Shaykh Habib Ali al-Jifri meets one of the 40 Abdaal, Shaykh Sayyid Ahmad Habbal al-Rifai Rahimahullah in Damascus:

Tabarani said in his Mu`jam al-awsat:

Anas said that the Prophet said: "The earth will never lack forty men similar to the Friend of the Merciful [Prophet Ibrahim], and through them people receive rain and are given help. None of them dies except Allah substitutes another in his place."

Qatada said: "We do not doubt that al-Hasan [al-Basri] is one of them."

Shaykh Ahmad Habbal was a scholar known for his immense piety and devotion. He was the person who led The gatherings in praise of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. In fact his contemporaries and other righteous scholars acknowledged his piety and status in front of Allah. He was Considered by many to be one of the abdal, he was a wali known for his immense piety and devotion. He was kind and compassionate to the poor and weak. He never missed the Fajr prayer in congregation until his illness a few months before he passed away and he was also known to have never missed any classes or Dhikrs with his teachers. Shaykh Aḥmad al-Ḥabbal completed the recitation of the Holy Quran once every week from the age of 15. He had the most perfect Adab with Allah , His messenger , the 'ulema, adults and also children.