1 00:00:00,430 --> 00:00:03,430 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,430 --> 00:00:08,429 The best of generations in stances and exemplary deeds, 3 00:00:08,429 --> 00:00:13,429 Following the Messenger whenever he strove or spoke. 4 00:00:13,429 --> 00:00:15,429 Mawaddah Association 5 00:00:15,429 --> 00:00:17,429 Presents: 6 00:00:17,429 --> 00:00:21,429 Portraits from the Lives of the Tabi'un 7 00:00:21,429 --> 00:00:25,879 By Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha, 8 00:00:25,879 --> 00:00:27,879 May Allah have mercy on him. 9 00:00:27,879 --> 00:00:32,119 'Amir ibn Sharahbil, 10 00:00:33,119 --> 00:00:35,500 May Allah have mercy on him. 11 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:48,500 Six years into the caliphate of al-Faruq, may Allah be pleased with him, 12 00:00:48,500 --> 00:00:53,500 A boy of frail body and slight build was born to the Muslims. 13 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:58,500 That was because his twin brother crowded him in their mother's womb, 14 00:00:58,500 --> 00:01:01,500 Leaving him little room to grow. 15 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:04,500 Yet after that, his brother was never able— 16 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:09,500 Nor was anyone else—to rival him in the realms of knowledge, forbearance, 17 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:12,500 Memory, comprehension, and sheer genius. 18 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:16,500 That was 'Amir ibn Sharahbil al-Himyari, 19 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:18,500 Known as al-Sha'bi, 20 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:22,819 The genius prodigy of the Muslims in his era. 21 00:01:22,819 --> 00:01:25,819 Al-Sha'bi was born in Kufa and grew up there, 22 00:01:25,819 --> 00:01:28,819 Yet al-Madinah al-Munawwarah 23 00:01:28,819 --> 00:01:31,819 Was the longing of his heart and the aspiration of his soul. 24 00:01:31,819 --> 00:01:34,819 So he would travel to it from time to time 25 00:01:34,819 --> 00:01:38,819 To meet the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 26 00:01:38,819 --> 00:01:40,819 And to learn directly from them, 27 00:01:40,819 --> 00:01:44,819 Just as the noble Companions used to journey to Kufa, 28 00:01:44,819 --> 00:01:48,819 Taking it as a launching base for jihad in the cause of Allah 29 00:01:48,819 --> 00:01:50,819 Or as an abode for their residence. 30 00:01:50,819 --> 00:01:56,819 Thus, he had the opportunity to meet around five hundred of the noble Companions, 31 00:01:56,819 --> 00:01:59,819 And to narrate from a large number of their eminent figures, 32 00:01:59,819 --> 00:02:02,819 Such as 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, 33 00:02:02,819 --> 00:02:04,819 Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, 34 00:02:04,819 --> 00:02:06,819 Zayd ibn Thabit, 35 00:02:06,819 --> 00:02:08,819 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, 36 00:02:08,819 --> 00:02:10,819 Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, 37 00:02:10,819 --> 00:02:12,819 Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, 38 00:02:12,819 --> 00:02:14,819 Al-Nu'man ibn Bashir, 39 00:02:14,819 --> 00:02:16,819 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, 40 00:02:16,819 --> 00:02:18,819 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas, 41 00:02:18,819 --> 00:02:20,819 'Adi ibn Hatim, 42 00:02:20,819 --> 00:02:22,819 Abu Hurayrah, 43 00:02:22,819 --> 00:02:24,819 'A'ishah, the Mother of the Believers, 44 00:02:24,819 --> 00:02:26,819 And many, many others, 45 00:02:26,819 --> 00:02:28,819 May Allah be pleased with them all. 46 00:02:28,819 --> 00:02:35,000 Al-Sha'bi was a youth of blazing intellect and an alert heart, 47 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,000 Possessing a refined mind and precise comprehension, 48 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000 A marvel in the strength of his retention and memory. 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,000 For it was related from him that he said: 50 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,000 "I have never written black ink on white paper, 51 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,000 Nor has any man narrated a hadith to me without my memorizing it, 52 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 Nor have I ever heard words from anyone 53 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,000 And wished that he would repeat them to me." 54 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:02,159 The young man was devoted to knowledge and infatuated with learning, 55 00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:05,159 Expending his life and his most precious possessions for their sake, 56 00:03:05,159 --> 00:03:08,159 And deeming all hardships trivial in their pursuit, 57 00:03:08,159 --> 00:03:10,159 For he used to say: 58 00:03:10,159 --> 00:03:15,159 "If a man were to travel from the farthest reaches of the Levant to the farthest reaches of Yemen, 59 00:03:15,159 --> 00:03:20,159 And memorized a single word that benefited him in the rest of his life, 60 00:03:20,159 --> 00:03:23,159 I would consider that his journey was not wasted." 61 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:26,159 Such was the extent of his knowledge that he used to say: 62 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:29,159 "The least of what I have learned is poetry; 63 00:03:29,159 --> 00:03:32,159 Yet if I wished, I could recite it to you for a whole month 64 00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:36,159 Without ever repeating anything I had already recited." 65 00:03:36,159 --> 00:03:40,319 A study circle used to be held for him in the Grand Mosque of Kufa, 66 00:03:40,319 --> 00:03:43,319 Around which people gathered in crowds, 67 00:03:43,319 --> 00:03:48,319 While Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) were still alive, 68 00:03:48,319 --> 00:03:51,319 Going about their daily lives among the people. 69 00:03:51,319 --> 00:03:55,319 Indeed, 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) 70 00:03:55,319 --> 00:04:00,319 Once heard him recounting to the people the accounts of the military expeditions, 71 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:03,319 With all their intricacies and subtle details. 72 00:04:03,319 --> 00:04:06,319 So he listened attentively to him and said: 73 00:04:06,319 --> 00:04:09,319 "I witnessed with my own eyes some of what he is recounting, 74 00:04:09,319 --> 00:04:11,319 And I heard it with my own ears, 75 00:04:11,319 --> 00:04:15,319 Yet he has memorized and transmitted it better than I have!" 76 00:04:15,319 --> 00:04:17,319 The testimonies to the vastness of al-Sha'bi's knowledge 77 00:04:17,319 --> 00:04:20,319 And his sharp presence of mind are abundant and plentiful. 78 00:04:20,319 --> 00:04:23,319 Among these is what he narrated about himself: 79 00:04:23,319 --> 00:04:27,319 He said, "Two men came to me boasting of their ancestry; 80 00:04:27,319 --> 00:04:29,319 One of them was from the tribe of Banu 'Amir, 81 00:04:29,319 --> 00:04:31,319 And the other was from Banu Asad. 82 00:04:31,319 --> 00:04:35,319 The 'Amiri had overpowered his companion and gained the upper hand over him, 83 00:04:35,319 --> 00:04:39,319 Grabbing him by his garment and dragging him forcefully toward me, 84 00:04:39,319 --> 00:04:43,319 While the Asadi was humiliated before him, pleading with him: 85 00:04:43,319 --> 00:04:45,319 'Let me go! Let me go!' 86 00:04:45,319 --> 00:04:47,319 But the 'Amiri said to him: 87 00:04:47,319 --> 00:04:51,319 'By Allah, I will not let you go until al-Sha'bi judges between me and you!' 88 00:04:52,319 --> 00:04:55,319 So I turned to the 'Amiri and said to him: 89 00:04:55,319 --> 00:04:58,319 'Release your companion so that I may judge between you two.' 90 00:04:58,319 --> 00:05:01,319 Then I looked at the Asadi and said: 91 00:05:01,319 --> 00:05:04,319 'Why do I see you yielding meekly to him, 92 00:05:04,319 --> 00:05:07,319 When you possess six marks of glory 93 00:05:07,319 --> 00:05:09,319 That belonged to no other among the Arabs? 94 00:05:09,319 --> 00:05:11,319 The first of them 95 00:05:11,319 --> 00:05:15,319 Is that from among you was a woman sought in marriage by the master of creation, 96 00:05:15,319 --> 00:05:19,319 Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 97 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:23,319 And Allah married her to him from above the seven heavens, 98 00:05:23,319 --> 00:05:27,319 With Gabriel, peace be upon him, serving as the emissary between them; 99 00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:31,319 She is the Mother of the Believers, Zaynab bint Jahsh. 100 00:05:31,319 --> 00:05:34,319 Thus, this noble distinction belonged to your people, 101 00:05:34,319 --> 00:05:38,319 And to no other among the Arabs besides you. 102 00:05:38,319 --> 00:05:39,319 The second 103 00:05:39,319 --> 00:05:44,319 Is that from among you was a man destined for Paradise walking upon the earth: 104 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:47,319 'Ukkashah ibn Mihsan. 105 00:05:47,319 --> 00:05:50,319 This belonged to you, O Banu Asad, 106 00:05:50,319 --> 00:05:53,319 And to no one else among mankind. 107 00:05:53,319 --> 00:05:55,319 The third 108 00:05:55,319 --> 00:05:58,319 Is that the very first banner tied in Islam 109 00:05:58,319 --> 00:06:00,319 Belonged to a man from among you: 110 00:06:00,319 --> 00:06:02,319 'Abdullah ibn Jahsh. 111 00:06:02,319 --> 00:06:04,319 The fourth 112 00:06:04,319 --> 00:06:08,319 Is that the very first war booty distributed in Islam was his booty. 113 00:06:08,319 --> 00:06:10,319 The fifth 114 00:06:10,319 --> 00:06:14,319 Is that the first person to pledge allegiance at the Pledge of al-Ridwan was from among you; 115 00:06:14,319 --> 00:06:17,319 For your companion Abu Sinan ibn Wahb came 116 00:06:17,319 --> 00:06:20,319 To the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 117 00:06:20,319 --> 00:06:23,319 And said: 'O Messenger of Allah, 118 00:06:23,319 --> 00:06:26,350 Stretch out your hand that I may pledge allegiance to you.' 119 00:06:26,350 --> 00:06:28,350 He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 120 00:06:28,350 --> 00:06:30,350 'Upon what?' 121 00:06:30,350 --> 00:06:32,350 He replied: 'Upon whatever is in your soul.' 122 00:06:32,350 --> 00:06:34,350 He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 123 00:06:34,350 --> 00:06:36,350 'And what is in my soul?' 124 00:06:36,350 --> 00:06:39,350 He replied: 'Either victory or martyrdom.' 125 00:06:39,350 --> 00:06:41,350 The Prophet said: 'Yes,' 126 00:06:41,350 --> 00:06:42,350 And accepted his pledge of allegiance, 127 00:06:42,350 --> 00:06:46,350 Whereupon the people began pledging allegiance following the example of Abu Sinan's pledge. 128 00:06:46,350 --> 00:06:48,420 And the sixth 129 00:06:48,420 --> 00:06:50,420 Is that your people, Banu Asad, 130 00:06:50,420 --> 00:06:53,420 Made up one-seventh of the Emigrants on the day of Badr.'" 131 00:06:53,420 --> 00:06:56,480 The 'Amiri was dumbfounded and fell silent. 132 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,610 There is no doubt that al-Sha'bi 133 00:06:59,610 --> 00:07:03,610 Intended to support the weak and defeated against the strong and triumphant; 134 00:07:03,610 --> 00:07:06,610 Had the 'Amiri been the humiliated one, 135 00:07:06,610 --> 00:07:11,610 He would have recounted to him virtues of his people beyond what he ever knew. 136 00:07:11,610 --> 00:07:17,019 When the caliphate passed to 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, 137 00:07:17,019 --> 00:07:20,019 He wrote to al-Hajjaj, his governor over Iraq: 138 00:07:20,019 --> 00:07:24,019 "Send me a man well-suited for matters of both religion and this worldly life, 139 00:07:24,019 --> 00:07:27,019 Whom I may take as a confidant and companion." 140 00:07:27,019 --> 00:07:30,019 So he sent al-Sha'bi to him. 141 00:07:30,019 --> 00:07:32,019 The caliph made him one of his closest intimates, 142 00:07:32,019 --> 00:07:35,019 Turning to his knowledge in complex dilemmas, 143 00:07:35,019 --> 00:07:38,019 Relying upon his counsel in grave crises, 144 00:07:38,019 --> 00:07:42,019 And dispatching him as an ambassador between himself and other monarchs. 145 00:07:42,019 --> 00:07:47,079 He once sent him on a mission to Justinian, the Emperor of the Romans. 146 00:07:47,079 --> 00:07:50,079 When al-Sha'bi entered his presence and the Emperor heard him speak, 147 00:07:50,079 --> 00:07:54,079 He was captivated by his intellect, astounded by his shrewdness, 148 00:07:54,079 --> 00:07:58,079 And impressed by his vast erudition and powerful eloquence. 149 00:07:58,079 --> 00:08:04,079 So he detained him at his court for many days, contrary to his usual custom with envoys. 150 00:08:04,079 --> 00:08:09,079 When al-Sha'bi insisted that he grant him permission to return to Damascus, 151 00:08:09,079 --> 00:08:11,079 The Roman Emperor asked him: 152 00:08:11,079 --> 00:08:14,079 "Are you from the royal household?" 153 00:08:14,079 --> 00:08:15,079 He replied: "No; 154 00:08:15,079 --> 00:08:19,079 I am merely an ordinary man from among the common Muslims." 155 00:08:19,079 --> 00:08:22,110 When the Emperor finally permitted him to depart, 156 00:08:22,110 --> 00:08:23,110 He said to him: 157 00:08:23,110 --> 00:08:25,110 "When you return to your sovereign— 158 00:08:25,110 --> 00:08:28,110 Meaning 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan— 159 00:08:28,110 --> 00:08:31,110 And convey to him all that he wishes to know, 160 00:08:31,110 --> 00:08:34,110 Deliver this letter to him." 161 00:08:34,110 --> 00:08:37,110 When al-Sha'bi returned to Damascus, 162 00:08:37,110 --> 00:08:40,110 He hastened to meet 'Abd al-Malik, 163 00:08:40,110 --> 00:08:43,110 Disclosing to him everything he had seen and heard, 164 00:08:43,110 --> 00:08:47,110 And answering all that the caliph asked him about. 165 00:08:47,110 --> 00:08:49,110 As he stood up to take his leave, 166 00:08:49,110 --> 00:08:51,110 He said: "O Commander of the Believers, 167 00:08:51,110 --> 00:08:55,110 The Roman Emperor entrusted me with this letter for you." 168 00:08:55,110 --> 00:08:58,110 He handed it to him and departed. 169 00:08:58,110 --> 00:09:01,139 When 'Abd al-Malik read it, 170 00:09:01,139 --> 00:09:02,139 He said to his servants: 171 00:09:02,139 --> 00:09:04,139 "Bring him back to me!" 172 00:09:04,139 --> 00:09:05,139 So they brought him back. 173 00:09:05,139 --> 00:09:08,179 'Abd al-Malik said to al-Sha'bi: 174 00:09:08,179 --> 00:09:11,179 "Do you know what is in this letter?" 175 00:09:11,179 --> 00:09:12,179 He replied: 176 00:09:12,179 --> 00:09:14,179 "No, O Commander of the Believers." 177 00:09:14,179 --> 00:09:16,179 'Abd al-Malik said: 178 00:09:16,179 --> 00:09:19,179 "The Roman Emperor has written to me, saying: 179 00:09:19,179 --> 00:09:21,179 'I marvel at the Arabs! 180 00:09:21,179 --> 00:09:25,179 How could they make anyone their ruler other than this young man?'" 181 00:09:25,179 --> 00:09:28,179 Al-Sha'bi quickly remarked: 182 00:09:28,179 --> 00:09:31,179 "He only said this because he has not seen you; 183 00:09:31,179 --> 00:09:34,179 Had he seen you, O Commander of the Believers, 184 00:09:34,179 --> 00:09:36,179 He would never have said it." 185 00:09:36,179 --> 00:09:38,179 'Abd al-Malik said: 186 00:09:38,179 --> 00:09:42,179 "Do you know why the Roman Emperor wrote this to me?" 187 00:09:42,179 --> 00:09:44,179 Al-Sha'bi replied: 188 00:09:44,179 --> 00:09:46,179 "No, O Commander of the Believers." 189 00:09:46,179 --> 00:09:48,179 'Abd al-Malik said: 190 00:09:48,179 --> 00:09:51,179 "He only wrote this to me 191 00:09:51,179 --> 00:09:53,179 Because he envied me for having you, 192 00:09:53,179 --> 00:09:57,399 And wished to incite me to execute you and rid himself of you." 193 00:09:57,399 --> 00:10:00,399 When news of this reached the Roman Emperor, 194 00:10:00,399 --> 00:10:01,399 He remarked: 195 00:10:01,399 --> 00:10:03,399 "How remarkable he is! 196 00:10:03,399 --> 00:10:06,840 By Allah, I intended nothing other than that." 197 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,840 Al-Sha'bi attained such a high standing in knowledge 198 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,840 That made him one of the four foremost scholars of his era; 199 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,840 Al-Zuhri used to say: 200 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,840 "The premier scholars are four: 201 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,840 Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib in Medina, 202 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,840 'Amir al-Sha'bi in Kufa, 203 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,840 al-Hasan al-Basri in Basra, 204 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:27,840 and Makhul in the Levant." 205 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:29,899 Yet al-Sha'bi, 206 00:10:29,899 --> 00:10:31,899 out of profound humility, felt embarrassed 207 00:10:31,899 --> 00:10:34,899 whenever anyone conferred upon him the title of "scholar." 208 00:10:35,899 --> 00:10:38,899 A man once addressed him, saying: 209 00:10:38,899 --> 00:10:41,899 "Answer me, O learned jurist!" 210 00:10:41,899 --> 00:10:42,899 So he said: 211 00:10:42,899 --> 00:10:43,899 "Woe to you! 212 00:10:43,899 --> 00:10:46,899 Do not praise us for qualities we do not possess. 213 00:10:46,899 --> 00:10:49,899 The true jurist is one who refrains from what Allah has forbidden, 214 00:10:49,899 --> 00:10:52,899 and the true scholar is one who fears Allah. 215 00:10:52,899 --> 00:10:54,899 And how far we are from that!" 216 00:10:54,899 --> 00:10:57,899 Another person asked him about a legal matter, 217 00:10:57,899 --> 00:10:58,899 and he replied: 218 00:10:58,899 --> 00:11:01,899 "'Umar ibn al-Khattab ruled such-and-such concerning it, 219 00:11:01,899 --> 00:11:05,899 and 'Ali ibn Abi Talib ruled such-and-such." 220 00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:07,899 The questioner asked him: 221 00:11:07,899 --> 00:11:10,899 "And what do you say, O Abu 'Amr?" 222 00:11:10,899 --> 00:11:13,899 He smiled bashfully and said: 223 00:11:13,899 --> 00:11:15,899 "What will you do with my opinion 224 00:11:15,899 --> 00:11:21,220 after having heard the verdicts of 'Umar and 'Ali?" 225 00:11:21,220 --> 00:11:23,220 Al-Sha'bi was 226 00:11:23,220 --> 00:11:27,220 adorned with noble traits and illustrious virtues. 227 00:11:27,220 --> 00:11:28,220 Among these was 228 00:11:28,220 --> 00:11:30,220 that he detested disputation 229 00:11:31,220 --> 00:11:34,220 and carefully refrained from meddling in what did not concern him. 230 00:11:34,220 --> 00:11:38,220 One of his companions spoke to him one day, saying: 231 00:11:38,220 --> 00:11:40,220 "O Abu 'Amr!" 232 00:11:40,220 --> 00:11:42,220 He replied, "At your service." 233 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:43,220 The man said: 234 00:11:43,220 --> 00:11:49,220 "What do you say regarding the dispute among the people concerning these two men?" 235 00:11:49,220 --> 00:11:51,220 Al-Sha'bi asked: 236 00:11:51,220 --> 00:11:53,220 "Which two men do you mean?" 237 00:11:53,220 --> 00:11:54,220 He said: 238 00:11:54,220 --> 00:11:56,279 "'Uthman and 'Ali." 239 00:11:56,279 --> 00:11:58,279 Al-Sha'bi replied: 240 00:11:58,279 --> 00:12:00,279 "By Allah, I have no desire whatsoever 241 00:12:00,279 --> 00:12:05,279 to arrive on the Day of Resurrection as an adversary of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, 242 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:07,279 or of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, 243 00:12:07,279 --> 00:12:09,279 may Allah be pleased with them both." 244 00:12:09,279 --> 00:12:14,690 Al-Sha'bi combined profound knowledge with forbearance; 245 00:12:14,690 --> 00:12:18,690 it is related that a man once insulted him in the foulest manner 246 00:12:18,690 --> 00:12:20,690 and hurled the most offensive words at him. 247 00:12:20,690 --> 00:12:23,690 Yet he did no more than say to him: 248 00:12:23,690 --> 00:12:26,690 "If you are truthful in what you accuse me of, 249 00:12:26,690 --> 00:12:28,690 may Allah forgive me; 250 00:12:28,690 --> 00:12:30,690 and if you are lying, 251 00:12:30,690 --> 00:12:32,690 may Allah forgive you." 252 00:12:32,690 --> 00:12:37,820 Despite his eminent stature and abundant virtue, al-Sha'bi 253 00:12:37,820 --> 00:12:43,820 never disdained acquiring knowledge or receiving wisdom from the humblest of people. 254 00:12:43,820 --> 00:12:47,820 A Bedouin used to attend his gatherings regularly, 255 00:12:47,820 --> 00:12:50,820 yet he remained perpetually silent. 256 00:12:50,820 --> 00:12:52,820 So al-Sha'bi said to him: 257 00:12:52,820 --> 00:12:54,820 "Will you not speak?" 258 00:12:54,820 --> 00:12:55,820 The Bedouin replied: 259 00:12:55,820 --> 00:12:57,820 "I remain silent so that I remain safe, 260 00:12:57,820 --> 00:12:59,820 and I listen so that I may learn. 261 00:12:59,820 --> 00:13:02,820 Indeed, the benefit of a person's ear accrues to himself, 262 00:13:02,820 --> 00:13:06,820 whereas the benefit of his tongue accrues to others." 263 00:13:06,820 --> 00:13:12,820 Al-Sha'bi continued to quote the Bedouin's words throughout his life. 264 00:13:12,820 --> 00:13:17,940 Al-Sha'bi was endowed with an eloquence of speech 265 00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:19,940 and a mastery of expression 266 00:13:19,940 --> 00:13:24,940 granted only to the rarest of lucid orators. 267 00:13:24,940 --> 00:13:26,940 An example of this is 268 00:13:26,940 --> 00:13:31,940 that he spoke to 'Umar ibn Hubayrah al-Fazari, the governor of the two Iraqs, 269 00:13:31,940 --> 00:13:34,940 concerning a group of men he had imprisoned, saying: 270 00:13:34,940 --> 00:13:36,940 "O Emir! 271 00:13:36,940 --> 00:13:38,940 If you have imprisoned them unjustly, 272 00:13:38,940 --> 00:13:40,940 then justice demands their release; 273 00:13:40,940 --> 00:13:43,940 and if you have imprisoned them justly, 274 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:45,940 then your pardon can encompass them." 275 00:13:45,940 --> 00:13:47,940 The governor was so impressed by his words 276 00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:49,940 that he released them out of respect for him. 277 00:13:49,940 --> 00:13:53,100 Despite al-Sha'bi's consummate dignity 278 00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:56,100 and his lofty standing in religion and knowledge, 279 00:13:56,100 --> 00:14:00,100 he possessed a pleasant spirit and an engaging wit, 280 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:03,100 never missing a humorous remark when an occasion arose. 281 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:05,100 A man once entered upon him 282 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:07,100 while he was sitting with his wife, 283 00:14:07,100 --> 00:14:08,100 and asked: 284 00:14:08,100 --> 00:14:10,100 "Which of you is al-Sha'bi?" 285 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:12,100 He replied, "This one," 286 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:14,100 pointing to his wife. 287 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:16,100 Another person asked him: 288 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:19,100 "What was the name of Iblis's wife?" 289 00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:20,100 He replied: 290 00:14:20,100 --> 00:14:23,100 "That was a wedding we did not attend." 291 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:27,289 Perhaps what best illustrates al-Sha'bi's character 292 00:14:27,289 --> 00:14:30,289 is what he recounted about himself, saying: 293 00:14:30,289 --> 00:14:35,289 "I never unfastened my posture-wrap to look at anything scandalous that people gaze upon; 294 00:14:35,289 --> 00:14:38,419 I never struck a servant of mine; 295 00:14:38,419 --> 00:14:42,419 and no relative of mine ever died in debt 296 00:14:42,419 --> 00:14:45,659 without my settling it on his behalf." 297 00:14:45,659 --> 00:14:46,659 To conclude, 298 00:14:46,659 --> 00:14:48,659 al-Sha'bi lived a long life, 299 00:14:48,659 --> 00:14:50,659 reaching well over eighty years of age. 300 00:14:50,659 --> 00:14:53,659 When he answered the call of his Lord 301 00:14:53,659 --> 00:14:55,659 and news of his death reached al-Hasan al-Basri, 302 00:14:55,659 --> 00:14:56,659 the latter said: 303 00:14:56,659 --> 00:14:58,659 "May Allah have mercy on him! 304 00:14:58,659 --> 00:15:00,659 For he possessed vast knowledge 305 00:15:00,659 --> 00:15:02,659 and immense forbearance, 306 00:15:02,659 --> 00:15:05,659 and he held an esteemed place in Islam." 307 00:15:05,659 --> 00:15:12,379 Al-Sha'bi was indeed vast in knowledge, 308 00:15:12,379 --> 00:15:14,500 immense in forbearance, 309 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:18,860 and held an esteemed rank in Islam. 310 00:15:18,860 --> 00:15:21,500 Al-Hasan al-Basri— 311 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:26,940 a paragon in deeds and an exemplar— 312 00:15:26,940 --> 00:15:31,940 followed the Messenger in every endeavor and word. 313 00:15:31,940 --> 00:15:36,940 They were here, watering the dry clouds of our lives, 314 00:15:36,940 --> 00:15:41,940 so even if we honor them, their renown rises far higher. 315 00:15:41,940 --> 00:15:46,940 They departed, leaving a question echoing in the conscience: 316 00:15:46,940 --> 00:15:51,940 Has any star ever soared and shone as brightly as they did? 317 00:15:51,940 --> 00:15:56,940 They filled life with glorious achievements through their deeds, 318 00:15:56,940 --> 00:16:02,029 and by them, humanity's realm was brightened and adorned.