Glad Tidings from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding the Acceptance of the Muwatta
In regard to the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), it is reported that Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) received special glad tidings of acceptance from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Muhammed bin Rumh (rahimahullah) reports the following:
I performed haj with my father when I was still a child and had not yet reached the age of maturity. On one occasion, when we were in Madinah Munawwarah, I fell asleep in the musjid of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the area of the raudhah, between the blessed qabr of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the mimbar.
In my sleep, I had a dream in which I saw that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had emerged from his grave and was taking support on the shoulders of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Seeing them, I immediately stood and greeted them with salaam. They replied to my salaam, after which I asked, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Where are you proceeding?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I am going to show Imaam Maalik the manner in which he will lead people to the Siraat-e-Mustaqeem.”
After awakening from my dream, my father and I found people gathered around Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah). This was the first time that Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) had presented his kitaab, the Muwatta, to the people and began narrating the Ahaadith of Muwatta to them. (Tazyeen-ul-Mamaalik pg. 87-88 and Taareekh Dimashq vol. 17 pg. 12)
Glad Tidings from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regarding the Knowledge of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah)
Apart from the above glad tidings which Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) received, there were other special glad tidings that he received from Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Hafiz Jalaal-ud-Deen Suyooti (rahimahullah) says that the ‘Ulamaa have mentioned that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had issued glad tidings in favor of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) in the following manner:
“Soon a time will come when people will travel lengthy journeys beating their camels in pursuit of ‘ilm. They will not find anyone as learned as the ‘Aalim of Madinah.”
It is also reported in a narration of Tirmizi that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Knowledge will be cut off, and there will not be anyone more knowledgeable than the ‘Aalim of Madinah.”
Sufyaan bin ‘Uyainah (rahimahullah) said, “The Muhadditheen attributed this glad tiding of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).”
Imaam ‘Abdur Razzaaq (rahimahullah) said, “We used to think that it was Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) that was being referred to (in the above-mentioned Hadith), because this title of “The ‘Aalim of Madinah” was neither associated with anyone other than Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), nor were camels beaten in travelling to Madinah Munawwarah to learn Hadith from anyone else as much as they were beaten for Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).” (Muqaddamah of Ml. Abdul Hayy Lucknowi of Muatta Imaam Muhammad pg. 9, Muqaddamah of Awjaz pg. 80)
Mus‘ab bin ‘Abdillah Zubairi narrates that his father, ‘Abdullah Zubairi, mentioned the following:
On one occasion, I was seated with Imaam Maaik (rahimahullah) in the blessed musjid of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) when a man arrived and asked, “Which one of you is Abu ‘Abdillah, Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah)?” The people gestured towards Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) and replied, “He is Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).”
The man then addressed Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) and said:
By Allah! I had a dream last night in which I saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) seated in this very place in the musjid. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Bring Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) to me.” The people thus brought you before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and your entire body was trembling out of the awe of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then addressed you by your kunyah (filial title) and said, “O Abu ‘Abdillah! There is no need for you to worry! Sit!” You thus sat, after which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) instructed, “Open your lap.” When you opened your lap before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), he filled it with musk and said, “Keep it with you and distribute it among my ummah.”
Hearing this dream, Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) began to weep. After weeping for some time, Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) remarked, “A dream is a glad tiding and a means of motivation, however it should not be a means of your retrogression (through you becoming complacent or boastful). If your dream is true, then the musk entrusted to me by Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) refers to the knowledge of deen which Allah Ta‘ala has blessed me with.” (Tazyeen-ul-Mamaalik pg. 39)