Yes, I’m familiar with Rabi’a al-Adawiyya. She was an influential Muslim mystic and poet who lived in what is now Iraq during the 8th century. Some key facts about Rabi’a al-Adawiyya:

• She is considered one of the most important early Sufi mystics and poets. Sufism is a mystical form of Islam that emphasizes direct personal experience of the divine.
• She advocated for a type of devotion to God that was based solely on love, not fear of punishment or desire for reward. This unconditional love was seen as the highest form of worship.
• She composed many passionate poems and prayers expressing this sincere love for God. Some of her notable works include the “Ode to the Beloved” and “Two Poems of Rabiʻa” among others.
• She chose to live a celibate and ascetic life, renouncing worldly pleasures and completely devoting herself to spiritual practice. However, she also criticized extreme asceticism.
• She was known for her memorable sayings and wisdom on spiritual topics. For example, “I have made Thee the Companion of my heart, But my body is available to those who desire its company, And my body is friendly toward its guests, But the Beloved of my heart is the Guest of my soul.”
• She is revered in Sufi literature and poetry as one of the most important mystics of her time and a model of piety. Many tales and legends about her life have arisen, though the historical facts are uncertain.
• She is remembered for her fearless disregard for public opinion and her dedication to God’s love above all things. Her example and writings have inspired generations of Sufis and devout Muslims.

Unfortunately Rabi’a al-Adawiyya’s poems were likely passed down orally and not recorded in writing during her lifetime. Only a small number of her poems have survived to today. Here are a few translated excerpts from some poems attributed to her:

“I love You with two loves – a selfish love and a love that is worthy of You. As for the love which is selfish, I occupy myself therein with remembrance of You to the exclusion of all others.”

“O God! If I worship You for fear of Hell, burn me in Hell, and if I worship You in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise. But if I worship You for Your Own sake, grudge me not Your everlasting Beauty.”

“O My Joy and My Life and My Rest,

The heart can love none other but Thee.

Were I not I, I would be yet nearer to Thee.

There is no path that leads away from Thee.”

“I loved Thee in childhood ere I knew the Name of Love. Thou didst catch me in the heart’s snare before I learned the forbidden secret of the heart.”

“Thou art the resting-place of my heart, my Well-Beloved. Hadst Thou been of my clothing, I would have cast away my raiment; but Thou art as my skin upon my body, and I cannot pluck Thee away.”

This gives you a small sample of the profound and emotive devotion expressed in Rabi’a al-Adawiyya’s poetry. Her verses reflect her singular love for God and desire for complete unity with the Divine.

Unfortunately very little is concretely known about Rabi’a al-Adawiyya’s life, as biographical material was not well-recorded in her time. However, here are some of the traditional stories and legends about her life:

• She was born in Basra, Iraq sometime between 713-717 CE. Her name indicates she may have been from a poor family of slaves.
• As a child, she was orphaned and sold into slavery. She was later freed after her master saw a miraculous light surrounding her while she prayed.
• She chose a life of asceticism and celibacy, rejecting offers of marriage. She was known to wander the desert praying and meditating.
• Stories describe her going on pilgrimage to Mecca three times, two times walking and one time flying miraculously when her feet were injured.
• She was a contemporary of the famous Sufi Hasan al-Basri, though it is unclear if she studied directly under him.
• Legends tell of her having visions and performing miracles, like making a river appear to perform ablutions.
• She was extremely devoted to night vigils and prayers. One story has her hanging a water bucket to catch the tears of her extended prayers.
• Some narratives tell of her teaching students gathered in the desert or in Basra. She may have contributed to early Sufi pedagogy.
• It’s unclear when exactly she died, but she lived into old age. Her tomb/shrine in Basra became a place of pilgrimage.

So in summary, her life is obscured by legend but she emerges as a radical mystic wholly devoted to God’s love, inspiring future generations of Sufis. The limited facts about her biography only enhance her symbolic power.

Yes, there are various legends and stories that have circulated about how Rabi’a al-Adawiyya interacted with her followers and students:

• One story tells of a man who came to Rabi’a and told her he did not love God. She responded by pointing to a piece of trash on the ground and saying – even that has a place in creation, how can you not love the Creator? This demonstrates her approach of encouraging love of God.
• It is said she turned away some followers she felt were not ready for her teachings or were seeking her for the wrong reasons. She prioritized sincerity over popularity.
• When people questioned her love of God, she would walk through the streets with a torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. When asked what she was doing, she said she wanted to set fire to paradise and put out the fires of hell so people would not worship God out of desire or fear but for his sake alone.
• Legends tell of government officials becoming angry at the public’s veneration of her and threatening punishment. She responded that she could not help it if people were attracted to her way of honoring God.
• Stories describe her gently guiding her students to look within, telling one of them to go sweep the street, but instructing him to focus on cleaning his heart of impurities instead.
• She prayed for a group of disrespectful children to be inspired to change, which they miraculously did after seven days of her prayers.
• According to narratives, thieves once asked her to pray for them and renounce stealing. She did pray for them, and many changed their lives as a result.

So in essence, the legends paint her as a selfless teacher devoted to helping others cultivate sincere love and closeness with God through her prayers, wisdom, and example.

Here are a few of the miracles and supernatural legends associated with Rabi’a al-Adawiyya:

• When she was an infant, her father saw a light emitting from her cradle, signifying her special closeness with God.
• As mentioned before, she was freed from slavery after her master saw her praying surrounded by light.
• On one of her pilgrimages to Mecca, she is said to have miraculously flown part of the journey when her feet were bleeding.
• Stories tell of her prayers causing a drying well to fill back up with water or bringing a heavy downpour of rain in a drought.
• Once while praying in the desert, a dish of food was sent down to her from the sky.
• She would recite verses from the Quran and birds would come sit on her hand and head, listening to her recitations.
• It is said she knew teachings and verses by heart without having studied them, implying she received direct inspirations from God.
• She could perceive the spiritual states of people’s hearts. When new students arrived she knew if they were ready for guidance or not.
• According to some narratives, as an old woman she could make the roof move when she stood to pray, despite her frailty.
• She prayed by the tombs of some thieves and they came back to life, renounced their wrongdoings and became devoted to God.
• Her shrine and tomb in Basra is regarded as having miraculous blessings. Many come to pray there seeking intercessions.

So in Sufi tradition, Rabi’a al-Adawiyya is seen as having attained an especially lofty spiritual state very close to God, resulting in these extraordinary displays. The miracles emphasize her piety.

Unfortunately there are no definitive historical accounts of how Rabi’a al-Adawiyya died. However, there are a few legendary stories about the circumstances of her death:

• One story says that she became very ill in the later years of her life. She had given up food and was only drinking water for sustenance. As death approached, she began praying and reciting the Quran continuously. With each verse, it is said a miracle occurred, like bursts of light or perfumed air. She continued praying and reciting until she passed away.
• Another account claims she was killed unjustly by the ruler of Basra due to her growing influence and popularity. In this version, guards were sent to kill her while she was doing night prayers. Her death while in prostration only elevated her status as a martyr.
• Some narratives say that she felt her death approaching and secluded herself in meditation and fasting while seated on her prayer rug. After many days of meditative preparation, she quietly passed away while still seated in prayer.
• A few legends state that at the moment of her death, a dazzling light shone out of her tomb, signifying her high spiritual station. People as far away as Mecca are said to have seen this light.
• Some Sufi poems metaphorically describe her being absorbed into the divine light at the end, consumed by her love of God.

So while the exact circumstances are uncertain, the legends consistently emphasize her devotion continuing until the very end and miracles occurring around her death. Her passing only confirmed her saintly status in Sufi tradition.

Here are a few more translated excerpts of poems attributed to Rabi’a al-Adawiyya:

“I bless Thee, Lord, who suffered patiently my frequent faults, humbled myself, waited long while I wept, repeated calls upon Thee, and blurred Thy words with weeping and cries of grief.”

“Thou art as Thou hast revealed Thyself, and I am Thy servant who wishes for nothing but to serve Thee.”

“My prayer rites are my banquets, and Thou art my wine, the rhythm of my strings and pipes.”

“I have made Thee the Companion of my heart; but my body is made for those who seek its company; my body is friendly to its guests, but the Beloved of my heart is the guest of my soul.”

And here are some additional legendary miracles associated with Rabi’a:

• It is said when she prayed, divine manifestations would appear to her, like seeing the Kaaba bow down before her or the Divine Throne itself.
• She could understand and speak all human languages and animal tongues, according to some stories.
• At one point a mystical bird, like a phoenix, was said to have sheltered her and sung divine secrets to her from above.
• She prayed by a dried date tree and it became full of ripe fruits for the poor to eat.
• While on her pilgrimages, she would hear divine verses and inspirations constantly, not needing books or teachers.
• It’s claimed she knew the inner thoughts of people she met, knowing their spiritual states.
• After death, she was seen in visions guiding people and granting blessings from the spiritual realm.
• A sweet fragrance or incense-like aroma was said to emanate from her tomb and fill the air around it.

So in Sufi tradition, Rabi’a’s mystical poems and miraculous legends all reinforce her nearly unparalleled spiritual stature.