Who was Abu Yazeed Al-Bastamy?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Imam Ibn Katheer wrote a biography of Abu Yazeed Al Bastamy in his book: Al Bidaya Wal Nihaya.

He wrote: ‘Abu Yazid Al Bustamy is Tayfur Ibn Issa Ibn Ali, a Sufi Sheikh.  His grandfather was a magian before becoming Muslim.  He used to have very pious and good sisters and he used to be pious himself.

Somebody once said to Abu Yazid: ‘How did you get knowledge?’  He said: ‘By a hungry stomach and a badly-clothed body.’ He also used to say: ‘I called my soul to obey Allah. But it refused.  So, I prevented it from water for a whole year.’

He also said: ‘If you see the person getting some extraordinary happenings until being able to fly, do not be deceived by him until you see how well he enjoins good and avoids evil and how well he abides by the orders of Shariah and avoids its prohibitions.’

Ibn Khillikan said: ‘Abu Yazid used to undergo some extraordinary things.' He died (may Allah have mercy on him) 261 A.H.

Ibn Katheer said: ‘There are some mistakes, false blelifes and Sufi innovations reported Form him (Abu Yazid).’

Allah knows best.