Over time, Sayyid Muhammad Baba Samasi began to stand out among the followers of Khwāja Azizan Ali due to his visionary and prophetic gifts. When in a state of communication with a different reality, Baba Samasi would sometimes become completely disconnected from ordinary perception. Sources claim this state often occurred while he was working in his vineyard, lasting an hour or two until he would return to his usual self.
He is credited with the saying: «A man imagines many things. He imagines that he is One. In reality, he is Many. Until he becomes One, he cannot have a proper understanding of what he truly is.»
One of the most famous instances of Sayyid Baba Samasi’s prophetic abilities was his prediction of the birth of a great Teacher who would give the order its current name – the Naqshbandi – Khwāja Muhammad Bahauddin Naqshband.
According to this well-known story, while passing through the village of Kasr-i-Hinduwan («Indian Fortress»), Baba Samasi remarked to his companions, «I sense the fragrance of the Knower (arif) in this land. Soon, a person will be born here who will give a new name to this place.» (The village was later renamed to Kasr-i-Aarifan, «Fortress of the Knowers.») When he passed through the same area some time later, Baba Samasi said again, «The fragrance has intensified, and there is no doubt that the Knower is among us.» Three days later, Khwāja Bahauddin Naqshband was born.
When the child’s grandfather asked the saint to bless the infant, Baba Samasi replied, «This will be our child; we have accepted him.» He then turned to his companions and added, «This is the very arif whose fragrance we sensed. His aroma will spread throughout the world. He will not only make this order famous with his name but will also become the Mushkil Gusha (Solver of Difficulties) for all the people of Love.» (The term Mushkil Gusha means «Resolver of Problems.») Baba then turned to Amir Kulal, his successor, and instructed him to undertake the spiritual upbringing of the child, which he faithfully carried out.
The Sufi’s Path: A Lesson in Perseverance
A Sufi Master, perceiving what ordinary people cannot and understanding dimensions of life hidden from them, may sometimes direct his disciples to perform actions that seem inexplicable. However, these actions, even against the disciple’s will, always lead to results that benefit not only the individual’s spiritual development but also the broader purpose of the Master’s work. The following instructive story, attributed to Muhammad Baba Samasi and presented in the style of a fable from Idris Shah’s collection «Tales of the Dervishes,» illustrates this principle.
Long ago, there lived a man who decided that he needed knowledge. He left his homeland and journeyed to the house of a learned scholar. Upon entering the scholar’s presence, the seeker said: — Sufi, you are a wise man. Grant me a portion of your knowledge so that I might expand it and become worthy of it, for I now feel like a mere nothing.
The Sufi responded: — I can give you knowledge, but only in exchange for something I need. Bring me a small rug. I need to give it to a person who will be able to continue our sacred work. The man went to a rug merchant. — Give me a small rug, — he said to the rug maker. — I will take it to the Sufi, who will give me knowledge in return. He needs the rug to give to the person who will continue our sacred work.
The rug maker replied: — What do I care about knowledge, Sufis, and the person who will use the rug? To make a rug, I need threads. Bring me some threads, and I will help you.
The man set out in search of someone who could provide threads. He found a spinner and asked her: — Spinner, give me some threads. I will take them to the rug maker, who will give me a rug. I will then bring the rug to the Sufi, who will provide me with knowledge.
The woman replied: — What use is it to me that you need threads? Go away with your talk of knowledge, Sufis, rug makers, and those who need rugs. I am only interested in wool! Bring me some wool, and you will get your threads.
Thus, the seeker found a shepherd and told him his story. — That’s none of my business, — said the shepherd. — You need wool to get knowledge, and I need goats to shear for wool. Bring me a goat, and you will get what you want.
The seeker then set off to find a goat seller. He soon found one and explained his predicament, to which the seller replied: — I don’t know anything about knowledge, threads, or rugs. All I know is that everyone has their own needs. Let’s talk about what I need, and if you help me with that, I will help you. Then you can think about your knowledge as much as you like.
— What do you need? — asked the seeker.
— I need a small pen for the goats, — said the seller, — because they wander off at night and cause me a lot of trouble. Build me such a pen, and I will give you a goat or even two.
So, the seeker went to a carpenter, who, upon hearing the story, said: — I can build the pen, but as for the rest, you need not burden me with the details of your affair because I am not interested in rugs, knowledge, or such matters. However, I have one secret wish, and it would be in your interest to help me fulfill it.
— What is your wish? — asked the seeker.
— I want to get married, but it seems no woman will agree to be my wife. Find me a wife, and we can continue our discussion.
The seeker then set about finding a matchmaker. When he found her and related his story, she said: — I know a young woman who dreams of marrying just the kind of carpenter you describe. She constantly thinks about him and finds no peace. It is a miracle that such a person really exists. What luck that she will hear about him from you and me! But what do I get out of this? Everyone wants what they want; people think they need something or desire something; they either imagine they need help or truly need it. But no one has yet spoken about what I need.
— What do you need? — asked the seeker.
— I want one thing, — said the woman — and it is the dream of my life. Help me achieve it, and I will do everything you ask. The only thing I desire, for I have experienced everything else, is knowledge.
— But without the rug, we cannot obtain knowledge!
— I do not know what knowledge is, but I am sure it is not a rug.
— Indeed, knowledge is not a rug, — said the seeker, striving to maintain patience, — but if we find a wife for the carpenter, he will build us the pen for the goats. The seller will give us a goat, and we will obtain wool from the shepherd. We will take it to the spinner to get threads, which we will exchange with the rug maker for a rug. Finally, with the rug in hand, we will return to the Sufi and receive the knowledge.
— Your scheme seems nonsensical to me, — the matchmaker retorted — and I will not be convinced, no matter what.
Ignoring his pleas and arguments, the matchmaker dismissed him.
The seeker, now experiencing despair for the first time in his life, lost almost all faith in people. He even doubted whether he would be able to use the knowledge if he obtained it and wondered why everyone was so self-centered. Yet, gradually, he returned to his thoughts of the rug and nothing else. One day, while wandering the streets of a trading city, he murmured to himself.
A merchant, intrigued by the murmuring, followed him to understand what he was saying. The seeker repeated, “The rug must be given to a person so they can continue our sacred work.” Hearing these words, the merchant recognized that the wanderer was no ordinary person and approached him, saying, “O wandering dervish, I do not understand your prayer, but I deeply respect those who walk the path of truth. I ask for your help, as I know that those on the Sufi path have a special mission in society. Show compassion for me.”
The seeker looked up and saw the merchant’s face etched with deep sorrow.
— You are undoubtedly suffering from some grief, but I have nothing to offer. I cannot even obtain a few threads for myself, but tell me of your sorrow, and I will try to help you.
— Know, O fortunate one, — began the merchant — that I have a single daughter, who is beautiful and whom I love more than life itself. She is afflicted with an illness that causes her to wither day by day. Please examine her; perhaps you can cure her.
The merchant’s words were filled with such suffering and hope that the seeker could not refuse and went with him to see his daughter. As soon as the girl saw the wanderer, she said, “I do not know who you are, but I feel that only you can help me, and no one else. I am in love with a carpenter and suffer from our separation.”
She named the very carpenter the seeker had been asked to find to build the goat pen. The seeker returned to the merchant and said:
— Your daughter wishes to marry a respected carpenter whom I know.
The merchant was overjoyed. His daughter had always spoken of a carpenter, but he had thought her words were the result of her illness, not realizing that her sickness was caused by her deep love. He had believed her to be out of her mind.
Thus, the seeker returned to the carpenter and informed him about the girl. The carpenter built the pen, and in return, the livestock seller gave the seeker several fine goats. The seeker took these goats to the shepherd and received wool, which he exchanged with the spinner for threads. He then brought the threads to the rug maker and received a small rug in exchange.
Finally, with the rug in hand, the seeker returned to the Sufi.
— Now I can give you knowledge, — said the wise one — for you would not have brought this rug if you had not worked for it, not merely for your own sake but for the greater good.
The Legacy of Sayyid Muhammad Baba Samasi
Sayyid Muhammad Baba Samasi passed away in 1354 and was buried in his native village of Samas. During Uzbekistan’s years of independence, his mausoleum was carefully restored and now stands as a welcoming memorial complex. Near an octagonal pond, home to koi, where a weary pilgrim can rest in the shade of trees, grow two local varieties of grapes, a tribute to the vineyard tended by the Master centuries ago. The taste of the wine made from these grapes is still remembered today.
