Imaam Shafi’ee Visits Imaam Ahmad for a Meal.

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Imaam Shafi’ee Visits Imaam Ahmad – A Strange Incident With A Beautiful Explanation!

The Personal Relationship Between a Scholar and His Student.

Imam Ahmad used to mention the virtues of his sheikh, Imam Ash Shafi’ee to his wife. He would mention to her the extensive and superb knowledge of Imam Ash Shafi’ee as well as his taqwah (i.e. piety). Imam Ahmad invited Imam Ash Shafi’ee to come visit him at his home. When the time for dinner arrived, Imam Ash Shafi’ee ate until he was full and went to the guest room for some sleep.

The wife of Imam Ahmad said to him: “O Ahmad! Is this the same Shafi’ee that you used to tell me so much about?“

Imam Ahmad said: “Indeed he is!“

So she said: “I noticed three things about him worthy of criticism! Firstly, when we served him the food, he ate plenty of it! Secondly, when he went into the guest room, he went to sleep without standing up to perform the night prayer (i.e. tahujjud)! Lastly, when he prayed Salat ul Fajr with us, he did not perform ablution (i.e. wudhu)?!”

So Imam Ahmad went to Imam Ash Shafi’ee to ask him about these three matters his wife noticed. Imam Ash Shafi’ee said to him, (the way a father would explain to his son): “O Ahmad! I ate plenty because I know for certain that your food is halal (i.e. permissible islamically) and you are a generous man! And the food that comes from a generous man is a cure, while the food that comes from a stingy man is a disease!

However, I didn’t eat plenty of food in order to achieve my fill; rather I ate plenty of your food in order to derive the cure from it! As for the reason I didn’t stand up at night to perform the night prayer, when I laid my head down to get some sleep, I looked and all I could see was the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) right in front of my face! So I deducted 72 fiqh related benefits from them for the Muslims to benefit from. Thus there was no opportunity for me to stand and perform the night prayer!

As for the reason why I prayed Salat ul Fajr without performing ablution, by Allah! My eyes never tasted the sweetness of sleep in order for me to renew my wudhu!! I was awake the whole night, so I prayed Salat ul Fajr with the same wudhu I had for Salat ul Isha!!!“

[Collected by Al Hafidh Ibn Hajr in Fath ul Bari concisely and by Abu Nu’aim in Hilya tul Awliyaa’. Translated by Abu Azzubayr Shadeed Muhammad on 3/30/2010 in the City of Riyadh Saudi Arabia]

Source: Imaam Shafi’ee Visits Imaam Ahmad – A Strange Incident With A Beautiful Explanation! � The Authentic Base

al-Shafi’i on his deathbed Poem: "To you the Lord of creation, I raise my hope.."

To you.. (إليك) Elaika..

 ”To you the Lord of creation, I raise my hope..”

Watch YouTube Video Nasheed – Elaika - Sang by Mohammad Obaid محمد عبيد  [with English Translation]

Download Audio MP3

Imam Shafi`i on his death-bed was asked by Al Muzni “What is your condition?”

Then Imam Shafi’ (رحمه الله) replied,

“I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allah, Exalted is His remembrance, arriving. And no! By Allah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!”

Imam Shafi’ (رحمه الله) then began to cry profusely and recited the following; 

إلَيكَ إلـهُ الخَلْـق أرْفَــعُ رَغبَتِي *** و‘نْ كُنتُ يَا ذا المَنّ والجُودِ مُجْرِما

‘To You, the Creator, I raise my longing,
And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal

ولمَّا قَسَـا قلبي وضَـاقت مَذاهِبي *** جَعَلتُ الرَجـا مِني لِعَفوكَ سَلِمــا

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow,

I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape

تعَاظَمَنـي ذنبـي فلمَّـا قرِنتـُـهُ *** بعَفوكَ ربِّي كَانَ عَـفْوكَ أعْظَمــا

My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness,

I found Your forgiveness to be much greater

فمَا زِلتَ ذا عفو عَن الذنْبِ لَمْ تَزُلْ *** تَـجُـود وتعـفو منةً وتَكَرُّمـــا

You are and still remain the only One who can forgive sins,

You grant and forgive out of Your benevolence and generosity

فلولاكَ لَـمْ يَصْمُـدْ لإبلـيسِ عَابدٌ *** فكَيفَ وقدْ أغْوَى صَفْيَك آدِمـــا

Were it not for You, then a servant could never defy Iblis

And how can that be when he mislead Your friend Adam

فيَاليْتَ شَعْــرِي هَل أصَيرُ لِجنة *** أهنـــا؟ وأمَّـا للسَّعِير فأنْدَمــا

If only I knew! Will I arrive at Paradise that I may take delight

Or at Hellfire, that I may regret?

فللّهِ دَر العَـــارِفُ الـنـدبُ إنَّه *** تَفيض لفرْطِ الوَجْد أجفانُه دَمَّـــا

How capable is Allah! For the one acquainted with lament,

blood almost flows from his eyelids due to the excess of his emotions (lament)

يَقيـمُ إذا مَـا الليلُ مَدَّ ظَلامَــه *** على نَفسِهِ مِن شدَّةِ الخَوفِ مَأتمـا

He stands when the night extends out its darkness

Stands against himself out of extreme fear, sinful

فصِيحاً إذا ما كـانَ في ذكْـرِ رَبِّه *** وفيما سِوَاهُ في الوَرى كان أعْجَمـا

Eloquent when he makes mention of his Lord

And in the mention of others than Him, he is speechless

ويَذكُرُ أيَّامـاً مَضَـتْ مِن شَبَابـه *** وما كان فيها بالجَهَـالة أجْرَمـــا

He remembers days gone by of his youth

And what was in it of ignorance, he was a criminal

فصَارَ قَرينُ الهمِّ طُولَ نهَـــارِه *** أخا السَّهدِ والنجوى إذا الليل أظلمـا

And so for the whole of his day, the companion of grief has become

the brother of sleeplessness and secret conversation when the night darkens

يقول: حَبيبي أنـتَ سُؤلِي وبَغيتي *** كفى بكَ للرَّاجـيـنَ سُؤلاً ومغنمـا

He says, ‘My beloved, You are what I request and desire

You are enough of a longing and benefit for those who have hope

ألـسْتَ الذي غذيْتني وهَــدَيْتني *** ولا زلتَ مَنـَّانـا عليّ ومُنعِـمــا

Are You not the One who has provided for me and guided me

And You have not ceased being gracious to me and full of favours

عسَى مَنْ لَـهُ الإحْسَانَ يَغفِرُ زَلتِي *** ويَسْترُ أوْزارِي ومـا قـدْ تقدَّمــا

Perhaps the Beneficent One will forgive my mistakes

And cover up my crime and what has gone forth

تعاظمَني ذنبـي فأقبلتُ خاشِعــاً *** وَلوْلا الرِّضَـا ما كنتُ يَاربِّ مُنعَمـا

My sins seemed very great to me, so I turned (to You) in humility

Were it not for my contentment in you, I wouldn’t, O my Lord, have seen any comfort at all

فإنْ تعْفُ عَني تعْفُ عَـنْ مُتمَرِّد *** ظلوم غشــوم لا يَـزايَـلَ مأتمـا

So if You forgive me, You would have forgiven a sinner,

A rebellious, oppressive tyrant still sinning

فإن تنتـقـِمْ مِني فلستُ بآيـسٍ *** ولو أدخلوا نفسي بجـُـرْم جَهَنَّمـا

So if You were to seek revenge from me, I would not despair

Even if they entered my soul into Jahannum, due to the sins

فجُرْمِي عَظيم مِن قديم وحـَـادِث *** وعفوكَ يَأتي العَبْـدَ أعْلى وأجْسَمــا

For my crimes are great, past and present

But Your forgiveness comes to the servant, more exalted and more great

حوالي َّ فضلُ الله مِن كلِّ جَانِـب *** ونورٌ مِن الرَّحمـَن يُفترش السَّمــا
The bounty of Allaah surrounds me from all sides

And Light from the Most Merciful has spread in the sky

وفي القلبِ إشراقُ المحب بوَصْلِه *** إذا قارب البُـشرَى وجَازَ إلى الحمى

And in the heart is the radiance of the beloved when he is reunited

And when glad tidings draw close, it becomes feverish

حوالي إينــاس مِن الله وَحْـدَه *** يُطالعَني فِي ظلـمـةِ القبرأنجَمــا

Exhilaration surrounds me, only for Allaah

It overlooks me in the darkness of the grave, apparent and clear

أصُونُ وَدادي أن يُدنّسـه الهَوَى *** وأحفظُ عـَهْدِ الـحُبِّ أن يَتثلمــا

I protect my love, lest my desires should pollute it

And I preserve the contract of love, lest it be defiled

ففي يَقظتِي شَوْقٌ وفي غَفوَتِي منى *** تلاحـِقُ خُـطوَى نـشوَةً وترنمـا
In my wakefulness is yearning and in my slumber is destiny

That’s pursuing my footsteps in ecstasy

ومَن يَعْتصِمْ بالله يُسَلم مِن الوَرَى *** ومَن يَرْجه هَـيْهَاتُ أنْ يَتندُمـــا

Whoever holds fast to Allaah, he is protected from men

And whoever hopes for Him, then never will he regret..

http://ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=8393

‘… Until I came to this verse.’

‘… Until I came to this verse.’

Rabi’ ibn Sulayman (a companion of Imam al-Shafi’i) said:

‘We were with al-Shafi’i one day when an old man wearing garments of wool came to us with a walking-stick in his hand. Al-Shafi’i stood up, fixed his clothes and greeted the old man. He sat down and al-Shafi’i began looking at him in admiration when the man said:

Old man: Can I ask?

Al-Shafi’i: Ask.

Old man: What is the Hujjah (evidence) in the religion of Allah?

Al-Shafi’i: The Book of Allah.

Old man: What else?

Al-Shafi’i: The Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam).

Old man: What else?

Al-Shafi’i: The consensus of the Ummah.

Old man: Where did you get ‘consensus of the Ummah’ from? (i.e. what’s your evidence).

Al-Shafi’i pondered for a moment when the old man said:

Old man: I will leave you for 3 days. If you come up with evidence from the Book of Allah, fine. If not, then repent to Allah Ta’ala.

Al-Shafi’i’s face changed colour and then he left. He didn’t come out until the third day, between dhuhr and ‘asr. His face, hands and legs had swollen and he became ill. He sat down but it was only a short while when the old man returned. He greeted him and sat down then he said,

Old man: Do you have what I asked for?

Al-Shafi’i: Yes.

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.
Allah, the Most High said:

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءتْ مَصِيراً

“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the way of the believers, We shall keep him on the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell – and what an evil destination.” [al-Nisa: 115]

… And He (Allah `azza wa jall) will not burn him in Hell for opposing the believers in something except that it is something obligatory.’

Old man: You have told the truth.

Then he got up and left.

Al-Shafi’i then said to those around him: I read the Qur’an 3 times every day (in the 3 days he was given), until I came to this verse.’

- Siyar A’lam al-Nubala

It’s the case that sometimes, the Qur’an reveals its gems and answers at different times and on different occasions. Even if we may have read a particular verse many times before, it will suddenly sink in with us differently at another time.

As they say, ‘لا تنقضي عجائبه ‘ – its wonders never cease. May Allah grant us good understanding of His Book.

Imam al-Shafi’i and the Old Man |-| Fajr |-|

Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal’s Refusal of Appointment of Judge

Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal’s Refusal of Appointment of Judge

It is reported on the authority of Imam al-Shafee’ that he said to Ar-Rasheed:

“Yemen is in need of a judge.” He said: “Choose a man and we will appoint him to it.” So Imam al-Shafee’ said to Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, who was visiting him among a number of seekers of knowledge: “Will you not accept (the post of) judge in Yemen?” But he refused vehemently to accept it, saying: “I only visit you for the sake of (acquiring) the knowledge which causes me to abstain from the life of this world. Do you order me to accept the position of judge? Were it not for the knowledge, I would not speak to you after today.” Upon hearing this Imam al-Shafee’ became embarassed.”

Al Bidayah Wan-Nihaayah, vol 14, p. 386
Manaqib al-Shafee’ by al-Baihaqi

Golden Chains in Ahadith

Golden Chains

In ‘Sahih Muslim’ (2880), Sufyan bin ‘Uyaynah narrated from Zaynab bint Abi Salamah from Habibah from Umm Habibah from Zaynab bint Jahsh that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) woke up one day and said: “Woe to the Arabs from an evil that has come closer! Today, a gap this size has formed in the wall containing Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog),” and Sufyan formed a circle with his fingers to demonstrate what was relayed to him. So, Zaynab asked: “O Messenger of Allah, can we be destroyed while there are righteous people among us?” He said: “Yes, if corruption becomes widespread.”

an-Nawawi commented in ‘Sharh Sahih Muslim’ (9/180):

“This chain of narration contains four female Companions – two of the Messenger of Allah’s wives and two of his step-daughters – narrating from each other in a continuous chain. And it is not known that any other hadith besides this combines four female Companions with each narrating from the other in a continuous chain.”

And Ibn Kathir mentioned the following gem in ‘Tafsir al-Qur’an al-’Adhim’ (2/142):

‘know that knowledge is light. And the light of Allaah is not bestowed upon a disobedient.’

Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee once said:

“I complained to Wakee’ about my poor memory.

So he advised me to abandon disobedience, and he said,

‘know that knowledge is light. And the light of Allaah is not bestowed upon a disobedient.’

Wakee’ : Wakee’ Ibn al-Jarrah was a famous scholar from the Salaf and one of the teachers of Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee. He died in the year 196H.

>’know that knowledge is light. And the light of Allaah is not bestowed upon a disobedient.’

>Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee once said:

“I complained to Wakee’ about my poor memory.

So he advised me to abandon disobedience, and he said,

‘know that knowledge is light. And the light of Allaah is not bestowed upon a disobedient.’

Wakee’ : Wakee’ Ibn al-Jarrah was a famous scholar from the Salaf and one of the teachers of Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee. He died in the year 196H.

"I did not come here to look at elephants."

http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=271

“I did not come here to look at elephants.”

1 – Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“One day, Ibn Taymiyyah said to me, regarding an action that is permissible: “This goes against what those who are of the higher levels should be doing, even if its abandonment is not a condition for being from the successful.”"

['Madarij as-Salikin'; 2/26]

2 – al-Hafidh Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali bin Ahmad az-Zaydi said:

“Deal with optional acts of worship (nawafil) as if they are obligatory, and acts of disobedience as if they are kufr, and your desires as if they are poison, and socializing with the people as if it were fire, and nurturing of your soul as if it were medicine.”

['Khilasat al-Athar'; 3/401]

3 – It was narrated, regarding Yahya bin Yahya:

“…that when he was a young boy, he travelled from al-Andalus to Madinah in order to study with al-Imam Malik. One day, he was attending a lesson, along with Malik’s students. Suddenly, someone called out: “The elephants are here!” So, the companions of Malik all went out to look at the elephants that were passing by, except for Yahya, who stayed in his place.

al-Imam Malik then said to him: “Why did you not come out to see the elephants? I’m sure you’ve never seen one in al-Andalus.”

Yahya replied: “I came from my homeland to look at you, and to learn from your guidance and knowledge. I did not come here to look at elephants.”

So, Malik became impressed at this boy’s seriousness, and called him ‘The Wisest of al-Andalus.’”

[''Uluww al-Himmah'; p. 78]

4 – It was narrated, regarding ‘Abd ar-Rahman ad-Dakhil:

“…that he was from the ‘Abbasids. When he set out for al-Andalus, he was given a beautiful slavegirl as a gift. So, he looked at her, and said: “Verily, she has a great status with my eyes and heart, and if I were to be distracted from her by the tasks I aspire to accomplish on this journey, I would have wronged her. And if I were to be distracted by her from the tasks I aspire to accomplish on this journey, I would have wronged my aspirations. Therefore, I have no need for her at this time,” and he returned her to her owner.”

['Nafh at-Tib'; 4/43]

5 – ash-Shafi’i said:

إن لله عبادا فطنا * تركوا الدنيا وخافوا الفتنا
نظروا فيها فلما علموا * أنها ليست لحي وطنا
جعلوها لجة واتخذوا * صالح الأعمال فيها سفنا

Verily, Allah has intelligent slaves * They abandoned the dunya, and were cautious of its tribulations;

They looked to it, and when they realized * That it is not an abode for those who are truly alive;

They made it a transitory station, and took * Righteous actions as a vehicle.

['Diywan ash-Shafi'i']

>"I did not come here to look at elephants."

>http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=271

“I did not come here to look at elephants.”

1 – Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“One day, Ibn Taymiyyah said to me, regarding an action that is permissible: “This goes against what those who are of the higher levels should be doing, even if its abandonment is not a condition for being from the successful.”"

['Madarij as-Salikin'; 2/26]

2 – al-Hafidh Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali bin Ahmad az-Zaydi said:

“Deal with optional acts of worship (nawafil) as if they are obligatory, and acts of disobedience as if they are kufr, and your desires as if they are poison, and socializing with the people as if it were fire, and nurturing of your soul as if it were medicine.”

['Khilasat al-Athar'; 3/401]

3 – It was narrated, regarding Yahya bin Yahya:

“…that when he was a young boy, he travelled from al-Andalus to Madinah in order to study with al-Imam Malik. One day, he was attending a lesson, along with Malik’s students. Suddenly, someone called out: “The elephants are here!” So, the companions of Malik all went out to look at the elephants that were passing by, except for Yahya, who stayed in his place.

al-Imam Malik then said to him: “Why did you not come out to see the elephants? I’m sure you’ve never seen one in al-Andalus.”

Yahya replied: “I came from my homeland to look at you, and to learn from your guidance and knowledge. I did not come here to look at elephants.”

So, Malik became impressed at this boy’s seriousness, and called him ‘The Wisest of al-Andalus.’”

[''Uluww al-Himmah'; p. 78]

4 – It was narrated, regarding ‘Abd ar-Rahman ad-Dakhil:

“…that he was from the ‘Abbasids. When he set out for al-Andalus, he was given a beautiful slavegirl as a gift. So, he looked at her, and said: “Verily, she has a great status with my eyes and heart, and if I were to be distracted from her by the tasks I aspire to accomplish on this journey, I would have wronged her. And if I were to be distracted by her from the tasks I aspire to accomplish on this journey, I would have wronged my aspirations. Therefore, I have no need for her at this time,” and he returned her to her owner.”

['Nafh at-Tib'; 4/43]

5 – ash-Shafi’i said:

إن لله عبادا فطنا * تركوا الدنيا وخافوا الفتنا
نظروا فيها فلما علموا * أنها ليست لحي وطنا
جعلوها لجة واتخذوا * صالح الأعمال فيها سفنا

Verily, Allah has intelligent slaves * They abandoned the dunya, and were cautious of its tribulations;

They looked to it, and when they realized * That it is not an abode for those who are truly alive;

They made it a transitory station, and took * Righteous actions as a vehicle.

['Diywan ash-Shafi'i']