Part of The Four Imams (Series Complete)
· Lesson 4 of 5
Biographies of the Four Imams | Episode (3) | Imam Al-Shafi’i, may God have mercy on him
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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“And of men and beasts and cattle, in like manner, divers hues? The erudite among His bondmen fear Allah alone. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Forgiving.” (35:28)
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Biographies of the Four Imams:
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Four life stories brimming with beauty and majesty,
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carefully abridged
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from that peerless and monumental work,
0:29
*Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'*
0:32
by Imam al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him,
0:36
prepared by Shaykh Muhammad al-Muhanna,
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may Allah preserve him.
0:42
Imam al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him:
0:49
He is Muhammad ibn Idris ibn al-'Abbas
0:54
ibn 'Uthman ibn Shafi' ibn al-Sa'ib
0:57
ibn 'Ubayd ibn 'Abd Yazid ibn Hisham
1:00
ibn al-Muttalib ibn 'Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilab
1:04
ibn Murrah ibn Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib;
1:08
the Imam, the scholar of the era,
1:11
the champion of hadith, the jurist of the religious community,
1:14
Abu 'Abdillah al-Qurashi,
1:16
al-Muttalibi, al-Shafi'i, al-Makki;
1:20
born in Gaza.
1:22
He was a relative of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his kinsman,
1:26
meaning that he shared lineage with the Prophet (peace be upon him);
1:31
for the third forefather of the Prophet (peace be upon him),
1:36
who was 'Abd Manaf,
1:38
is the ninth forefather of al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him.
1:42
For al-Muttalib was the brother of Hashim, the father of 'Abd al-Muttalib.
1:47
Imam al-Shafi'i was born in Gaza,
1:50
and his father, Idris, died young.
1:53
Thus Muhammad grew up an orphan in his mother's care,
1:57
and she feared he would be neglected and lost,
1:59
so she relocated with him to the land of his roots—
2:01
that is, to his ancestral home—
2:03
when he was just two years old.
2:05
He grew up in Mecca
2:07
and took devotedly to archery
2:09
until he surpassed all his peers in it,
2:11
hitting the mark nine times out of ten arrows.
2:15
Then he turned his attention to Arabic and the sacred law,
2:18
excelling in them and distinguishing himself,
2:21
after which fiqh was made beloved to him,
2:23
and he came to lead the people of his time.
2:25
He acquired knowledge in his hometown
2:27
from Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji,
2:30
the Mufti of Mecca,
2:32
and from his paternal uncle, Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Shafi'—
2:35
who was the cousin of al-'Abbas, al-Shafi'i's grandfather—
2:39
as well as Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah,
2:41
Fudayl ibn 'Iyad, and several others.
2:44
He then traveled to Medina
2:46
when he was in his early twenties,
2:49
having already issued legal rulings and qualified for leadership.
2:52
He received *al-Muwatta'* from Malik ibn Anas,
2:55
reciting it to him from memory.
2:57
In Yemen, he took knowledge from Mutarrif ibn Mazin,
3:00
Hisham ibn Yusuf the judge, and a group of others;
3:04
and in Baghdad, from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan,
3:07
the jurist of Iraq,
3:09
studying closely under him, taking copious knowledge from him, and loading full burdens of it.
3:12
He authored major works, codified knowledge,
3:15
respectfully critiqued fellow imams while adhering strictly to prophetic reports,
3:19
and wrote extensively on both legal theory (usul al-fiqh) and its substantive branches.
3:22
His renown spread far and wide,
3:24
and students flocked to him in vast numbers.
3:27
Among those who transmitted from him were al-Humaydi,
3:29
Abu 'Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam,
3:32
Ahmad ibn Hanbal,
3:34
al-Buwayti, Abu Thawr,
3:36
'Abd al-'Aziz al-Makki, the author of *al-Haydah*,
3:39
Ishaq ibn Rahwayh,
3:42
al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman al-Muradi,
3:45
al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman al-Jizi,
3:48
Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah ibn 'Abd al-Hakam,
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and countless others.
3:53
Al-Daraqutni dedicated a standalone book
3:56
to those who transmitted narrations from al-Shafi'i,
3:58
spanning two volumes.
4:00
Major scholars have composed works on the virtues of this Imam,
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both in classical and modern times.
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Some people sought to detract from him and disparage him,
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yet that only elevated his rank and majesty;
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and it is clear to the fair-minded that the criticisms of his contemporaries
4:15
were driven by personal bias.
4:17
Rarely has anyone risen to prominence in scholarship
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and refuted those who differed with him
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without facing animosity.
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We seek refuge in Allah from following vain desires!
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Indeed, these few pages fall short of encompassing the virtues of this master.
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As for their ancestor al-Sa'ib al-Muttalibi,
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he was among the notables who were present at Badr on the side of the pre-Islamic pagans,
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and he was taken captive on that day.
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He bore a striking resemblance to the Prophet (peace be upon him),
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and it is said that after ransoming himself,
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he embraced Islam.
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His son, Shafi' ibn al-Sa'ib,
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had the honor of seeing the Prophet
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and is counted among the junior Companions,
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while his son 'Uthman was of the Tabi'un,
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though I know of no extensive narrations from him.
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Al-Muzani said:
5:02
"I never saw a face more handsome than that of al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him."
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He would sometimes grasp his beard,
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and it would not exceed his fist.
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Ibrahim ibn Buranah said:
5:14
"Al-Shafi'i was well-built, tall, and noble in stature."
5:18
Al-Rabi' the Mu'adhdhin said:
5:20
"I heard al-Shafi'i say:
5:23
'I used to practice archery so devotedly
5:25
that the physician would tell me:
5:28
"I fear you might contract consumption from standing so long in the scorching heat."'
5:32
He said:
5:34
'And I used to hit the mark nine times out of ten.'"
5:37
'Umar ibn Sawad said:
5:39
"Al-Shafi'i said to me:
5:41
'My passions were archery and seeking knowledge;
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and I mastered archery
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to the point where I would hit ten out of ten.'
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He remained silent about his knowledge,
5:51
so I said:
5:53
'By Allah, your stature in knowledge is far greater than it is in archery!'"
5:57
Al-Humaydi said:
6:00
"I heard al-Shafi'i say:
6:02
'I was an orphan in the care of my mother,
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and she had nothing to pay the teacher.
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But the teacher agreed that I would supervise the boys whenever he was away,
6:13
thus lightening his burden.'"
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It is narrated from al-Shafi'i that he said:
6:17
"I used to write upon shoulder blades and bones;
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and I would go to the government offices,
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asking for the blank backs of discarded sheets to write on."
6:26
Al-Humaydi said:
6:28
"Al-Shafi'i said:
6:30
'Our home in Mecca was in Shi'b al-Khayf,
6:33
and I would spot a bare bone,
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write a hadith or a legal issue upon it,
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and we had an old clay jar,
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so whenever a bone was filled, I would toss it into the jar.'"
6:46
Al-Muzani said:
6:48
"I heard al-Shafi'i say:
6:50
'I memorized the Qur'an when I was seven years old,
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and I memorized *al-Muwatta'* when I was ten.'"
6:57
Al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman said:
6:59
"Al-Shafi'i was born on the very day Abu Hanifah died,
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may Allah Almighty have mercy on them both."
7:05
Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam said:
7:07
"I heard al-Shafi'i say:
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'I recited the Qur'an to Isma'il ibn Qustantin.'"
7:14
Al-Humaydi said:
7:16
"Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji said to al-Shafi'i:
7:20
'Issue legal rulings, O Abu 'Abdillah!
7:22
For, by Allah, the time has truly come for you to give fatwas.'
7:25
And al-Shafi'i was only fifteen years old."
7:29
Al-Rabi' said:
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"Al-Shafi'i said:
7:32
'That a servant meets Allah with every sin except polytheism
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is far better than meeting Him with any form of heretical desires.'"
7:40
Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam said:
7:42
"I heard al-Shafi'i say:
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'If people only knew what heretical whims theological rhetoric contains,
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they would flee from it just as they flee from a lion'—
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referring to speculative theology (*'ilm al-kalam*)."
7:54
Abu 'Ubayd said:
7:56
"I have never seen anyone more intelligent than al-Shafi'i."
7:59
Yunus al-Sadafi said:
8:01
"I have never seen anyone more sensible than al-Shafi'i.
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I debated him one day on an issue,
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and then we parted ways.
8:08
Later, he met me, took me by the hand, and said:
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'O Abu Musa,
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is it not right that we remain brothers,
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even if we disagree on an issue?'"
8:18
I say:
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"This demonstrates the consummate intellect of this Imam and the profound understanding of his soul;
8:24
for intellectual peers have never ceased to differ."
8:27
Ma'mar ibn Shabib said:
8:30
"I heard al-Ma'mun say:
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'I tested Muhammad ibn Idris in everything,
8:36
and I found him completely consummate.'"
8:38
Ahmad ibn Muhammad,
8:40
the son of al-Shafi'i's daughter, said:
8:42
"I heard my father and my uncle say:
8:45
'Whenever Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah
8:47
was asked regarding Tafsir or legal rulings,
8:51
he would turn to al-Shafi'i
8:53
and say:
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"Ask this man."'"
8:56
Suwayd ibn Sa'id said:
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"I was in the company of Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah
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when al-Shafi'i arrived, greeted him, and sat down.
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Then Ibn 'Uyaynah narrated a heart-melting hadith,
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causing al-Shafi'i to faint.
9:10
It was said to Sufyan:
9:12
'O Abu Muhammad,
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Muhammad ibn Idris has died!'
9:16
Whereupon Sufyan said:
9:18
'If he has died,
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then the finest person of his era has died.'"
9:22
Al-Rabi' said:
9:24
"I heard al-Shafi'i
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He was asked about the Qur'an,
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and he replied,
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"Fie, fie!
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The Qur'an is the speech of Allah.
9:33
Whoever says it is created has disbelieved."
9:36
This is an authentic chain of transmission.
9:39
Al-Rabi' said,
9:40
"I heard Al-Shafi'i say:
9:43
'Reciting hadith is better than voluntary prayer.'"
9:47
And he said,
9:48
"Seeking knowledge is superior to voluntary prayer."
9:52
Al-Muzani said,
9:54
"I heard Al-Shafi'i say:
9:56
'Whoever learns the Qur'an, his worth becomes great;
9:59
whoever speaks on fiqh, his standing grows;
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whoever writes down hadith, his proof becomes strong;
10:05
whoever studies language, his nature becomes refined;
10:08
whoever studies arithmetic, his judgment becomes sound;
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and whoever does not guard his own soul,
10:13
his knowledge will not benefit him.'"
10:15
Al-Rabi' said,
10:17
"I heard Al-Shafi'i say:
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'Disputation in religion hardens the heart and breeds rancor.'"
10:24
Al-Rabi' also said,
10:26
"I heard Al-Shafi'i say:
10:29
'I wish that people would learn this knowledge'—
10:32
meaning his books—
10:34
'on the condition that nothing of it be attributed to me.'"
10:37
Harmalah said,
10:39
"I heard Al-Shafi'i say:
10:41
'I wish that all the knowledge I know
10:44
were learned by the people,
10:46
such that I would be rewarded for it without them praising me.'"
10:49
'Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal said,
10:53
"I heard Muhammad ibn Dawud say:
10:56
'It was never recorded throughout Al-Shafi'i's entire era
10:59
that he spoke regarding any of the stray desires,
11:02
nor was any such thing attributed to him or known of him,
11:05
despite his intense hatred for the people of theological rhetoric (*kalam*) and innovation.'"
11:08
Al-Shafi'i said,
11:11
"My ruling regarding the people of speculative theology
11:13
is that they be beaten with palm branches,
11:15
mounted upon camels,
11:17
and paraded among the tribes,
11:19
with it being announced over them:
11:21
'This is the recompense of whoever abandons the Book and the Sunnah
11:24
and turns toward speculative theology!'"
11:26
Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Ash'ari,
11:29
the companion of Al-Shafi'i, reported that
11:31
Al-Shafi'i said:
11:33
"My position regarding the people of speculative theology
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is that their heads be covered with whips
11:38
and that they be banished across the land."
11:40
I say: Perhaps this attitude is recurrently transmitted (*mutawatir*) from the Imam.
11:44
Al-Muzani said,
11:46
"Al-Shafi'i used to forbid delving into speculative theology."
11:50
Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah said,
11:53
"I heard Al-Rabi' say:
11:56
'When Al-Shafi'i debated Hafs al-Fard,
11:59
Hafs said:
12:01
"The Qur'an is created."
12:03
So Al-Shafi'i said to him:
12:05
"You have disbelieved in Allah the Almighty!"'"
12:07
Al-Buwayti said,
12:09
"I asked Al-Shafi'i:
12:11
'Should I pray behind a Rafidite?'
12:13
He said:
12:15
'Do not pray behind a Rafidite,
12:17
nor a Qadarite, nor a Murji'ite.'
12:19
I said, 'Describe them to us.'
12:21
He said:
12:23
'Whoever says that faith (*iman*) consists only of speech
12:25
is a Murji'ite;
12:26
whoever says that Abu Bakr and 'Umar were not Imams
12:30
is a Rafidite;
12:32
and whoever ascribes ultimate divine will to himself
12:35
is a Qadarite.'"
12:37
Al-Rabi' said,
12:38
"Al-Shafi'i said to me:
12:40
'If I wished to write a book against every opponent,
12:44
I could have done so,
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but theological debate is not my concern,
12:48
and I do not like for any of it to be attributed to me.'"
12:52
I say:
12:53
This pure, pious disposition is widely corroborated (*mutawatir*) from Al-Shafi'i.
12:57
'Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal said,
13:00
"I heard my father say:
13:02
'Al-Shafi'i said:
13:04
"You are more knowledgeable than us regarding authentic narrations;
13:07
so if there is an authentic report,
13:10
inform me of it so that I may adopt it."'"
13:13
Harmalah said,
13:15
"Al-Shafi'i said:
13:16
'Everything I have said—
13:18
if there is a report from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
13:21
contrary to my statement that is authentic,
13:24
then it takes precedence,
13:25
and do not blindly follow me.'"
13:27
A man said to him,
13:29
"Do you adopt this hadith, O Abu 'Abdullah?"
13:32
He replied,
13:34
"Whenever I narrate an authentic hadith from the Messenger of Allah
13:37
and do not adopt it,
13:39
I bear witness to you that my intellect has departed!"
13:42
Al-Humaydi said,
13:44
"Al-Shafi'i narrated a hadith one day,
13:47
so I asked,
13:48
'Do you adopt it?'
13:49
He replied,
13:50
'Have you seen me coming out of a church
13:53
or wearing the attire of the Zoroastrians,
13:55
such that if I hear a hadith from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
13:59
I would not hold by it?'"
14:02
And it is reported that he said,
14:04
"If the hadith is authentic, then it is my school of thought (*madhhab*)."
14:07
"And if the hadith is authentic,
14:09
cast my statement against the wall!"
14:12
Al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman said,
14:14
"Al-Shafi'i divided the night into three parts:
14:17
in the first third he would write,
14:19
in the second he would pray,
14:21
and in the third he would sleep."
14:23
I say:
14:24
All three of his actions were acts of worship through righteous intention.
14:28
Al-Karabisi said,
14:30
"I spent a night with Al-Shafi'i,
14:33
and he used to pray for about a third of the night.
14:36
I never saw him recite more than fifty verses;
14:39
and if he recited a lot, it would be a hundred verses.
14:42
He would not pass by a verse of mercy
14:45
without asking Allah for it,
14:47
nor by a verse of punishment
14:49
without seeking refuge with Him,
14:51
as though hope and fear were fully combined within him."
14:55
Al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman said,
14:57
reported via two chains of transmission from him,
14:58
or even more:
15:00
"Al-Shafi'i used to complete the recitation of the Qur'an
15:02
sixty times during the month of Ramadan."
15:05
'Umar ibn Sawad said,
15:07
"Al-Shafi'i was the most generous of people with gold coins, silver coins, and food."
15:12
Abu Thawr said,
15:14
"Rarely did Al-Shafi'i hold onto anything,
15:17
owing to his immense generosity."
15:19
Al-Rabi' said,
15:21
"A man held the stirrup for Al-Shafi'i,
15:24
so he said to me:
15:25
'Give him four dinars.'"
15:28
Al-Muzani said,
15:30
"I was with Al-Shafi'i one day,
15:32
and as we went out,
15:33
there was a man shooting with an Arabian bow.
15:36
Al-Shafi'i stood watching him,
15:39
for he was an excellent marksman,
15:41
hitting the mark with several arrows.
15:43
Al-Shafi'i said:
15:45
'Well done!'
15:46
and prayed for blessings upon him.
15:48
Then he said:
15:49
'Give him three dinars.'"
15:52
Al-Rabi' said,
15:55
"Al-Shafi'i was passing by the shoemakers
15:58
when his whip fell.
16:00
A young boy rushed forward,
16:01
wiped it with his sleeve, and handed it to him,
16:04
so he gave him seven dinars."
16:07
Al-Rabi' said,
16:09
"I got married,
16:10
so Al-Shafi'i asked me,
16:12
'How much dowry did you give her?'
16:13
I said,
16:14
'Thirty dinars,
16:16
six of which I paid upfront.'
16:18
So he gave me twenty-four dinars."
16:22
Al-Rabi' said,
16:24
"I was walking behind Al-Shafi'i
16:26
when a man handed him a note
16:28
in which he wrote:
16:30
'I am a grocer;
16:32
my capital is one dirham,
16:34
and I have gotten married,
16:35
so please assist me.'
16:37
He said, 'O Rabi',
16:39
give him thirty dinars.'
16:41
I said,
16:42
'Ten dirhams would be enough for him!'
16:45
He said, 'Woe to you!
16:47
What will thirty dinars do for him?
16:50
Will it cover this or that?'
16:52
And he began enumerating what he needed for his household setup.
16:55
Then he said,
16:57
'Give it to him.'"
16:58
Al-Zubayr ibn Sulayman al-Qurashi narrated
17:01
that Al-Shafi'i said:
17:03
"Harthamah came out
17:05
and conveyed to me the greetings of the Commander of the Faithful, Harun,
17:08
saying:
17:10
'He has ordered five thousand dinars for you.'"
17:13
Al-Qurashi said:
17:15
So the wealth was brought to him.
17:17
So he took some parchment scraps.
17:19
Tie up coin pouches.
17:20
And he distributed it among the Quraysh.
17:22
He did not even return to his home.
17:24
except for less than a hundred dinars.
17:27
Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam said,
17:29
Al-Shafi'i was the most generous of people with whatever he possessed.
17:32
He used to pass by us.
17:34
If he finds me, then so be it; otherwise, he will say:
17:37
Tell Muhammad that when he arrives, he should come to the house.
17:41
For I do not eat lunch until he comes.
17:44
And it is narrated from al-Shafi'i that he said
17:47
What a wretched provision for the journey to the Hereafter.
17:49
Transgression against the servants of Allah.
17:52
Yunus al-Sadafi said:
17:54
Al-Shafi'i said to me
17:56
There is no path to safety from the criticism of people.
17:59
Therefore, look to that which contains your well-being and adhere to it.
18:03
And regarding al-Shafi'i, he said:
18:05
If you fear that your deeds might lead you to self-admiration,
18:08
So, remember the pleasure of the One whom you seek.
18:10
And in what state of bliss do you dwell?
18:12
And from what punishment do you fear?
18:15
Whoever reflects upon that
18:17
His own deeds appeared insignificant in his eyes.
18:19
'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Mahdi wrote
18:22
to al-Shafi'i while he was still a young man.
18:24
That he should compile for him a book containing the meanings of the Qur'an.
18:28
It also encompasses the acceptance of reports.
18:30
And the proof of consensus (ijma').
18:32
And the clarification of the abrogating and the abrogated [verses].
18:34
Then, draft a written treatise for him.
18:37
'Abd al-Rahman Ibn Mahdi said:
18:40
I do not perform a prayer
18:42
There is not a single one in which I do not pray for al-Shafi'i.
18:45
And Al-Harith Ibn Surayj said:
18:48
I heard Yahya al-Qattan say:
18:51
I pray to Allah for al-Shafi'i.
18:53
I single him out for it.
18:55
And Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said
18:57
There are six people for whom I pray at dawn.
19:00
One of them is al-Shafi'i.
19:02
He said:
19:03
I truly pray for al-Shafi'i.
19:05
For forty years, I have been performing my prayer.
19:08
And Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said:
19:11
I said to my father
19:13
What a remarkable man al-Shafi'i was.
19:15
For I have heard you frequently supplicating on his behalf.
19:19
He said, "O my son."
19:21
He was like the sun to the world.
19:23
And it is like well-being for the people.
19:25
Do these two have any successors?
19:27
Or a substitute for either of them.
19:29
Abu Dawud said:
19:31
I have never seen Abu 'Abdullah.
19:33
This refers to Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.
19:35
He leans toward one of them.
19:37
His inclination toward the school of al-Shafi'i.
19:39
Qutaybah Ibn Sa'id said:
19:42
With the passing of al-Thawri, piety itself has passed away.
19:45
Al-Shafi'i passed away, and with him, many of the Sunnah died out.
19:48
And Ahmad Ibn Hanbal passed away.
19:50
And innovations in religion begin to appear.
19:52
Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said:
19:54
Indeed, Allah appoints for the people
19:56
At the beginning of every century.
19:58
Who will teach them the Sunnah?
20:00
And he refutes [the false attributions made] against the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
20:02
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, [who warned against] lying.
20:04
Then Ahmad said
20:06
So we looked.
20:08
And so, at the turn of the century,
20:10
Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz
20:12
And at the turn of the second century
20:14
Al-Shafi'i
20:16
Al-Shafi'i said:
20:18
It is as if I saw a man from among the scholars of hadith.
20:21
It is as if I saw a man from among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
20:24
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
20:26
May Allah reward them with goodness.
20:28
They preserved the original source for us.
20:30
They possess a merit over us.
20:32
Abu Zur'ah said:
20:34
What is held by al-Shafi'i.
20:36
A hadith that contains an error.
20:38
Abu Dawud al-Sijistani said:
20:40
I am not aware of any [opinion] for al-Shafi'i
20:42
A mistaken hadith.
20:44
I said
20:46
There is nothing that serves as a clearer indication that it is
20:48
He is a trustworthy authority and a master memorizer.
20:50
And suffice it for you to consider the statement of
20:52
Like these.
20:54
The Hafiz Abu Bakr has authored
20:56
The orator authored a book regarding the establishment of
20:58
Citing Imam al-Shafi'i as an authority.
21:00
And that which he spoke about.
21:02
Except for the envious or the ignorant.
21:04
in his state, and thus it was.
21:06
The false speech coming from them
21:08
which necessitates the elevation of his status.
21:10
And the loftiness of his status.
21:12
Such is the way of Allah with His servants.
21:14
O you who have believed
21:16
Believe, and do not be
21:18
Like those who caused harm
21:20
Musa, so they were righteous toward Allah.
21:22
Among what they said:
21:24
And he was in the presence of
21:26
Allah has made him a person of high standing.
21:28
Ahmad said
21:30
Ibn Hanbal was
21:32
Al-Shafi'i was among the most eloquent of people.
21:34
And Yunus Ibn 'Abd al-A'la said:
21:36
The highest [state] is what was.
21:38
Al-Shafi'i said, "He is nothing but a sorcerer."
21:40
It is as if its very words were sugar.
21:42
He had been endowed with a sweetness of speech.
21:44
Logic and eloquent expression.
21:46
And his exceptional intelligence.
21:48
And a fluidity of mind.
21:50
And the perfection of eloquence
21:52
And the attendance of the Hajj
21:54
Ahmad Ibn Salih said:
21:56
Whenever al-Shafi'i spoke,
21:58
It was as if his voice were the voice of
22:00
A cymbal and a bell.
22:02
From the beauty of his voice
22:04
Abu Nu'aym ibn 'Adi said:
22:06
The Hafiz
22:08
I heard al-Rabi‘ say repeatedly:
22:10
Al-Shafi'i, and the excellence of his exposition.
22:12
And one would truly marvel at his eloquence.
22:14
Even if he were to write a thousand
22:16
These books are in their original Arabic.
22:18
which he used to speak about
22:20
with us in the debate.
22:22
We were unable to read his books.
22:24
Due to his eloquence.
22:26
And the rare and unusual expressions found within it.
22:28
However, in his compilation, he was
22:30
He clarifies matters for the common people.
22:33
Al-Rabi' Ibn Sulayman said:
22:35
The tongue of al-Shafi'i was like a sharp sword.
22:37
The greatest of those who recorded it.
22:39
Had you seen him, you would have said:
22:41
Indeed, these are not his books.
22:43
And ‘Abd al-Malik said
22:45
Ibn Hisham, the linguist.
22:47
Our sitting together has become long.
22:49
Regarding al-Shafi'i, I have never heard
22:51
He never once spoke with a grammatical error.
22:53
I said, "How can this be?"
22:55
That, and the like of it.
22:57
He is cited as the proverbial example of eloquence.
22:59
He was the most eloquent of the Quraysh.
23:01
during his time
23:03
And among the things that were taken from him
23:05
Regarding the language, Ahmad said:
23:07
Abu Surayj al-Razi
23:09
I have never seen anyone more eloquent than him.
23:11
And there is no one more articulate than al-Shafi'i.
23:13
Al-Asma'i said:
23:15
I took a lock of his hair.
23:17
On the authority of al-Shafi'i
23:19
Al-Zubayr Ibn Bakkar said:
23:21
I took a lock of his hair.
23:23
And its events, as narrated by my uncle.
23:25
Mus'ab ibn 'Abdullah
23:27
And he said, "I have taken it."
23:29
From the memorization of al-Shafi'i.
23:31
Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam said:
23:33
I have never seen al-Shafi'i engage in a debate.
23:35
except for His mercy.
23:37
If you were to see al-Shafi'i debating you
23:39
I would have thought that he
23:41
Seven things will consume you.
23:43
He is the One who taught people the proofs.
23:45
And on the authority of Harun Ibn Sa'id
23:47
Al-Ayli said:
23:49
If al-Shafi'i were to debate
23:51
On the basis that this pillar
23:53
The stone is wood, for the most part.
23:55
Due to his aptitude for scholarly debate.
23:57
Ibn Wara said:
23:59
I have arrived from Egypt.
24:01
So I came to Ahmad Ibn Hanbal.
24:03
He then said to me
24:05
The books of al-Shafi'i were written.
24:07
I said, "No."
24:09
He said, "I am your predecessor."
24:11
We did not distinguish between the general and the specific.
24:13
And the abrogating hadith from the abrogated one.
24:15
Until we sat in the company of al-Shafi'i.
24:17
He said
24:19
This compelled me to return.
24:21
to Egypt, and I wrote it down.
24:23
Muhammad ibn [name] said:
24:25
Ya'qub al-Faraji
24:27
I heard ‘Ali Ibn al-Madini say:
24:29
He says: "I enjoin upon you..."
24:31
Regarding al-Shafi'i.
24:33
I said, and among some of the disciplines
24:35
This Imam, the physician of the hearts, is the one who...
24:37
For he used to teach it to him.
24:39
Al-Rabi' said:
24:41
I heard al-Shafi'i say:
24:43
I do not know of any knowledge
24:45
Beyond the matters of the lawful and the prohibited.
24:47
More complete than medicine.
24:49
However, the People of the Book have surpassed us.
24:51
upon him.
24:53
Mus'ab Ibn 'Abdullah said:
24:55
I have never seen anyone more knowledgeable.
24:57
regarding the history and annals of the people, as narrated by al-Shafi'i.
24:59
Yunus al-Sadafi said:
25:01
Al-Shafi'i used to
25:03
When he begins during the days of the people.
25:05
I said, this is his craft.
25:07
And Imam Ibn [al-Jawzi/Kathir/etc.] transmitted
25:09
Surayj, citing some of the genealogists.
25:11
He said, "It was..."
25:13
Al-Shafi'i was among those most knowledgeable regarding lineages.
25:15
They have gathered together.
25:17
with him that night
25:19
So remind them of the lineages of the women.
25:21
until the morning
25:23
And he spoke regarding the lineages of men.
25:25
Everyone is familiar with it.
25:27
And regarding al-Shafi'i, he said:
25:29
That was not my intention.
25:31
This refers to the Arabic language and the reports of the hadiths.
25:33
Except for seeking help from Allah.
25:35
regarding fiqh
25:37
Yunus Ibn 'Abd al-A'la said:
25:39
I have never seen anyone who has met...
25:41
Among the afflictions was what al-Shafi'i endured.
25:43
So I entered upon him.
25:45
He then said, "Recite what follows."
25:47
The one hundred and twentieth verse of Surah Al 'Imran.
25:49
So I read it.
25:51
So when I stood up
25:53
He said, "Do not be heedless of me."
25:55
For I am in distress.
25:57
Yunus said:
25:59
We were concerned with my recitation of what the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had encountered.
26:01
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
26:03
and his Companions
26:05
Al-Muzani said:
26:07
I visited al-Shafi'i during his final illness.
26:09
In which he passed away.
26:11
So I said, "O Abu 'Abd Allah."
26:13
How have you fared this morning?
26:15
He raised his head and said:
26:17
I have become one who is departing from this world.
26:19
And for my brothers, there is separation.
26:21
And due to my evil deeds, I shall meet Him.
26:23
And may he arrive before Allah.
26:25
I do not know.
26:27
My soul shall depart unto Paradise.
26:29
So I congratulate her.
26:31
Or to a fire, so I may offer my condolences for it.
26:33
Then he wept.
26:35
And he began to recite:
26:37
And when my heart hardened
26:40
And my schools of thought became constrained.
26:42
I have placed my hope in none other than You.
26:44
Your pardon is a means of peace.
26:46
My sin has become too great for me to bear.
26:48
Then, when I coupled it with it.
26:50
By Your pardon, my Lord.
26:52
I seek Your pardon, for it is the greatest of things.
26:54
I have remained one who pardons.
26:56
Regarding the sin, it does not cease to remain.
26:58
He is generous and pardons.
27:00
A favor and a manifestation of generosity.
27:02
Abu al-'Abbas al-Asamm said:
27:04
He narrated to us
27:06
Al-Rabi' Ibn Sulayman
27:08
I visited al-Shafi'i while he was ill.
27:10
He said to me
27:12
I wish that all of creation
27:14
Study these books.
27:16
This refers to the scribes.
27:18
On the condition that nothing of it be attributed to me.
27:20
He said, "This is Sunday."
27:22
And he passed away on Thursday.
27:24
And we departed from his funeral.
27:26
The night of Jumu'ah
27:28
We sighted the crescent moon of Sha'ban.
27:30
The year two hundred and four.
27:32
And he was over fifty years of age.
27:34
Sunnah
27:36
The Shaykh al-Islam said:
27:38
'Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Hakkari
27:40
In the book of creed
27:42
Al-Shafi'i has
27:44
Yunus Ibn 'Abd al-A'la said:
27:46
I heard Abu 'Abdullah say:
27:48
Al-Shafi'i says
27:50
He was asked regarding the attributes of Allah.
27:52
He, the Exalted, said:
27:54
To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names.
27:56
And the characteristics that he brought with him.
27:58
His Book, and he informed [the people] of them.
28:00
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
28:02
His Ummah is not broad enough to encompass [the entirety of the matter].
28:04
Someone against whom the proof has been established.
28:06
ردها لأن القرآن
28:08
This was revealed by him, and it is authentic.
28:10
From the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
28:12
This refers to the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, regarding it.
28:14
If that contradicts it
28:16
After the proof has been established against him
28:18
He is a disbeliever.
28:20
As for before the proof was established
28:22
Therefore, he is excused due to ignorance.
28:24
Because knowledge of that
28:26
It cannot be grasped by intellect alone.
28:28
nor by contemplation and thought
28:30
We do not declare someone an unbeliever due to ignorance of them.
28:32
...until the end of it.
28:34
The report reached him with it.
28:36
and we affirm these attributes
28:38
and we negate anthropomorphism from Him.
28:40
As he negated it from himself
28:42
He said, "There is nothing like Him."
28:44
something
28:46
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
28:48
Al-Mubarrad said
28:50
Al-Shafi'i was among the most eloquent.
28:52
People and the etiquette of dealing with people.
28:54
And I know them by their recitations.
28:56
And Yunus ibn Abd [al-A'la] said
28:58
The Most High
29:00
When Al-Shafi'i began to engage in
29:02
The Tafsir is as if he witnessed it.
29:04
The revelation
29:06
Al-Za'farani said
29:08
Al-Shafi'i came to us.
29:10
Baghdad in the year 95 [AH].
29:12
We have a month, then he went out.
29:14
He used to dye his hair with henna.
29:16
He had a light complexion.
29:18
Ibn Majah said
29:20
Yahya ibn Ma'in came.
29:22
to Ahmad ibn Hanbal
29:24
While he was with him
29:26
When Al-Shafi'i passed by
29:28
upon his mule
29:30
Ahmad then jumped up to greet him.
29:32
He followed him, but he was slow.
29:34
And Yahya was sitting
29:36
When he came
29:38
Yahya said, "O Abu Abdullah,"
29:40
What is this?
29:42
He said, "Leave aside..."
29:44
This is if you intend
29:46
Fiqh, therefore, became obligatory with its consequences.
29:48
This man
29:50
Ahmad ibn al-'Abbas al-Nasa'i said
29:52
I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal
29:54
I cannot count them, and he was saying
29:56
Abu Abdullah said
29:58
Al-Shafi'i
30:00
Then he said, "What did I see..."
30:02
No one follows the tradition more closely than
30:04
Al-Shafi'i
30:06
Yunus ibn 'Abd al-A'la said
30:08
I heard Al-Shafi'i say
30:10
O Yunus
30:12
Withdrawing from people is a means of acquiring [spiritual strength].
30:14
for enmity
30:16
And being cheerful with them is a means of attracting them.
30:18
For evil companions
30:20
So be somewhere between being reserved and being open.
30:22
Al-Shafi'i said
30:24
Knowledge is what benefits.
30:26
True knowledge is not merely what one memorizes.
30:28
And he said
30:30
The intelligent, discerning person
30:32
He is the discerning one who pretends to be unaware.
30:34
He said
30:36
If I knew that cold water
30:38
What I drank diminishes my manliness.
30:40
He said
30:42
Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Shafi'i
30:44
I have not seen anyone
30:46
The best prayer, according to Al-Shafi'i.
30:48
And that is because
30:50
He took from Muslim ibn Khalid.
30:52
And Muslim took from Ibn Jurayj
30:54
And Ibn Jurayj took
30:56
from the giving
30:58
and 'Ata' took from Ibn al-Zubayr
31:00
and Ibn al-Zubayr took from
31:02
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq
31:04
and Abu Bakr took from the Prophet
31:06
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him
31:08
and he enumerated
31:10
al-Khatib al-Baghdadi's knowledge
31:12
of Imam al-Shafi'i and his virtues
31:14
and the reverence of the Imams for him
31:16
and he said
31:18
Allah willed nothing but to elevate him
31:20
and his loftiness
31:22
and there is no downfall for him whom the Lord of the Throne has raised
31:24
placing him down
31:25
I say we are not to be blamed
31:27
by Allah for loving this
31:29
Imam because he is
31:31
one of the men of perfection in his time
31:33
may Allah have mercy on him
31:35
The biographies of the four Imams