Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (d. 910) was born in Nihawand in Persia (Iran), but his family settled in Baghdad where he studied Islamic Law according to the school of Imam Shafi'i, and eventually became a chief judge in Baghdad. The famous Sufi Saint Hazrat Sari Saqti was his maternal uncle. In Sufi discipline, he was the close follower of his uncle, Hazrat Sari Saqti. Although he was the spiritual master of Mansur al-Hallaj, he was obliged, in his capacity as chief judge of Baghdad, to sign the warrant authorizing the execution of Mansur Hallaj. On it he wrote: "Under Islamic Law, he is guilty. According to the Inner Reality, God knows."

Earlier, Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi earned his livelihood as a professional wrestler. As was the norm, the Leader of Baghdad announced one day: "Today, Junaid Baghdadi will demonstrate his skills as a wrestler, is there anyone to challenge him." A weak elderly man shakily stood up with his neck quivering and said: "I will enter the contest with him." Whoever was witness to this scene could not contain themselves, they burst out howling with laughter, clapping their hands. The King was bound by the law. He could not stop someone who of his own free will entered the bout. The elderly man was given the permission to enter the ring. He was about sixty-five years old. When Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi entered the ring, he was dumbfounded as was the King and all the spectators of the Kingdom who were present. The single thought that occupied their minds was: "How will this old man be able to fight?" The old man addressed Junaid with these words: "Lend me your ears." He then whispered: "I know it is not possible for me to win this bout against you, but I am a Syed, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). My children are starving at home. Are you prepared to sacrifice your name, your honour and position for the love of Allah's Prophet and lose this bout to me? If you do this I will be able to collect the prize money and thereby have the means to feed my children and myself for an entire year. I will be able to settle all my debts and above all, the master of both the worlds will be pleased with you. Are you, Oh Junaid, not willing to sacrifice your honour for the sake of the children of Rasulullah (peace be upon him)?"

Junaid Baghdadi thought to himself: "Today, I have an excellent opportunity." In a display of fervour Junaid Baghdadi executed a couple of maneuvers, demonstrating his finesse so that the King does not suspect any conspiracy. Junaid with a great display of antics did not use his strength and allowed himself to be dropped. The Ruler of Baghdad wasn't satisfied, and made them to fight for three times, and every time Hazrat Junaid was the looser. So then he declared the elder man as winner.

That night, Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi had a dream of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who said: "Oh Junaid, you have sacrificed your honour, your nationally acclaimed fame, your name and position which was heralded throughout Baghdad in the expression of your love for my children who were starving. As of today, your name is recorded in the register of the Auliya (friends of Allah)." After that, a great change came to Hazrat Junaid's life, he lost interest in material world, and started to practice Sufism. He went on Hajj (pilgrimage) on foot thirty times.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya related from al-Sulami that Hazrat Junaid said: "The truthful seeker of spirituality has no need for the scholars of knowledge" and he also said: "When Allah desires great goodness for the seeker, He makes him flock to the Sufis and prevents him from accompanying those who read books."

Once some one asked Hazrat Junaid: "What is God's purpose of creation?" Hazrat Junaid replied: "From which the creatures are passing through".

There was a young man, who was fond to learn spiritual education. He went to many Scholars & Dervishes, but learnt nothing. Finally he became disappointed, and went to jungle with pure intention, and thought that if God wants me to learn spirituality, then He will do something by himself for my learning. Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi had an horse, he wanted to go to tigris river of Baghdad to let the horese to drink water, but the horse ran towards the jungle. Hazrat Junaid tried to control the horse, and to turn him towards the river, but the horse continuously ran towards the jungle. Hazrat Junaid thought that there must be some mystery that God is making the horse run towards the jungle, so he dropped the idea & let the horse go where he was running. The horse went to the jungle & stopped near a tree, under which the same man was sitting & performing meditation. Hazrat Junaid stepped down & went before that person, Hazrat Junaid understood his intention through his spiritual power, and with an eyesight Hazrat Junaid made him a Drervish. After that Hazrat Junaid asked him: "Do you know who I am?" He replied: "You are my spiritual teacher" Hazrat Junaid said: "If you ever need my help & guidance, then come to Baghdad" He replied: "Sir, Did I come to you or you come to me? I want no one except God, and if he wants to help me, then he will send some one to me, same as he sent you." Hazrat Junaid was pleased from his reply & praised him by saying that a true Sufi should be like you.

Abu Amr ibn Alwan relates: I went out one day to the market of Al-Ruhba for something I needed. I saw a funeral procession and I followed it in order to pray with the others. I stood among the people until they buried the dead man. My eyes unwittingly fell on a woman who was unveiled. I lingered looking at her with bad intentios. Then I held back and began to beg forgiveness of Allah the Exalted. On my way home an old woman told me: "My master, why is your face all darkened?" I took a mirror and behold! my face had turned dark. I examined my conscience and searched: Where did calamity befall me? I remembered the look I cast. Then I sat alone somewhere, asking Allah's forgiveness assiduously. I decided to live austerely for forty days. (During that time) the thought came to my heart: "Visit your shaykh al-Junayd." I travelled to Baghdad. When I reached the room where he lived I knocked at his door and heard him say: "Come in, O Abu Amr! You sin in Al-Ruhba and we ask forgiveness for you here in Baghdad."

On one occasion some people turned against him, they also told the rule of Baghdad that Junaid has become an unbeliever, so you should send him in prison. But because the ruler didn't have any proof against Junaid, so he sent a beautiful woman to him, by saying that: "Go to Junaid's home & unveil yourself before him by saying that I am a rich woman and want to sleep with you, and if you sleep with me then I would make you rich." The woman went to him & said whatever the ruler told her. After hearing woman's words, Junaid downed his head & took a sigh, the woman died at the moment.

Because Junaid was a Scholar, so he often dilvered the sermons. Once during the sermon Junaid delivered some divine words in Jazb (ecstasy), so 40 people lost their senses during that sermon, and 18 from them died later.

Junaid always used to say: "I've lost my heart". Once when he prayed to God, so that his heart would be found. God said: "I've taken your heart only because you live under my love, now you want your heart back to make it busy towards other things?"

Once a person came to the mosque where Hazrat Junaid was praying, he complained that there are some men in the jungle drinking alcohol & doing un-Islamic acts. Hazrat Junaid went to the Jungle by covering his face by a cloak, so that no one could recognize him. When Hazrat Junaid reached near them, they became afraid & wanted to run away, but Hazrat Junaid said to them: "Don't run away, I'm like you people and came here to accompany you." Those people sat with Hazrat Junaid, and Hazrat Junaid asked them to give him wine, they said that they've drunk all the wine, but if you say we'll go to the market & bring wine for you. Hazrat Junaid said: "Don't you people have any trick, so that the wine could come to you by itself?" They replied that they don't know such kind of trick. Hazrat Junaid said: "I'll teach you such a trick that the wine will always come to you by itself." They all became happy, and asked to teach them now. Hazrat Junaid told them to first take a bath & then come to him by wearing some other clean cloths. They all did so, and came to him in the jungle. Then Hazrat Junaid told them to first perform two Raka't Salat (prayer), when all of them were busy in the prayer, Hazrat Junaid looked at the sky and said: "O God, I've made these misguided people to stand before you, and that's all I could do, now it's up to you to guide them." When those people finished their prayers, all of them were changed & became rightious.

Once a young Christian asked him: "What is the meaning of the Prophet's Hadith: "Beware the vision of the believer for he sees with the light of Allah?" Junaid remained immersed in thought then lifted his head and said: "Submit, for the time has come for you to accept Islam." The young man embraced Islam on the spot.