Rabia of Basra

One of the earliest Sufi women about whom knowledge has been passed down to us is Rabia al-Adawiyya, associated with the city of Basra in Persia (modern day Iran).  Sufi-ism is a movement on the fringes of Islam, considered heretical by conservative muslims, but of great value to to those of us interested in the concepts of Islam unobscured by its laws and rituals.  One story recounted about Rabia of Basra is as follows.

"Running with fire in one hand and water in the other, Rabia explained, “I am going to burn paradise and douse hellfire so that both veils may be lifted from those on the quest, and they will become sincere of purpose. God’s servants will learn to see Him without hope for reward or fear of punishment. As it is now, if you took away hope for reward or fear of punishment, no one would obey."

As you know, I have not made a secret of the fact that I am essentially an atheist.  But this does not mean that I reject all teachings of all religions, because most religions have core teachings of value to everyone.

One aspect of theistic religions, especially those in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, is the conviction among believers of lesser intelligence and perception that it is the very principle that Rabia addresses, namely that it is fear of punishment that keeps the faithful in the law, and it is the hope of reward that urges the faithful to acts of charity that go beyond the minimum expected by the law.  However pathetic this condition is, in the mega churches in the USA, their enormous revenue is based on the hope of the congregation for reward in heaven, which results in their ministers and preachers living quite a comfortable lifestyle in public, and sometimes quite Trumpesque lives in private.

Rabia's words can be interpreted as follows.  Take away the punishment and the rewards, take away the carrots and the sticks, and then we will see the true believers and those who love god by their actions.

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