Sixteen Scorpion Stings and the Extraordinary Sincerity of Imam Mālik

Scorpion stung 16 times

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has narrated that a scorpion stung Sayyiduna Abu ‘Abdullah Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ 16 times while he was giving a Hadees lesson. Due to the severity of the pain, his blessed face turned pale but he continued to give the lesson. (He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ even did not change his sitting posture.) After the lesson ended and people left, I [i.e. the narrator] asked, ‘O Abu ‘Abdullah! Today, something strange appeared on your face. I noticed it!’ He said, ‘Yes! But I had patience showing reverence for the Hadees of the Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ!’

(Ash-Shifa, vol. 2, pp. 46)

Sincerity of Imam Maalik

A great devotee to Madinah, Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ was the first to compile a technically excellent book on the knowledge of Hadees. The book is known as ‘Muwatta Imam Maalik’. He was the embodiment of sincerity. Sayyiduna Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abdul Baaqi Zurqaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has narrated: After Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ compiled the book ‘Muwatta’, he put all the pages of its manuscript into water, saying, ‘If any of these pages gets wet, I will no longer use them.’ Amazingly, none of the pages got wet. This was the proof of his sincerity and the fruit of his true intention.

(Sharh-uz-Zurqaani 'alal Muwatta, vol. 1, pp. 36)

Love of Rasoolullah ﷺ Reflected in Character, Conduct, and Hadith Teaching

Complexion changed when hearing about Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Sayyiduna Mus’ab Bin ‘Abdullah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ has said that Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ was a great devotee of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. Whenever anyone mentioned anything about the Greatest Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, the complexion [i.e. the colour of the face] of Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ would change. He would show deep reverence for the Beloved Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. One day, he was asked about it, so he replied, ‘If you had seen what I see, you would not have asked about it.’ 

(Ash-Shifa, vol. 2, pp. 41, 42)

Manner of teaching Hadees

(Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ started giving lessons of Hadees at the age of 17). Before coming to give a Hadees lesson, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ would take a bath, wear nice clothing and apply fragrance. He would then humbly come out of his room and respectfully sit on a throne. (He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ did not even use to change his sitting posture throughout the lesson.) As long as Ahadees were taught and learnt during the gathering, aloe-wood¹ and frankincense were burnt to give a pleasant smell.

(Bustan-ul-Muhaddiseen, pp. 19, 20)

A Life Devoted to Madinah: Barefoot Steps and Nightly Visions of the Beloved ﷺ

Barefoot in MADINAH

The great leader of millions of Malikies, Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ was a great devotee of Rasool. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ would walk barefooted in the streets of Madinah. 

(At-Tabqat-ul-Kubra lish-Sha’rani, vol. 1, pp. 76)

Beholding Holy Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ every night

Sayyiduna Musanna Bin Sa’eed رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has narrated that Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ stated, ‘I beheld the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ every night.’ 

(Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 6, pp. 346)

Refraining from riding in Madinah

Sayyiduna Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has stated: In Madinah, I saw that there were some Khurasanian or Egyptian horses tethered [i.e. tied] to the door of the house of Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ. Those horses were given to him as gifts. I had never seen such beautiful horses before. Hence I said, ‘How nice these horses are!’ He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ said, ‘I have given all of them to you as gifts.’ I said, ‘At least keep a horse for yourself.’ He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ replied, ‘I feel shy of riding a horse on the ground under which the Holy Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the Beloved son of Sayyidatuna Aaminah rests (in his blessed shrine).’

(Ihya-ul-’Uloom, vol. 1, pp. 48; Ar-Raud-ur-Faaiq, pp. 217)

RESCUE FROM WELL

Sayyiduna Ahmad Bin Muhammad Salaawi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has said: Once I was to undertake a journey. Before I began it, I visited the blessed shrine of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and respectfully said, ‘O the one who has been empowered to help his devotees in the world and the Hereafter! I will pass through deserts and jungles during my journey. If I get into any trouble, I will pray to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and seek help by mentioning your blessed name.’

I then visited the blessed tombs of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا and made a similar prayer. Afterwards, I began my journey, travelling through jungles and deserted places for a week. During the journey, I fell into a well that had plenty of water in it. From the time of Salat-ul-Chasht to Salat-ul-‘Asr, I struggled hard to get out of it but could not succeed. My life was in danger. All of a sudden, I recalled what I had pleaded with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and Shaykhayn Karimayn¹ at the time of departure. I once again supplicated, ‘O my Beloved! O Rasool of Allah! Fulfil my supplication and rescue me.’ I also made supplication in the courts of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُمَا in a similar way. In no time, someone picked me up from the well and sat me on its top! In this way, with the help of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, I narrowly escaped death. 

(Shawahid-ul-Haq, pp. 231)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy upon him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

Ghayb-knowing Rasool gave GOOD NEWS OF RAIN

Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ who was a respected teacher of Sayyiduna Imam Bukhari رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has stated: During the reign of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ, drought¹ occurred. A person visited the blessed grave of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and said humbly, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ!

Please pray that your Ummah be blessed with rain; people are dying.’ The person was privileged to behold the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ in the state of dream. He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Go to ‘Umar and convey my Salam to him and inform him that rain will fall.’

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 7, pp. 482 Hadees 35; Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 9, pp. 695)

That person was Sayyiduna Bilal Bin Haaris رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ a companion of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.

(Fath-ul-Baari, vol. 3, pp. 430, Taht-al-Hadees 1010)

Sayyiduna Imam Ibn Hajar ‘Asqalani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has said, ‘Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has quoted this narration with proved authenticity.’

(Ibid)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy upon him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

Son released from IMPRISONMENT

Sayyiduna Abu ‘Abdullah Bin Muhammad Azdee Andalusi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has said that Romans imprisoned the son of a devotee of Rasool in Andalus, i.e. Spain. The devotee departed for Madinah Munawwarah with the intention of pleading with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. On the way, he met some of his acquaintances¹ and shared his problem with them. They suggested that one could plead with the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ even while staying at his home. Visiting the blessed shrine in person is not a condition for the fulfilment of this purpose. But the devotee continued his journey. Eventually, he reached Madinah and was privileged to visit the blessed court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. After he said Salam, he expressed his wish. He was showered with blessings. At night, he saw the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ in his dream.

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Go back to your city. Your wish has been fulfilled.’ When he returned to his country, he was greatly delighted to see his son who had really come back. When asked how he managed to return, his son replied, ‘One night, many prisoners including me were suddenly released from captivity in Rome!’ His father, the devotee of Rasool, made calculation and found out that it was the same night when he had heard the good news in the dream. 

(Shawahid-ul-Haq, pp. 225)

May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ have mercy upon him and forgive us without accountability for his sake!

Excuse Accepted

Sayyiduna Abul Fadl Muhammad Bin Nu’aym رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ has stated: Sayyiduna Muhammad Bin Ya’la Kinaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْہِ would often humbly visit the blessed shrine of the Blessed Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. He was also privileged to behold the Greatest Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ quite often in the state of dream. One day, while travelling to Madinah with the intention of visiting the blessed shrine, he suffered an injury to his foot. Unable to continue his journey, he wrote a letter and handed it over to a Hajj-pilgrim, asking him to place the letter near the blessed shrine and say, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ! It is an entreaty [i.e. heartfelt request] from Kinaani. You know what has prevented him from visiting your court.’

The person did as was advised. Sayyiduna Kinaani dreamt that the Holy Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said to him, ‘O Kinaani! Your letter has reached Madinah and I have accepted your excuse.’ 

(Ar-Raud-ur-Faaiq, pp. 306)