Saint Nuri

Who is Saint Nuri?

Ahmed Ibn Abu al-Hassan al-Nuri, known also as Nuri, was a famous early Sufi saint. He was born in Bagdad where spent most of his life. He is the author of Maqamat al-qulub. He is famous for saying, "I love God and God loves me". He is one of the earliest Sufis who was clearly mystical as illustrated by his saying "Joining with the Truth is parting from everything else, as parting with everything else is joining with it"

Nuri and several of his friends were accused of heresey and charged in 878 C.E. Nuri offered to be tried before his companions. The regent at the time was impressed by such magnaminity and investigated the case and found these Sufis to be good Muslims. Thus he set the accused free. Nuri, however, was exiled to Ar-Raqqah in Syria, whence he returned some years later, much deteriorated physically.

Poetry and statements from Nuri are narrated in popular Sufism. According to popular accounts, he gained the title "Nuri" because he "radiated light when talking". He was acquainted with Junayd Baghdadi.