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Four Imaams (130)
When Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) began to prepare the Muwatta, there were many other ‘Ulamaa in Madinah Munawwarah who were also preparing kitaabs of Hadith. Hence, a certain person came to Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) and remarked, “Why have you dedicated your time and effort to preparing this kitaab when many other ‘Ulamaa have prepared similar kitaabs?”
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) in the Eyes of Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mubaarak (rahimahullah)
Written by user2Mansoor bin Haashim reports:
We were once in the company of Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mubaarak (rahimahullah) in Qaadisiyyah when a man from Kufah came to him and began to speak ill of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah). Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin Mubaarak (rahimahullah) reproached the man saying, “Woe to you! How can you speak ill of a man who performed ‘esha and fajr with the same wudhu for forty five years (due to spending the entire night in salaah), and he would recite the entire Qur’aan Majeed in one night in two rakaats of salaah, and I acquired the knowledge of Fiqh with which I was blessed from none other than him?”
(Tabyeedh-us-Saheefah pg. 136)
Qutaibah bin Sa‘eed (rahimahullah) reports the following:
I once came to the city of Baghdad with the sole intention of meeting Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah). It then so happened that Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) came to me with Yahya bin Ma‘een (rahimahullah).
On meeting, we sat together and engaged in different ‘ilmi discussions. After some time, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) awoke from his place and came to sit in front of me with respect. He then requested, “Please dictate such-and-such Hadith to me.” After I dictated the Hadith to Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah), he awoke and returned to his place where he again sat as normal. We then resumed our discussions.
Allah Ta‘ala had blessed Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) to compile a kitaab of Hadith known as the Muwatta. This kitaab gained great acceptance and has been held in high esteem by the ‘Ulamaa throughout the centuries. In fact, the greatness of this kitaab can be gauged by the statement of Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) who said, “After the Qur’aan Majeed, there is no kitaab on the surface of the earth that is more saheeh than the kitaab of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah).” (Tazyeen-ul-Mamaalik pg. 90)
Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) had mentioned this before the compilation of Saheeh Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim. However, after the compilation of these two kitaabs, the ‘Ulamaa are unanimous that these two kitaabs are the most saheeh after the Qur’aan Majeed.
On one occasion, a person buried some wealth in a certain place for safekeeping, but subsequently forgot where he had buried it. He thus came to Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) and laid his complaint before him, asking if he could assist in any way.
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) responded, “Your question is not related to fiqh. Hence, there is no mas’alah for me to work out. Nevertheless, you should go home and perform salaah the entire night until the morning, as you will then remember where you buried your wealth.”
The Generosity of Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) – Part Three
Written by user2Rabee’ bin Sulaimaan (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
On one occasion, we were with Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) when he exited from the musjid in Egypt and the strap of his sandal broke. Seeing what transpired, a certain person came forward, fixed the strap of Imaam Shaafi‘ee’s (rahimahullah) sandal and handed it back to him.
‘Amr Al-Naaqid narrates the following incident:
We were once seated in the presence of Imaam Wakee’ (rahimahullah) when Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) arrived and joined the gathering. He sat with extreme humility and respect.
I asked Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah), “O Abu ‘Abdillah! Imaam Wakee (rahimahullah), honors you, so why don’t you speak freely in his presence?” Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) replied, “Even though he honors me, it is only befitting that I show him respect by remaining silent in his presence (and only speaking when required to speak).”
(Manaaqib Imaam Ahmed libnil Jowzi pg. 70)
The Glad Tidings of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) for Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah)
Written by user2Mus‘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).
Abul Juwairiyah (rahimahullah) mentions the following:
I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time in the company of Hammaad bin Abi Sulaimaan (rahimahullah), ‘Alqamah bin Marthad (rahimahullah), Muhaarib bin Dithaar (rahimahullah) and ‘Awn bin ‘Abdillah (rahimahullah). I was also blessed with the opportunity to spend time in the company of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah), and I did not find any person who spent his night more excellently than Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah). I spent six months in his company, and during the entire period of six months, I never once saw him lie down and sleep at night (i.e. every night, he would spend the entire night performing salaah).
(Tabyeedh-us-Saheefah pg. 126)
The Abstinence of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) – Part Three
Written by user2Imaam ‘Abdur Razzaaq (rahimahullah) once remembered the following incident regarding Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah), and began to tear as he narrated it. He said:
When Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) arrived, I learnt that all his money was depleted. I thus took ten dinars (gold coins) and presented them to him. When I presented the money to Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah), he smiled and said, “O Abu Bakr! If there was any person from whom I would have accepted something as assistance, it would have been you.” Saying this, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) declined to accept the money from me.
Note: Perhaps Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) declined to accept the financial assistance of Imaam ‘Abdur Razzaaq (rahimahullah) as he felt that he would be able to earn wealth in a halaal manner and remain independent from the creation. The focus of these great servants of Allah Ta‘ala was always towards Allah Ta‘ala, and they never turned their gaze towards the creation, seeking handouts and gifts from them.
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa vol. 11 pg. 229)
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Following a Person who Holds Deviated Beliefs in Deen
Written by user2Yunus bin ‘Abdil A’laa (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
I once said to Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah), “Our companion, Imaam Laith bin Sa’d (rahimahullah), has mentioned in regard to people who hold deviated beliefs, ‘Even if I see a person who holds deviated beliefs in deen walking on water, I will not accept him and follow him.’”
Hearing this, Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) remarked, “Imaam Laith (rahimahullah) has said well, but has not expressed the matter to the point I would have expressed it. I would say that let alone such a person walking on water, even if I see him flying in the air, I would not accept him and follow him.”
(Manaaqib-ush-Shaafi‘ee lilBayhaqi pg. 1/453)
Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) once mentioned, “The knowledge of deen is a divine light which Allah Ta‘ala places in the hearts of His selected servants (through which they are able to understand deen correctly). Knowledge of deen is not acquired by merely narrating Ahaadith (without understanding the correct meaning of the Ahaadith).
(Tazyeen-ul-Mamaalik pg. 38)
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) in the Words of Imaam Wakee’ (rahimahullah)
Written by user2Imaam Wakee’ (rahimahullah) once described Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) in the following words:
By Allah! Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) was extremely honest and trustworthy. His heart was filled with the awareness of Allah Ta‘ala and His greatness. He would give preference to pleasing Allah Ta‘ala over everything else. His high level of pleasing Allah at every moment was such that even if he had been struck by swords in trying to uphold deen and please Allah Ta‘ala, he would have surely bore it with patience and been pleased with the decree of Allah, in the manner which the pious friends of Allah are always pleased with the decree of Allah. Certainly, Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) was among the pious friends of Allah.
(Tabyeedh-us-Saheefah pg. 123)
The Humility of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) – Part Two
Written by user2Muhammad bin Hasan bin Haroon once mentioned, “I noticed that whenever Abu ‘Abdillah, Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah), would walk on the road, he disliked that people walk behind him out of honor for him.”
(Siyar A’laam nin Nubalaa 11/226)
Imaam Yahya bin Ma‘een (rahimahullah) said, “I never saw a person like Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah). We remained with him for fifty years, yet we never saw him, on even a single occasion, boast and express his superiority over us, despite the abundant virtue that he possessed.”
(Siyar A’laam nin Nubalaa 11/214)