Hasan bin ‘Abdil ‘Azeez Al-Jarawi Al-Misri (rahimahullah) narrates that Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) once said, “I never debated with any person and hoped that he would err, and I do not possess any knowledge in my heart except that I desire that every person could possess the same knowledge, without the knowledge being attributed to me.”
Rabee’ (rahimahullah) mentions, “I once entered the presence Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) while he was ill. I then heard him say, after mentioning the kitaabs that he had compiled, “I wish that the entire creation could acquire this knowledge without any of this knowledge being attributed to me.”
Abu Muhammed, a relative of Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah), mentions that he heard statements regarding Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) from both Hasan bin Muhammed bin Sabbaah Al-Za’faraani (rahimahullah) and Abul Waleed ibnu Abil Jaarood (rahimahullah).
One of them mentioned, “I heard Muhammed bin Idrees Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) take an oath and say, ‘I never debated with any person except that it was in order to wish well for him.’”
The other mentioned, “I heard Muhammed bin Idrees Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) say, ‘By Allah! I never debated with any person and liked that he would err.’”
(Aadaab-us-Shaafi‘ee wa Manaaqibuhu pg. 91-92)