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Four Imaams (130)
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) Treading the Path of Fiqh
Written by user2Imaam Zufar (rahimahullah), the student of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah), reports that he once heard Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) mention the following, explaining how he had commenced acquiring the knowledge of Fiqh. Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) said:
Initially, I commenced studying and acquiring the knowledge of ‘Aqaa’id, until the time came when I was well known and renowned in this field. We would sit close to the gathering of Imaam Hammaad bin Abi Sulaimaan (rahimahullah).
One day, a woman came to me and asked me a mas’alah saying, “A man has a wife and he intends to divorce her in the correct Shar‘ee manner. How many talaaqs should he issue to her?” I did not know the answer, and so I instructed her to go to Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) and pose the question to him. I also told her to thereafter return to me and inform me of the answer that he gave. The woman went to Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) and enquired regarding the same mas’alah. Imaam Hammaad (rahimahullah) answered, “He should wait for her menses to complete and thereafter issue the talaaq in the state of purity wherein he did not engage in relations with her. He should thereafter allow her to complete her ‘iddat, after which it will be permissible for her to marry another man.”
Marroozi (rahimahullah) mentions:
I once saw Abu ‘Abdillah, Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah), stand to complete his ma’mool (apportioned amount) of tahajjud after approximately half the night had passed. He then remained engaged in completing it until it was close to the time of sehri. I also saw him performing nafl salaah (i.e. the sunnah of awwaabeen) between maghrib and ‘esha.
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa vol. 11 pg. 223)
Yunus bin ‘Abdul A‘laa (rahimahullah) mentions the following:
Hazrat Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) once said to me, “O Yunus! Staying away from people and totally refraining from interacting with them will create enmity in their hearts for you. On the other hand, associating with people too much will cause you to fall into bad company. You should thus adopt the path of moderation by neither associating with people too much, nor completely cutting yourself off from them.”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 10/89)
Consulting with One’s Seniors and not regarding Oneself to be Capable
Written by user2Khalaf bin ‘Umar (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
I once heard Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) mention, “I did not commence issuing fatwas until I consulted those ‘Ulamaa who were more knowledgeable than myself and sought their opinion. I asked them, ‘Do you regard me capable and worthy of issuing fatwas?’ I asked the great Imaams, Imaam Rabee‘ah (rahimahullah) and Imaam Yahya bin Sa‘eed (rahimahullah), if they felt me to be worthy of issuing fatwas, and they instructed me to serve in this deeni position.”
I then asked Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), “What would you have done had they prohibited you from issuing fatwas?” Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) replied, “If they prohibited me from issuing fatwas, I would have certainly refrained. It is not correct for a person to consider himself worthy of any position and engage in it before he first seeks the approval of those who have more knowledge than him.”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 8/62)
Laith bin Khaalid (rahimahullah) narrates the following from one of the students of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah):
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would perform abundant nafl salaah during the night. On one occasion, I saw him stand in salaah and recite the entire Qur’aan Majeed until Surah Takaathur. When he reached Surah Takaathur, he continued to recite it over and over again until the time of Tahajjud had ended and he completed his salaah.”
(‘Uqood-ul-Jummaan pg. 229)
Abu Bakr Marroozi (rahimahullah) once explained the character of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) by mentioning the following:
Abu ‘Abdillah, Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah), would not behave ignorantly, and if any person behaved ignorantly towards him, he would exercise tolerance and forbearance and would say, “Allah Ta‘ala is sufficient for me.” He would not harbor malice for anyone, nor would he act on impulse. He was extremely humble, displayed excellent character and was always seen smiling. He was soft in his approach when interacting with people and was never found to be harsh. If he liked any person, then his love would be for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala, and if he disliked some person, then his dislike would be for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala. If any aspect of Deen was violated, he would become extremely angry for the sake of Allah Ta‘ala. He would tolerate and endure the harm and inconvenience which was caused to him by his neighbors.
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 11/220-221)
Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) in the Eyes of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) – Part Two
Written by user2Hazrat Yahya bin Ma‘een (rahimahullah) was once seated with Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah) when Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) passed by, riding his mule. On seeing Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah), Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) immediately stood up and went behind him in order to greet him with salaam. Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) thereafter spoke to Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) for some time. After speaking to Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah), Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) returned to Hazrat Yahya bin Ma‘een (rahimahullah) who had remained seated and did not wake up to go and greet Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah).
Ja’far bin Sulaimaan, the ruler of Madinah Munawwarah, had mercilessly beaten Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) on account of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) passing the fatwa that the divorce of a compelled man is invalid (as is the mazhab of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).
Later on, when the ruler, Mansoor, performed Haj (and came to Madinah Munawwarah), he offered to seek revenge for Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) from Ja’far bin Sulaimaan. However, Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) refused and said, “May Allah forbid! By Allah! Before the whip could lift from my body, I had already forgiven him, on account of him being related to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
Bakr bin Ja’far (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
Sometimes, a person would enter into the presence of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) and would begin to speak about other people saying, “Such-and-such transpired to so-and-so.” When the man would wish to speak further about other people, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would prevent him from doing so saying, “Leave the topic which you are in (i.e. leave discussing other people’s lives). What do you say about this deeni mas’alah?” In this manner, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would prevent him from speaking further about people (and would divert his attention to another topic).
Abu Sa‘eed Al-Mu’addib once mentioned the following to ‘Abdullah (rahimahullah), the son of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah):
I would come to your father and he would give me three dirhams. Sometimes he would give me a little more than that and sometimes he would give me a little less than that. He would sit with me and speak to me. On some occasions, he would give me something and would thereafter mention, “I have given you half of what we have with us.”
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Imaam Muzani (rahimahullah) reports:
On one occasion, we were present by Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) when an old man wearing woolen clothing appeared. The old man then asked Imaam Shaafi‘ee, “May I ask a question?” Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) gave him permission. He then asked, “What are the Shar’ee proofs in the Deen of Allah Ta‘ala?” Imaam Shaafi’ee (rahimahullah) replied, “The Kitaab of Allah Ta‘ala.” He then asked, “And what else?” Imaam Shaafi’ee (rahimahullah) replied, “The Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He then asked, “And what else?” Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) replied, “The consensus of the Ummah.” He then asked, “What is your proof for this?” Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) thought for a while. The old man then said, “I give you respite for three days, either you bring me proof from the Qur’aan, or seek forgiveness and repent to Allah Ta‘ala.”
When mention would be made, in the presence of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), of people who were responsible for fabricating and innovating things in Deen, Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) would say the following, emphasizing the importance of holding onto the sunnah:
Hazrat ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (rahimahullah) said, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the righteous Khulafaa (Khulafaa-e-Raashideen and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum)) after him showed us the mubaarak sunnah and the way of Deen. In order to follow the Qur’aan Majeed, it will be necessary for one to hold firmly to the mubaarak sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Practicing on the mubaarak sunnah is the only way to show complete obedience to Allah Ta‘ala and strengthen one’s Deen. After the mubaarak sunnah has been shown to us by Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the righteous Khulafaa and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), it is not permissible for any person to change the mubaarak sunnah practices or to think of introducing anything new in Deen that opposes these sunnah practices. The one who follows the mubaarak sunnah will be rightly guided, and the one who seeks the divine assistance of Allah Ta‘ala through following the mubaarak sunnah will receive the divine assistance of Allah Ta‘ala. The one who abandons the way of the mubaarak sunnah will be treading a path which is not the path of the believers. Allah Ta‘ala will leave him in the path he has chosen and enter him into Jahannum, and how evil an abode it is!”
When Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) would quote this statement of Hazrat ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (rahimahullah), he would become extremely happy.
(Ad-Deebaaj-ul-Muzahhab 1/115-116)
Qadhi Abu ‘Abdillah As-Saymaree (rahimahullah) narrates the following from Imaam Abu Yusuf (rahimahullah):
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) was once asked regarding the two renowned students of Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), “Who is greater, Hazrat ‘Alqamah (rahimahullah) or Hazrat Aswad (rahimahullah)?” Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) replied, “By Allah! I am only worthy of taking their names by making du‘aa and istighfaar for them (that Allah Ta‘ala raise them in the Hereafter and overlook their shortcomings) out of respect for them, so how can I judge who is greater between them?”
(‘Uqood-ul-Jummaan pg. 227)
Marroozi (rahimahullah) mentions:
I did not see poor people honored in any majlis (gathering) more than they were honored in the majlis of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah). Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was more inclined towards the poor than the rich and wealthy. He was blessed with the quality of tolerance and forbearance, and would not act on impulse or haste. He was extremely humble at all times, and was an embodiment of dignity and respect. When he would sit in his majlis after ‘Asr to attend to people’s problems and answer their deeni queries, then he would not speak until a question was posed to him. When he would proceed to the musjid, he would not walk ahead of people (showing himself to be distinguished and different from the people).
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa vol. 9 pg. 460)