Forget The Form

Abu Yazid, when a child, was taken by his father to school to learn jurisprudence. When he was brought before the schoolmaster he asked, “Is this the jurisprudence of God?” They said, “This is the jurisprudence of Abu Hanifa.” He said, “I want the jurisprudence of God.”
When he was brought before the grammar teacher, he asked, “Is this the grammar of God?” The teacher said, “This is the grammar of Sibawaihi.” Abu Yazid said, “I do not want it.”
He spoke this way wherever his father took him. His father could do nothing with him, and finally let him be. Later he came to Baghdad upon his quest, and as soon as he saw Junaid he shouted, “This is the jurisprudence of God!” How could it be that a lamb would not recognize its own mother on whose milk it has been suckled? So, forget the form.

Fihi Ma Fihi - Discourse 39