The advice of this man had a profound effect on my heart, and so I borrowed a copy of the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) (his compilation of Ahaadeeth) from a man in Makkah Mukarramah and memorized it. I then proceeded to the governor of Makkah Mukarramah, and obtained a letter from him to the governor of Madinah Munawwarah and to Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), interceding for me to be accepted as the student of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).

I thereafter arrived in Madinah Munawwarah and delivered the letter to the governor. After reading it, he said to me, “O youngster! It is easier for me to walk barefoot from the center of Madinah Munawwarah to the center of Makkah Mukarramah than to walk to the door of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), as I did not feel humbled until I stood before his door (on account of feeling overawed and overcome by respect for this great ‘Aalim of Deen).” Hearing this, I respectfully suggested to the governor, “If the governor sees fit, he can perhaps send a message to Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), asking him to come here.” The governor responded, “Never!” After saying this, we agreed to meet at the time of ‘Asr.

At the agreed time, we proceeded to the home of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah). On arriving at his home, one of us knocked on the door. The door was answered by a black slave girl to whom the governor said, “Tell your master that I am at the door.” The slave girl went back into the home and remained there for some time before returning and saying, “My master said, ‘If you wish to ask a mas’alah, send it to me on a piece of paper so that I can write the answer and send it out to you. If you wish to hear the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), then you are aware of the day in which the majlis (gathering) of Hadith is held, thus depart now and return on that day.”

(to be continued insha Allah)

(Aadaab-us-Shaafi‘ee wa Manaaqibuhu pg. 102-103)