Al-Darani

Abū Sulaymān al-Dārānī (Arabic: أبو سليمان الداراني) was an ascetic sage of the 2nd–3rd/8th–9th century and one of the earliest theoreticians of formal mysticism in Islam.

[2] He was held in honour by the Sufis and was called the "Sweet Basil of Hearts" (Rayhān al-Qulūb).

He developed the doctrine of gnosis (ma'rifa),[3] and he was also the first to preach the science of 'time' (waqt) as essential for preserving one's state (hal) and allow hope to predominate over fear.

He was called al-Ansari due to his connection with the Banū Anas ibn Malik, a tribe from Yemen.

Ibn Kathir praised him in his al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, and said he was originally from Wasit, but travelled and lived in Damascus.