حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Stories and accounts of some scholars: On the authority of Abdullah ibn Abdul-Hakim, who said: I heard Malik ibn Anas say: Harun al-Rashid consulted me on three matters: whether to hang the Muwatta in the Kaaba and compel people to follow its teachings, whether to demolish the Prophet's pulpit (peace and blessings be upon him) and replace it with one of jewels, gold, and silver, and whether to appoint Nafi' ibn Abi Nu'aym as imam to lead prayers in the Prophet's Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him). I said: O Commander of the Faithful, as for hanging the Muwatta in the Kaaba, the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) differed on matters of jurisprudence and dispersed throughout the lands, each believing himself to be correct. As for demolishing the Prophet's pulpit (peace and blessings be upon him) and replacing it with one of jewels, gold, and silver, I do not think you should deprive people of the Prophet's legacy (peace and blessings be upon him). As for appointing Nafi' as imam to lead the people in prayer in the Prophet's Mosque (peace and blessings be upon him), Nafi' is an expert in recitation, and it is not inconceivable that he might make a mistake in the prayer niche that would be recorded against him. He said: May God grant you success, O Abu Abdullah. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/360]

Stories and events concerning some scholars: Al-Rabi' said: Al-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, was with Malik, with Sufyan ibn Uyaynah and al-Zanji also present, when two men approached. One said: I am al-Rabi' al-Qumari. I sold this man a turtledove and swore to him by divorce that it never stops calling. An hour later he came to me and said: It has fallen silent, so return my dirhams. I have broken my oath. Malik said: Your wife has become separated from you. Al-Shafi'i passed by and asked the seller: Did you mean that it never stops, or that its calling exceeds its silence? He replied: I knew that it sleeps, eats, and drinks. I only meant that its calling exceeds its silence. He said: Your wife is restored to you. Malik was informed and asked al-Shafi'i: On what basis did you say that? He replied: The hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, who told the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: Mu'awiyah and Abu Jahm have proposed to me. He said: Mu'awiyah is a pauper, and Abu Jahm does not put his staff down from his shoulder. Yet he used to sleep and rest; the words referred to what he did most often. Malik was amazed, and al-Zanji said: Give legal opinions, for the time has come for you to do so. He was fifteen years old. [al-Muntazam 10/136].

Stories and incidents of some scholars: On the authority of Khalaf bin Salim, he said: We were in the assembly of Yazid bin Harun, and Yazid joked with the person repeating his dictation to the gathering, so Ahmad bin Hanbal, may God have mercy on him, cleared his throat - and he was in the assembly - so Yazid said: Who cleared his throat? It was said to him: Ahmad bin Hanbal, so he struck his forehead with his hand and said: Why didn’t you tell me that Ahmad was here so that I would not joke? [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 3/139].

Stories and accounts of some scholars: Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Asad said, “I heard Hamza al-Kinani, may God have mercy on him, say: ‘I extracted a single hadith from the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, from about two hundred chains of transmission. I was filled with considerable joy and admiring of myself for it. Then I saw Yahya bin Ma’in, may God have mercy on him, in a dream, and I said: “O Abu Zakariya, I extracted a hadith from two hundred chains of transmission.” He remained silent for a while, then said: “I fear that this falls under the category of ‘Rivalry in accumulating more has distracted you’ [At-Takathur: 1].”’” [Siyar (its abridgment) 3/1280].

Stories and events concerning some scholars: Ja'far ibn Yahya ibn Khalid said: We have seen no one like Isa ibn Yunus, may Allah have mercy on him. We sent for him and he came to us in al-Raqqah, but fell ill before returning. We said: Abu Umar, ten thousand has been ordered for you. He said: Go on. I said: It is fifty thousand. He replied: I have no need of it. I asked: Why? By Allah, I have not yet made it pleasant enough for you. It is, by Allah, a hundred thousand. He said: No, by Allah. The people of knowledge shall not say that I took payment for the Sunnah. Why was this not before you sent for me? As payment for hadith, by Allah, not a drink of water or a myrobalan fruit! [al-Muntazam 9/196].