Usman al Hiri (844 – 910 CE) was a renowned Persian Sufi master born in Rayy. He studied with Hafs al Haddad in Nishapur, and is known to have visited Junaid in Baghdad.

Someone once asked al Hiri, “Sir, my tongue repeats the Name of the Lord, but in truth my mind wanders. What should I do?”

Al Hiri replied, “Be grateful to the Lord that He has conferred his Grace on your tongue, that it gladly repeats the Name. He will confer the same happiness to other parts also if you are grateful to Him for His gift.”