Junayd of Baghdad was a Persian mystic and one of the most famous of the early Islamic saints. He is a central figure in the spiritual lineage of many Sufi orders.
Junayd of Baghdad invites the Christian youth to accept Islam at the Sufi meeting, witnessed by Saqati, from "Breaths of intimacy" (Nafaḥāt al-uns), by Jami (d. 1492). Persian-language manuscript created in Ottoman-held Baghdad, dated 1595
Zarih of Junayd of Baghdad and a smaller wooden zarih of Sirri Saqti
A wali is most commonly used by Muslims to indicate a saint, otherwise referred to by the more literal "friend of God".
A Persian miniature depicting the medieval saint and mystic Ahmad Ghazali (d. 1123), brother of the famous al-Ghazali (d. 1111), talking to a disciple, from Meetings of the Lovers (1552).
A Persian miniature depicting Jalal al-Din Rumi showing love for his disciple Hussam al-Din Chelebi (ca. 1594)
A Mughal miniature dated from the early 1620s depicting the Mughal emperor Jahangir (d. 1627) preferring a Sufi saint to his contemporary, the King of England James I (d. 1625); the picture is inscribed: "Though outwardly kings stand before him, he fixes his gazes on saints."
An Mughal miniature of A Discourse between Muslim Sages (ca. 1630), thought to be executed by the court painter Govārdhan.
