Islam in Chechnia { Qadiri Sufi Order of Chechenia }

Imam Ahmad relates from Anas (Allah be well pleased with him), with a chain of transmission all of whose narrators are those of Bukhari except Hammad ibn Salama, who is one of the narrators of Muslim, that the Ethiopians danced in front of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace); dancing and saying [in their language], "Muhammad is a righteous servant." The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "What are they saying?" And they said, "'Muhammad is a righteous servant'" (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad. 6 vols. Cairo 1313/1895. Reprint. Beirut: Dar Sadir, n.d.., 3.152). Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal(ra) said about the Sufis: "I don't know people better than them." Someone said to him: "They listen to music and they reach states of ecstasy." He said: "Do you prevent them from enjoying an hour with Allah?" (From Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini al-Hanbali (died 1188) who related in his Ghidha' al-albab li-sharh manzumat al-adab from Ibrahim ibn `Abd Allah al-Qalanasi) (Cairo: Matba`at al-Najah, 1324/1906) 1:120