The Influence of the Teachings of Abū ʿAbd Al-Raḥmān Sulamī on the Thoughts of Abū Saʿīd Abū al-Khayr

One of the features of the scientific and mystical life of Abū Saʿīd Abū al-Khayr is the fact that he had seen various teachers. Among these tutors, however, he has been significantly influenced by Abū ʿAbd Al-Raḥmān Sulamī. Using a historical approach and comparative method, this research seeks to prove this claim by extracting and explaining a number of common teachings in the works of Sulamī and Abū Saʿīd Abū al-Khayr. These teachings include: optimal use of time, abandonment of pretentiousness, abandonment of prudence, abstinence from eating alone, abstinence from companionship of the wicked, abstinence from using of the word "I", and loving and caring about people. The article also mentions two other cases, namely, looking at people from a divine perspective and observing the power of God in the transient existence. All of the above reinforce the possibility that some teachings of Sulamī may be absent in his own writings but may be found in the works of his student who was educated and influenced by him. This means that in order to have a comprehensive and inclusive knowledge of the teacher, the teachings of the master should not be limited to the works left by him, but it is necessary to consider the opinions and thoughts of the people who were trained in his school.