Subscribe now
Publications
Banking Details
Four Imaams (130)
Ibn Abi Uwais (rahimahullah) mentions that he heard Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) say, “This knowledge is (your) Deen. Therefore, be cautious regarding those from whom you take your Deen. I found seventy people narrating the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at these pillars of the musjid.” Saying this, Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) gestured towards the pillars of Musjid Nabawi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) continued, “However, I did not narrate any Hadith from them, even though each of them was such that if he had to be entrusted with the Bayt-ul-Maal (public treasury), he would be completely honest and trustworthy. The reason that I did not narrate Hadith from them is that they were not sufficiently qualified in the field of Hadith.”
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) was once owed an amount of money by a certain fire worshipper. He thus went to the house of the fire worshipper to request payment. However, as Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) arrived at the door of the fire worshipper, some najaasat (impurity) stuck to his sandal. Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) shook the sandal to remove the impurity, and as the impurity was removed, it fell onto the wall of the fire worshipper’s home! Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) was worried and perturbed. If he left the impurity on the wall, it would cause the wall to appear unsightly, and if he scraped it off, then some portion of the sand of the wall would also be removed.
Hazrat Sulaimaan bin Shaazakooni (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
I once witnessed an incident that highlights the Taqwa and caution of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah). I was present in Makkah Mukarramah when he left a bucket with a grain seller as collateral so that he could purchase some grain from him (on credit) to sustain himself.
After some time, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) returned to the grain seller and paid him for the grain, securing the release of his collateral. The grain seller presented two buckets to Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) and said, “Look at these buckets and see which belongs to you.” Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) replied, “I cannot identify which of the buckets belongs to me. Hence, I absolve you of my bucket as well as the money that I paid you for the grain (i.e. you may keep the bucket and the money for the grain).” Saying this, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) refused to take any of the buckets.
The grain seller thereafter remarked, “By Allah! I knew which bucket belonged to him, but I merely wished to test his Taqwa!”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 9/451)
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)
Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) once mentioned, “People’s memory and retention has become weak (that they cannot remember the Ahaadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and quote them accurately).
There was once a Muhaddith who possessed a kitaab of Hadith that was handwritten by none other than Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah). Narrating the incident that led to him acquiring this kitaab, he mentioned:
We studied Ahaadith under Imaam Sufyaan bin ‘Uyainah (rahimahullah) for a period of one year. Once, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was absent from the lessons of Hadith for a few days. I wished to visit him, and so I made enquiries and was directed to where he was residing. When I arrived at the place to which I was directed, I found that Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was residing in a cave in the area of Ajyaad (an area of Makkah Mukarramah near Safaa).
Studying Under Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) – Part Two
Written by user2(Continued)
The governor of Madinah Munawwarah said to the slave girl, “Tell him that I have a letter from the governor of Makkah Mukarramah regarding an urgent affair.” The slave girl entered the home, and after some time, returned with a chair which she placed on the ground. We then met Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), a man who was advanced in age and tall in stature. When Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) exited his home to meet us, he exuded awe and dignity, and was wearing a taylasaan (a shawl worn over the head and shoulders).
The governor of Madinah Munawwarah handed the letter of the governor of Makkah Mukarramah to Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) who commenced reading it. When he reached the part of the letter in which the governor had written, “This (i.e. Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah)) is a man who is noble in his affairs and condition. You should teach him Hadith.” Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) threw the letter down and exclaimed, “Subhaanallah! Has the knowledge of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) become so cheap that it can now be acquired through a mere casual request?”
Studying Under Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) – Part One
Written by user2Rabee’ bin Sulaimaan (rahimahullah) narrates that he heard Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) mention the following:
I departed from Makkah Mukarramah and joined the tribe of Huzail, travelling with them in the desert. I learned their manner of speaking and the Arabic that they spoke, as they were among the most eloquent of Arabs. I stayed with them for some time, walking with them whenever they departed, and halting with them whenever they stopped.
Thereafter, I returned to Makkah Mukarramah and began to engage in reciting poetry and recounting the history of different people and tribes. One day, a certain man from the tribe of Zuhra passed by and said to me, “O Abu ‘Abdillah! It pains me to see that you are not engaged in acquiring the knowledge of Deen and Fiqh (the understanding of Deen). That which you are currently engaged in is merely the art of eloquence and speaking fluently.” I immediately asked the man, “Who still remains from the ‘Ulamaa who are frequented for their knowledge of Deen?” The man replied, “Imaam Maalik bin Anas (rahimahullah), the leader of the Muslims.”
Believing in the Zaat and Sifaat of Allah Ta‘ala without Questioning
Written by user2Hazrat Ja’far bin ‘Abdillah (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
We were once with Imaam Maalik bin Anas (rahimahullah) when a man came to him and asked, “O Abu ‘Abdillah! The Qur’aan Majeed mentions:
اَلرَّحۡمٰنُ عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ اسۡتَوٰی ﴿۵﴾
Rahmaan (Allah Ta‘ala) has positioned Himself on the throne
How did Allah Ta‘ala position Himself on the throne?”
Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) was greatly affected by the question. Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) looked at the ground and began to scratch at it with a stick in his hand, until his body was covered in perspiration (as this critical question related to the zaat of Allah Ta‘ala and one should be extremely cautious in wrongly attributing anything to Allah Ta‘ala).
Qais bin Rabee’ (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would send merchandise to Baghdad which would be used to purchase goods. These goods would thereafter be brought to Kufah. The profit of these goods (through trading in them), from one year to the next, would accumulate by Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah).
Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) would use this profit to purchase the food and clothing of the great Muhadditheen and ‘Ulamaa and to see to all their needs and requirements. After seeing to all their needs and requirements, some wealth would remain from the profit. He would give them this remaining portion of the profit saying, “Spend on your needs and do not praise anyone besides Allah Ta‘ala, for I have not given you anything from my own wealth. Rather, it is the favor of Allah Ta‘ala upon me that I give to you. This (that I am giving to you) is the profit of your merchandise (i.e. Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) had allocated from his wealth a certain portion for fulfilling the needs of the Muhadditheen and ‘Ulamaa. The profits that accrued from that wealth, after trading in it, would be spent on them). By Allah! It is your sustenance that Allah Ta‘ala uses me to provide to you, as nobody is able to provide for the creation of Allah Ta‘ala besides Him.
(Manaaqib Imaam Abi Hanifah wa-Saahibayhi liz-Zahabi pg. 30)
More...
‘Ali bin abi Haraarah (rahimahullah) narrates:
My mother had been crippled for twenty years. One day, she said to me, “Go to Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah) and ask him to make du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala for me (to be cured).”
I thus went to the home of Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) and knocked on the door. Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was in the house, close to the door, and did not open the door. Rather, he called out, “Who is it?” I replied, “I am a person who lives in such-and-such area. My mother, who is crippled, asked me to request you to make du‘aa for her (to be cured).”
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:
إن الله يبعث لهذه الأمة على رأس كل مائة سنة من يجدد لها دينها (سنن أبي داود #4291)
Indeed Allah Ta‘ala sends for this Ummah, on the expiry of every one hundred years, a person who will revive their Deen for them.
Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah) has mentioned the following:
Indeed Allah Ta‘ala sends for the Ummah, at the termination of every century, a personality who will teach them (and revive) the Sunnah, and purify the Deen of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) from fabrications and unfounded practices. When we reflected (over personalities who fitted this description), we had found that Hazrat ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (rahimahullah) was the personality who was blessed to revive Deen at the termination of the first century, and Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) was the personality who was blessed to revive Deen at the termination of the second century.”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 10/46)
Haafiz ibn ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
‘Abdullah Al-‘Umuri (rahimahullah), who was renowned for exerting himself in ‘ibaadah, once wrote a letter to Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) in which he exhorted Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) to go into seclusion and exert himself in ‘ibaadah. Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) wrote the following reply:
Allah has indeed divided and distributed A’maal (righteous deeds and actions of worship) just as He has divided and distributed sustenance. Hence, how many a person is blessed to perform abundant Salaah, yet is not blessed to fast abundantly? Another person may be blessed to give abundant charity, yet is not blessed to fast abundantly, and there may be another person who is blessed to strive in Jihaad. The propagation of ‘Ilm (Deeni knowledge) is among the most virtuous of righteous actions, and I am happy and content that Allah has chosen this ‘ibaadah for me. Furthermore, I do not regard the ‘ibaadah that I am involved in to be any less virtuous or important than the ‘ibaadah that you are involved in. Rather, I hope that we are both on the path of righteousness and piety.
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa’ 8/114)
Ismaa‘eel bin Mujaalid (rahimahullah) narrates the following:
I was once with Haroon Rasheed, the Muslim Khalifah, when Imaam Abu Yusuf (rahimahullah), the student of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah), entered. Seeing him, Haroon Rasheed requested, “Describe the character of Imaam Abu Hanifah (rahimahullah) to me.” Imaam Abu Yusuf (rahimahullah) replied: