Two ways to knowledge of God: Davud Ta'i and Harith Muhasibi

Abstract

The article includes a translation of two entries from Farid al-Din ʻAttar's hagiographical anthology “The Memorial of God's Friends”. The frst one recounts the life and sayings of 8th century ascetic Davud Ta'i, while the second one is devoted to the founder of many Suf ‘arts', Harith Muhasibi. The two of them were not entirely satisfed with being a Muslim scholar, so they chose the way of mystical union with God. Their life stories demonstrate how people of the same profession could go entirely different ways, yet at the same time travel on the same Path – to knowledge of God.