Shrine Of Hazrat BaYazid Bustami [r] , Bastam (بسطام)

 مسجد, shrine (en), religious organisation (en)

Hazrat Bayazid Bastami (ra)


"Bismillahir Rehmanir Raheem"


The Great Hazrat Bayazid Bastami (ra)


Hazrat Bayazid Bostami also known as Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bustami was born in 804 CE, Bostam, Iran. Bayazid's grandfather was a zoroastrin who converted to Islam. His grandfather had three sons, Adam, Tayfur and 'Ali. All of them were ascetice. Abayazid was born to Tayfur. Not much is known of his childhood, but Bayazid spent most of his time in isolation in his house and the mosque. Although he remained in isolation, he did not isolate himself from the Sufi realm.
He welcomed people into his house to discuss Sufism. He was a Persian Sufi who is considered to be one the leading teachers of Sufism in the History of Islam. Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) is considered to be a great example of pure practices of Sufism for the seekers of spirituality. His methods of teaching and guiding were extremely influential and effective. This is evident from the fact that he was leader of Hazrat Dhunon al Misri (RA) who was a great personality himself and possessed unique knowledge about spirituality and the path towards Allah (swt). Perhaps it must be stated for the enthusiastic followers of Sufism that “only great teachers produce great students”, as in the case of Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) who was a great teacher.



Importance on Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA)
Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) who helped his successors and eager followers of Sufism to understand the concepts of Fana (annihilation of the self in Allah) and Baqa (remaining in the existence of Allah). Before Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), the Sufis often preached about piety and humble characters as the main aspects of Sufism. However, after the inspirational ideas propagated by the great Sheikh the followers of Sufism received further depth in the concepts of Sufism.
He always instructed his students to perform 5 main acts.
(1) Practice the obedience of Quran
(2) Sunna.
(3) Clean the hearts from hatred and lies.
(4) Do not eat illegal materials
(5) avoid wrongful innovations in religion.
This is clear evidence that Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) considered Shariah as the initial step towards finding the love of Allah (swt).

Hazrat Bayazid Bastami (RA) - Sayings

Some of his words quoted from Tazkarat-ul-awliya by Hazrat Fariduddin Attar (RA) :
* I went to a wilderness, love had rained and had covered earth, as feet penetrate snow, I found my feet covered with love.
* I never saw any lamp shining more brilliantly than the lamp of silence.

May Allah (swt) Guide us to follow His Path, act upon the Sunna of the Prophet (saw) and learn from the great Sufis.

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Hazrat Bayazid Bustami alaih rehman

Bismillahir Rehmanir Raheem

“Whoever is initiated by Us and follows Us and loves Us,
whether he is near or far, wherever he is,
even if he is in the East and We are in the West,
We nourish from the stream of love and give him light in his daily life.” – Hazrat Bahauddin Naqshband (RA) on the Awliya Allah

Birth Name: Abu Yazid Bistami or Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bustami
Born in: Bostam, Iran

A long time ago there was a young boy named Bayazid Bustami. He was born in Persia, an ancient land of plains, mountains and poetry.

Being the only son of a poor, widowed mother, he was the light of her eyes and she rested all her hopes for the future on him. She dedicated her life to giving him the best she could, but because she was poor, she couldn’t afford much.

As the small boy grew older, she scraped together what money she could and sent him to the local school where he could learn to read and write. While he was there, he would study the Qur’an, Shar’iah, math, Arabic and poetry. He turned out to be an excellent student and he learned quickly.

One day, while he was reading the Qur’an he came across an ayah in which Allah said, “Be thankful to Me and be thankful to your parents.”

Hazrat Bayazid read this ayah a second time and then thought about what it meant. He closed the book and immediately ran back to his mother.

Now because he came home early from school, his mother became worried. She asked him, “What’s wrong, my son? Did you run away from school? Is there something that happened?”

“No, mother,” Hazrat Bayazid answered. “I read an ayah from the Holy Qur’an today that said we have to be thankful to Allah and to our parents. This made me a little worried. I’m not real strong so how can I serve two masters? Mother, either keep me in your service or give me up in the service of Allah.”

His mother paused for a second and smiled. Then she immediately grasped his hands in hers and said, “My son, I dedicate you to the service of Allah. To me, if you serve Allah you’re serving me, too.”

Hazrat Bayazid smiled and returned to school with a new heart for his studies and a new attitude. Everyone noticed the change in him, and his teachers marveled over how he seemed to pour himself into his studies from that day forward.

He began to come to school early to read and left long after all the other students had gone. When his teacher asked him what happened, why he had become so motivated to study and learn, Hazrat Bayazid explained how his mother had released him to serve only Allah. The teacher smiled and hugged the boy firmly.

In time, after he had become a young man, Hazrat Bayazid went out on the road in search of more advanced learning. He traveled all over the Muslim world and attended different colleges and studied with different teachers. He earned many degrees along the way.

After a few more years he settled in the city of Baghdad, which at that time, was the most important city in the Muslim world.

He taught in a small school and went to college at night and never left his desire to master everything he could to be a truly thankful servant of Allah.

One late night he was on his way home when he encountered a rowdy band of drunks on the street. One of them had a guitar and was playing it in a sloppy, annoying way. Hazrat Bayazid wanted to avoid them but they were harassing everyone who passed by. As Hazrat Bayazid walked by them, the leader of the bunch started insulting him in a very nasty way, calling him names and taunting him.

Hazrat Bayazid told the man to stop his foolish talk but this made the drunken man even more angry.

The drunk picked up his guitar, lifted it high over his head and then brought it down, smashing it over Hazrat Bayazid’s head. The guitar shattered into a dozen pieces and blood streamed down Hazrat Bayazid’s blessed forehead. The rest of the drunks paused for a minute and then started yelling and laughing again.

Hazrat Bayazid didn’t say a word and went home in silence, wiping the blood off his head with a handkerchief.

The next day, Hazrat Bayazid gave a basket of candy and a few dollars to his servant and directed him to go to the leader of the drunks and tell him the following words:

“Last night my head was responsible for breaking your guitar. Please buy a new one with this money. And also I found that your tongue was very sour last night. Please remove the sourness of your tongue by eating these sweet candies.”

When the drunken man received the gifts, he was so filled with shame and repentance that he brought his entire rowdy group to Bayazid and begged for forgiveness. He gave up drinking and became a righteous Muslim from that moment onward.

After a few more years in Baghdad, Hazrat Bayazid again took to the road and travelled in many lands where the people were not yet Muslims. He traveled all over India and brought thousands of people to Islam. News of his spiritual insight and wisdom reached far and wide.

Years passed and when he was a middle-aged man, Hazrat Bayazid received a note from his first teacher, his teacher from the school when he was a boy. It said, “Come to me.”

So Hazrat Bayazid immediately sold everything he had in India and began the long journey back home to Persia. Along the way, huge crowds of people gathered in every town and village he passed through. Everyone wanted to get a glimpse of the famous scholar they had heard so much about.
Then, after a month of traveling, Hazrat Bayazid finally reached the small village school where he had first learned to love knowledge.

His teacher, who was very old by now, told Hazrat Bayazid to sit down in front of him. He paused a moment and then he said, “Hazrat Bayazid, you have fulfilled your promise to Allah. Now go and serve your mother.”

When he heard his mother being mentioned, a rush of feelings overwhelmed his heart and he was filled with an unstoppable desire to see her again.

But he knew a huge crowd was gathering in the center of town in anticipation of seeing him, put on a dark robe with a hood and waited until night had fallen. Then he snuck out of the teacher’s house through a back door and made his way to his mother’s cottage.

Before he could knock on the door, he heard her praying inside. She was saying, “Merciful Allah. I have dedicated my son to your path. It is for You to love him and for You to take care of him.”

Hazrat Bayazid couldn’t hold his sorrow in a moment longer. He burst out in uncontrollable tears and sobbing.

His mother heard someone crying outside the door and she called out, “Have you come back, my son?”

Hazrat Bayazid replied in a choked voice, “Yes, mother, I have returned. Please, open the door and see your son again.”

The door was opened after a moment and Hazrat Bayazid threw himself at his mother’s feet and cried. She carefully bent down and pulled him up while passing her hands over his head and face. She then said, “I’ve wished for nothing more than to see your face again, my son, but, alas, you have come too late. For I can see no more.”

His mother had become blind. She would never again be able to look upon the face of her long lost son, the one she gave to Allah so many years before. From that moment forward, Hazrat Bayazid vowed to be thankful to his mother for the rest of his life and for as long as she lived, he never left her side.

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Great Hazrat Bayazid Bastami (ra)

the shrine of bayzid bustami in syria

Introduction



ﺣﻀﺮﺖ بايزيد بسطامىalso known as Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bustami was born in 804 CE, Bostam, Iran. He was a Persian Sufi who is considered to be one the leading teachers of Sufism in the History of Islam. The great Sufi was always respected and appreciated for the enormous patience and tolerance that he possessed. The whole concept of Sufism is based on practices rather than theories. Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) is considered to be a great example of pure practices of Sufism for the seekers of spirituality. His methods of teaching and guiding were extremely influential and effective. This is evident from the fact that he was leader of Hazrat Dhunon al Misri (RA) who was a great personality himself and possessed unique knowledge about spirituality and the path towards Allah (swt). Perhaps it must be stated for the enthusiastic followers of Sufism that “only great teachers produce great students”, as in the case of Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) who was a great teacher. His greatness lies in the fact that even those who denied the fundamental ideas of Sufism respected him for his devotion and humbleness. Ibn Taymiyya enormously praised Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), by ranking him amongst the top saints of Allah (swt).





Emphasis on Sufism



Perhaps not many know that the concept of Marifa (to recognise Allah) was often taught by Dhunon al Misri (RA), but it was Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) who explained and taught the concept with further perfection and completeness. He helped his successors and eager followers of Sufism to understand the concepts of Fana (annihilation of the self in Allah) and Baqa (remaining in the existence of Allah). Before Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), the Sufis often preached about piety and humble characters as the main aspects of Sufism. However, after the inspirational ideas propagated by the great Sheikh the followers of Sufism received further depth in the concepts of Sufism. Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) openly spoke about wajd which means annihilation in the presence of Allah (swt). At that time not many understood his unique theories but as time elapsed, these concepts became the core teachings of Sufism.



It must be pointed out for the benefit of the readers that Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), did not devalue Shariah, but in reality always instructed his students to perform 5 main acts. Practice the obedience of Quran and Sunna. Clean the hearts from hatred and lies. Do not eat illegal materials and avoid wrongful innovations in religion. This is clear evidence that Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) considered Shariah as the initial step towards finding the love of Allah (swt).



His Sayings



His quotes and words are so extraordinarily wise and deep that describing each quotation with great details would take years for its full completion. However, stating few for the readers would give them a summary of the depth and intelligent of the Sufi legend. It is reported that once a man asked him to about a deed which could take him towards Allah (swt). He mentioned that love the saints of Allah, so that they love you in return. He further mentioned that Allah (swt) looks into the hearts of his saints and if he witnessed your name, then he will forgive all your sins. This inspirational saying is guidance for a devotee or disciple for unconditionally loving and admiring their righteous and humble master or Sheikh. It also indicates towards the Quranic concept of following the paths of those whom Allah (swt) have blessed. Quran 1:5-6 “Show/Guide us on the right path. Path of those you have favoured”. And Allah has favoured Surah 4:69 “those whom Allah has blessed are the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous…”



He also mentioned that “it is not strange that I love you because I am a weak servant, but it is strange that you love me because you are the king of the kings”. His humility and humbleness increased to en extraordinary level that not a single element of arrogance was left in him. His wise and inspirational sayings were great tools in the realisation of the purpose of one’s creation. After reading the life and sayings of Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), every intellectual person would agree that Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), fully understood the purpose of his creation and successfully achieved the highest level of Ihsaan.



Extraordinary Knowledge and Patience



Whenever the name of Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) is mentioned, the stories of Karamaat (miracles) are essential. It is reported in Tazkirat ul Awliya (Attar Nashapuri) that he predicted the birth of Abul Hasan Kharqani while passing by Kharqan almost 100 years before he was born. Some might be surprised or unaware about these sayings. The same occurred at the time of Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA), when some people failed to understand his comments and beliefs. In retaliation some would exile the great Sufi leader from the city expecting hostile words and action from the Sheikh. However, little did they know that Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) was a true follower of Prophet Muhamed (saw) and from his Seerah, learnt the ideas if patience and tolerance. When Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) was exiled, he prayed to the Almighty Lord (swt) for the people of the city who tortured him, as reported by Attar. Perhaps one could relate this incident to the conquest of Makka, when the Mercy to the Mankind (saw) forgave the non-believers of Makkah, despite receiving enormous tortures from them in the initials years. Today people only preach about following the sayings and actions of the Prophet (saw); however Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) fully practiced the Sunna of the Prophet (saw) and so therefore became a great example for the modern Muslims.





His last Days



Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) passed away in the year 874 CE. There is a dispute as to the place of his grave, but people often claim that he is buried in the northern part of Iran. Some scholars claim that his final resting place is in Bangladesh but people have found this claim as unsound, because Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA) never had the opportunity to visit Bangladesh, Allah knows best.



Nevertheless, it is often said that before he passed away he was asked about his age. He replied with great wisdom that “I am 4 years old”. He further said that “For seventy years I was veiled. I got rid of my veils fours years ago”. A sheikh who spent all his life in the worship and remembrance of Allah had so much humility and humbleness that he critically analysed his own life. Not many in this modern era posses the courage and strength to make such claims about themselves. His piety and connection with Allah (swt) was at the highest level that he did not need any praise or recognition from this world, so hence he openly devalued himself. The unbreakable connection and relation with Allah (swt) consequently draws the minds of the readers towards the saying of the Prophet (saw) that “Worship Allah (swt) as if you see Him”. It is as if the Mercy to the Mankind (saw) knew that amongst his humble followers would be those who would achieve the first target of Ihsaan. If seeing the Almighty (swt) was impossible then Prophet (saw) would not have said it. He (saw) said it because he had knew and had the confidence that great Muhsineen would be leading his Ummah until the day of Judgement. Undoubtedly one of the greatest Muhsin is Hazrat Bayazid Bustami (RA).



May Allah (swt) Guide us to follow His Path, act upon the Sunna of the Prophet (saw) and learn from the great Sufis. Ameen






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Bayazid Bastami also known as Abu Yazid Bistami or Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bustami
(804-874 or 877/8 CE) was a Persian Sufi born in Bastam, Iran.

BACKGROUND:



THE NAME BASTAMI MEANS "FROM THE CITY OF BASTAM". BAYAZID'S GRANDFATHER WAS A ZOROASTRIAN WHO CONVERTED TO ISLAM. HIS GRANDFATHER HAD THREE SONS, ADAM, TAYFUR AND 'ALI. ALL OF THEM WERE ASCETICS. ABAYAZID WAS BORN TO TAYFUR. NOT MUCH IS KNOWN OF HIS CHILDHOOD, BUT BAYAZID SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME IN ISOLATION IN HIS HOUSE AND THE MOSQUE. ALTHOUGH HE REMAINED IN ISOLATION, HE DID NOT ISOLATE HIMSELF FROM THE SUFI REALM. HE WELCOMED PEOPLE INTO HIS HOUSE TO DISCUSS SUFISM. BAYAZID ALSO LED A LIFE OF ASCETICISM AND RENOUNCED ALL WORLDLY PLEASURES IN ORDER TO BE ONE WITH GOD. ULTIMATELY, THIS LED BAYAZID TO A STATE OF "SELF ANHILIATION", WHICH, ACCORDING TO SUFISM, IS THE ONLY STATE A PERSON COULD BE IN ORDER TO BE CLOSEST WITH GOD. BAYAZID BECAME KNOWN AS THE FIRST "INTOXICATED" SUFI BECAUSE OF THE OPENNESS OF HIS EXPRESSIONS HE FELT TOWARDS GOD (SHATAHAT). BAYAZID IS REGARDED AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MYSTICS DUE TO THE FACT OF HOW CONTROVERSIAL HE WAS AT THE TIME.

INFLUENCE:



Bayazid was in close contact with the Twelve Imams. He received initiation from Imam Ali ar-Ridha and died in either 874 or 877/8, indicating it is most likely he would have also associated with the succeeding Shia Imams, including Imam Muhammad at-Taqi (d.835 CE), Imam Ali al-Hadi (d.868 CE), and Imam Hasan al-Askari (d.874 CE), the paternal ancestors Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, who would later lend his name to the chain of Central Asian Sufi Masters from the 10th to the 16th century known collectively as the Khwajagan. Bayazid's successor was Abu al-Hassan al-Kharaqani, who transmitted belief in the Twelve Imams to both Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, at whose shrine the names of the Twelve Imams are inscribed, and to Abu al-Hassan al-Kharaqani's successor Abul Qasim Gurgani (d. 1076), at whose shrine these names are also inscribed.
Bastami's predecessor Dhu'l-Nun al-Misri (d. CE 859) was a murid of Jābir ibn Hayyān, who was a student of the sixth Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, as well. Al-Misri had formulated the doctrine of ma'rifa (gnosis), presenting a system which helped the murid (initiate) and the shaykh (guide) to communicate. Bayazid Bastami took this a step further and emphasized the importance of ecstasy, referred to in his words as drunkenness (sukr or wajd), a means of self-annihilation in the Divine Presence. Before him, Sufism was mainly based on piety and obedience and he played a major role in placing the concept of divine love at the core of Sufism.
Bastami was one of the first to speak of "annihilation of the self in God" (fana fi 'Allah') and "subsistence through God" (baqa' bi 'Allah). The "annihilation of the self" (fana fi 'Allah') refers to disregarding everything in this world because of one's love towards God. When a person enters the state of fana it is believed that one is closest to God. His paradoxical sayings gained a wide circulation and soon exerted a captivating influence over the minds of students who aspired to understand the meaning of the wahdat al-wujud, Unity of Being.
When Bayazid died he was over seventy years old. Before he died, someone asked him his age. He said: "I am four years old. For seventy years I was veiled. I got rid of my veils only four years ago.”
Bayazid died in 874 CE and is buried either in the city of Bistam in north central Iran, or in Semnan, Iran.


INTOXICATED SUFI



An intoxicated Sufi is one that expresses their feelings openly without disregarding the social consequences in doing so. Bayazid was most famous for openly expressing himself. Unlike the sufi Junayd who was a sober sufi, meaning that he reserved his feelings within himself and not allowing for such expressions to be observed to the outside world. This was the acceptable comportment of a Sufi, however when Bayazid began to express himself openly, many shunned him. The people opposed to his openness accused Bayazid of being a heretic due to his bizarre sayings. Not only his sayings are controversial, but Bayazid also claimed to have traveled through the 7 heavens in his dream. This journey proclaimed by Bayazid is similar to the Mi'raj of the Prophet Muhammad (Sells, pg 213).
These sayings are some of Bayazid's famous sayings that caused him to be labeled as an intoxicated Sufi.
"Glory be to me! How great is My majesty!"
"Thy obedience to me is greater than my obedience to Thee"
"I am the throne and the footstool"
"By my life, my grasp is firmer than His"
"I saw the Kaba walking round me"
"Moses desired to see God; I do not desire to see God;He desires to see me"


THE MYSTERY ABOUT SHRINE OF BAYAZID BOSTAMI IN BANGLADESH

Interestingly enough, there is a shrine in Chittagong, Bangladesh that local people believe to be Bastami's tomb as well. This seems unlikely to be true, as Bastami was never known to have visited Bangladesh. However, Sufi teachers were greatly influential in the spread of Islam in Bengal and this might explain the belief. The Islamic scholars of Bangladesh usually regard the tomb at Chittagong attributed to him as a jawab, or imitation.
One explanation is the local legend that Bayazid did indeed visit Chattagong. At the time of his return, he found that his local followers did not want to leave. Overwhelmed by the love of his local followers, he pierced his finger and dropped a few drops of his blood on the ground and allowed his followers to build a shrine in his name where his blood drops fell.
This also explained by the traditional Sufi masters as a mash-had, or site of witnessing, where the spiritual presence of the saint has been witnessed, and is known to appear. This is explained through the Sufi concept of the power of the saint's soul to travel and in its spiritual form, even after death, to appear to the living. The Quran mentions that some of those who have proven their sincerity have achieved a life beyond the grave (سَبِيلِ اللّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاء عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ; Wala tahsabanna allatheena qutiloo fee sabeeli Allahi amwatan bal ahyaon AAinda rabbihim yurzaqoona; Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord; 3:169
SAYINGS

Some of his words quoted from Tadhkiratul Awliya تذکره الاولیا by Farid al-Din Attar:
I never saw any lamp shining more brilliantly than the lamp of silence.
I went to a wilderness, love had rained and had covered earth, as feet penetrate snow, I found my feet covered with love.
I stood with the pious and I didn’t find any progress with them. I stood with the warriors in the cause and I didn’t find a single step of progress with them. Then I said, ‘O Allah, what is the way to You?’ and Allah said, ‘Leave yourself and come.’
Osho mentions him as one of the great Sufi masters.


BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Birth Name: Abu Yazid Bistami or Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bustami
Born in: Bostam, Iran

In depth:

Hazrat Bayazid Bustami [, may Allah be pleased with him], also known as Yazid Bistami or Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bustami, was a Persian Sufi Master.

Not much is known about his childhood and youth, except that he would enjoy solitude in his house or the Masjid, and also welcomed people to his house to discuss Sufism.

Influence on Sufism

In his quest to seek unity with Almighty Allah, he renounced worldly pleasures and eventually reached the state of self-annihilation which is the only way one can be closest to Allah.

He also became known as the first ‘intoxicated’ Sufi, referring to his complete devotion to God, which reached such an extent that he would openly express his love for Allah. For this reason, he was controversial during his time yet extremely influential in the world of Sufism.

Before him, Sufism was mainly based on piety & obedience and he played a major role in placing the concept of Divine Love at its core.

Hazrat Bayazid Bustami was the first to speak openly of 'self-annihalation in God' (fana fillah) and 'existence through God' (baqa billah).
The 'annihilation of the self' (fana fillah) refers to disregarding everything in this world due to one's love of God. When a person enters the state of ‘fana’, at that time it is believed that one is closest to God.

Hazrat Bayazid Bustami's sayings gained a wide circulation and soon exerted a captivating influence over the minds of students who aspired to understand the meaning of 'wahdat al-wujud', Unity of Being.

Exile & Controversy about His Utterances

Unlike many Sufis who reserve their feelings within themselves and not allowing such expressions to be observed to the outside world, Hazrat Bayazid expressed himself openly and as a result, many shunned him. Those who opposed to his openness would accuse him of being a heretic due to his controversial sayings which they could not comprehend at the time.

Hazrat Ibn Hajar Asqalani said, in reference to Hazrat Bayazid's famous utterances, "Allah knows the secret and Allah knows the heart. Whatever Abu Yazid spoke from his Knowledge of Realities, the people of his time did not understand. They condemned him and exiled him seven times from his city. Every time he was exiled, terrible afflictions would strike the city until the people would call him back, pledge allegiance to him, and accept him as a real saint."

Hazrat Fariduddin Attar relate that Hazrat Bayazid said, when he was exiled from his city, "O Blessed city, whose refuse is Bayazid!"

Advice to His Mureeds

He urged his students (Mureeds) to put their affairs in the Hands of Allah and to accept sincerely the pure doctrine of Tawheed (the Oneness of God).

He also taught five essentials:
to follow the obligations according to the Qur'an and Sunnah,
to always speak the truth,
to keep the heart free from hatred,
to avoid forbidden food
and to shun innovations (bid`a).

Sayings & Quotes

- He said about Allah's love for His servant, "If Allah loves His servant He will grant three attributes that are the proofs of His Love: generosity like the generosity of the ocean, and favor like the favor of the Sun in its giving of light, and modesty like the modesty of the Earth. The true lover never considers any affliction too great and never decreases his worship because of his pure faith."

- He once said, ""Praise to Me, for My greatest Glory!"
This sparked much controversy, but his followers understood his sayings because they were able to comprehend something which most Sufis at the time did not; that Hazrat Bayazid had reached a stage of self-annihilation so strongly infused with the Divine Presence that there was only space for God and no room for his own existence.

- They asked him, "Describe your day and describe your night." He said, "I don't have a day and I don't have a night, because day and night are for those who have characteristics of creation. I have shed myself the way the snake sheds its skin."

Hazrat Bayazid’s Shrine in Bangladesh

There is a shrine in Chittagong, Bangladesh that local people believe to also be Hazrat Bayazid's tomb.
This is unlikely but there may be explanation as to why this shrine is atributed to him:
A local legend tells that Hazrat Bayazid did indeed visit Chittagong. At the time of his return, he found that his local followers did not want him to leave. Overwhelmed by the love of his local followers, he pierced his finger and dropped a few drops of his blood on the ground and allowed his followers to build a shrine in his name where his blood drops fell.

This also explained by the traditional Sufi masters as a mash-had, or site of witnessing, where the spiritual presence of the saint has been witnessed, and is known to appear.
This is explained through the Sufi concept of a Saint's power to travel and in its spiritual form, even after death, to appear to the living. The Qur'an mentions that some of those who have proven their sincerity have achieved a life beyond the grave:

"Think not of those who are slain in Allah's way as dead. Nay, they live, finding their sustenance in the presence of their Lord."
[Holy Qur'an 3:169]

Death & Departure of Hazrat Bayazid

When Hazrat Bayazid died, he was over seventy years old. Before he died, someone asked him his age. He said: "I am four years old. For seventy years I was veiled. I got rid of my veils only four years ago."

Bayazid died in 261 H. It is said he is buried in two places, one is Damascus and the other is Bistam in Persia.