Abu al-Qasim al-Junayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi was born in Baghdad around 830 CE and studied jurisprudence in the school of Abu Thawr, while also learning mysticism from his uncle al-Sari al-Saqati, combining religious scholarship with spiritual practice.
Junayd advocated a 'sober' form of Sufism grounded in self-discipline and adherence to sharia, in contrast to the 'intoxicated' current represented by some of his contemporaries, becoming a benchmark authority for reconciling mystical practice with religious law.
Legacy
Known as 'the master of the Sufi order' and 'the peacock of the scholars', Junayd trained a large number of later Sufis, and his moderate approach to Sunni mysticism remains an authoritative reference to this day.
