Bismillahir Rahmaan Nir Rahim 17 Shawwaal 1428 / 29 October 2007 Respect for the Words of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
Faqih Abu Ibraaheem Rahimahullah a Muslim scholar was greatly respected by An-Naasir and his son Al-Hakam, two of the rulers of Muslim Spain. Ibn Mafraj mentions an interesting incident regarding the Faqih: "I used to remain in the company of Faqih Abu Ibraaheem together with others to learn about Hadith and Fiqh from him. One day I was in his gathering of students in Masjid Abu Uthmaan, which was close to the palace of Qurtuba. The Masjid was close to his house and he performed Salaah there. The gathering was held between two salahs and was packed with students, when a messenger arrived from the Khalif Al-Hakam. He greeted and said : 'Faqih, come at once! The Ameerul Mu'mineen is waiting for you and calls you urgently regarding an important matter.' The Faqih replied : 'To hear is to obey the Ameerul Mu'mineen. But there is no haste. Return to him and say that you found me in the house of Allah Ta'ala and I have students around me to whom I am narrating the hadith of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. I am prevented from leaving this gathering until I have completed the lesson for the pleasure and obedience of Allah. This is presently more important than going to him. When the matter for which these sincere and dedicated students have gathered is completed I will present myself if Allah wills." The Faqih then continued with his lesson. The messenger left annoyed, but having conveyed the message he returned shortly thereafter and said : "I conveyed your message to the Ameerul Mu'mineen in the very same words you had uttered to me. He listened intently and says : 'May Allah reward you well for your sacrifice regarding the deen, the Ameerul Mu'mineen and the Muslim Ummah. May they benefit from you.' Once you are done you should proceed directly to him. I have been commanded to remain with you until you have completed your lesson and you should then accompany me." "Excellent," replied the Faqih, "but I am too weak to walk to the Door of Saddah and to mount a conveyance is too difficult for me due to my old age and weak body. The Door of Sanaa'ah is closer to the doors of the sacred palace. If the Ameerul Mu'mineen would allow this door to be opened so that I may enter through it, this would be easier for me. I would prefer if you would go back to him and convey this message of mine and see what he thinks. You should then return to me. I regard you as a good young man, so hasten towards this good action." The messenger left and returned after a while and said : "O Faqih, the Ameerul Mu'mineen has acceded to your request. He has ordered that that the Door of Sanaa'ah be opened for you. I have come to you from this door now. I have been instructed to remain with you and to remind you to hasten as soon as you have completed the lesson." The messenger sat down close-by until he had completed his lesson with complete ease and comfort, as was his habit. When the students had left, the Faqih first went to his house to tend to something and then proceeded to Khalif Al-Hakam. He entered through the Door of Sanaa'ah, fulfilled the request of Al-Hakam and returned though the door he had entered. The door was again locked after the Faqih had left. Ibn Mafraj explained : 'After we had left the gathering of the Faqih that night, we decided to pass by the door that the Faqih was to enter through so that we could see what the Khalif had prepared for him. We found the door open and surrounded by servants and people anxiously sweeping and laying down carpets in preparation for Faqih Abu Ibraaheem. This was amazing to us and for long thereafter did we discuss this incident.' " Lesson This was the respect of the Faqih for the blessed words of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He did not allow any disruptions, even from the ruler of the time. It is also narrated about Imam Maalik Rahimahullah that he was bitten sixteen times by a scorpion one day while narrating hadith to his students. His facial complexion changed but he did not stop. Ibnul Mubarak, his student asked him why. He replied : "I endured the pain patiently out of respect for the hadith of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam." (Faidhul Qadeer)
