Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya and divine love
This page delivers no verdict; it presents claims and evidence with their sources. No theory in science is absolute. Method
For everyone
Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya of Basra is a woman Sufi who became the symbol, in Sufism, of loving God for His own sake rather than in hope of paradise or fear of hell. The legend of her carrying fire in one hand and water in the other, to burn paradise and put out hell, sums up this idea. She is held to have influenced many later Sufis. Most information about her life rests on narratives written centuries after her death.
For specialists
The sayings and verses attributed to Rābiʿa appear mostly in later sources such as Sulamī, Qushayrī and above all Farīd al-Dīn ʿAṭṭār's Tadhkirat al-awliyāʾ. Cornell shows how the image of Rābiʿa was reshaped in different periods as a model of asceticism, a love mystic and a wise woman. The narratives under her name played a large part in placing maḥabba (divine love) at the centre of Sufism.
Views on dating
No single date is given because the date is not documented with certainty; the views of different sources are listed.
| Commonly accepted date | Died 185 AH (801 CE)[1] |
|---|---|
| Earlier date in some sources | Died 135 AH (752 CE)[1] |
Claims
Positions
- Sufi tradition
- Rābiʿa is a saintly woman who brought divine love into Sufism; the legends reflect her spiritual state.[1]
- Historical-critical approach (Cornell)
- Very little is known for certain about the historical Rābiʿa; today's image of her was formed by later authors' narratives reflecting the ideals of their own times.[2]
Connections
Sources
- EncyclopediaRâbia el-Adeviyye. TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisiislamansiklopedisi.org.trarchive
- Book (2019). Rabi'a from Narrative to Myth: The Many Faces of Islam's Most Famous Woman Saint, Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya. Oneworld Academic, London
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Cite this page
Athena contributors. (2026). Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya and divine love. Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/rabia/
@misc{athena_rabia,
title = {Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya and divine love},
author = {{Athena contributors}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/rabia/}},
note = {Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Accessed: 2026-11-01}
}Added: September 28, 2026 · Last changed: September 28, 2026 · Page history