Hazrat Husain Karaabeesee (rahimahullah) narrates, “I once spent a night with Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah). He would perform salaah for approximately one third of the night. I did not see Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) reciting more than fifty verses of the Qur’aan in his salaah. If he increased his recitation, than he would not recite more than one hundred verses. Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) would not recite a verse mentioning the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala without begging Allah Ta‘ala for His mercy, and similarly he would not recite a verse mentioning the punishment of Allah Ta‘ala without begging Allah Ta‘ala for His protection from punishment. It was as if Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) was a complete embodiment of both the fear of Allah Ta‘ala, and hope in the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala.”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa’ 8/390)
Note:
This action of Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) was in emulation of the Mubaarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates that he once performed (nafl) Salaah behind Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). He mentioned that whenever Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would recite any verse discussing the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would pause and beg Allah Ta‘ala for His mercy. Similarly, whenever Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would recite any verse discussing the punishment of Allah Ta‘ala, he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would pause and beg Allah Ta‘ala for protection from His punishment.
(Sunan Tirmizi #262)
