had only occurred at the passing of the Prophet ﷺ, then Abu Bakrر, then Salman al-Farsiر, and now Qasimق. One of the saints, Rabi‘a al-‘Adawiyyaر, met Qasimق  in the spiritual assembly of saints.

Qasimق  said, “Every living and dry thing, I heard them crying. Why, O Rabi‘a, did this happen? I have never heard such crying before. Do you know the reason?” She replied, “O Abu Muhammadق, I too could not discern it. You must ask your grandfather, Abu Bakrر.”

Abu Bakrر appeared spiritually and said, “The crying across the earth is because you are leaving this world, as I told you during your pilgrimage.” Then Qasimق  raised his hands and prayed, “Since I am now departing this life, forgive whoever stood with me on Mount Arafat.”

They then heard a voice say, “For your sake, God has forgiven all who stood with you on Arafat during this Hajj.” At that moment, God revealed to Qasim’sق  heart unlimited spiritual knowledge.

He departed from Arafat and said, “O Mount Arafat, do not forget me on Judgment Day. All saints and prophets stood here. I ask you not to forget me.” The mountain replied in a loud voice that all could hear, “O Qasimق, do not forget me on Judgment Day. Let me be part of the intercession of the Prophet ﷺ.”

Qasimق  then left Mount Arafat and reached Makkah al-Mukarrama. As he approached the Ka‘aba, he heard it crying, and the sound grew louder. Everyone could hear it. The Ka‘aba was weeping over Qasim’sق  imminent departure. It was like a flood of tears pouring from the Ka‘aba, soaking the entire area.

The Ka‘aba said, “O Qasimق , I will miss you and never see you again in this world.” It then made 500 circumambulations around him out of respect. Whenever a saint visits the Ka‘aba, it responds to their greeting by saying, Wa `alayka as-salam ya wali-Allah, “Peace be upon you, O friend of God.”

Qasimق  bid farewell to the Hajar al-Aswad, to Jannat al-Mu‘alla where Khadijat al-Kubraر, the Prophet’s ﷺ first wife, is buried, and to all of Makkah. He then travelled to al-Qudayd, between Makkah and Madinah, where on the 9th of Muharram he passed from this world. The year was 108 (or 109) AH, or 726 CE. He was seventy years old.

He passed the secret of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain to his grandson and successor, Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiqق.

Tonight, do send gifts of Surah Al-Fatiha and Yasin to our 4th Grandshaykh of the Golden Chain, Shaykh Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakrق.

With Love, Al-Fatiha.

To learn more about the month of Muharram and the day of Ashura, please click here.

Wassalam.