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)

The Historical Context: The Muwatta

The Muwatta (meaning "The Smoothed Path") holds a legendary status in Islamic history. Compiled over several decades in the holy city of Madinah, it represents the first major, highly organized compilation of Hadith (prophetic traditions) and legal rulings. Imam Maalik meticulously selected these narrations from thousands available to him, aiming to capture the authentic practice of the people of Madinah, where the Prophet Muhammad lived and died. It was a groundbreaking academic and spiritual achievement, praised by contemporary scholars like Imam Al-Shafi'i, who famously noted that no book on earth was closer to the Quran in authenticity than the Muwatta during its time.

2. The Power of Sincerity (Ikhlas)

In Islamic spiritual theology, the acceptance of any religious deed depends entirely on the intention (niyyah) behind it. Works done for fame, wealth, or worldly recognition hold no spiritual weight. The narrative regarding the pages remaining dry in water serves as a physical manifestation of an invisible reality: Imam Maalik’s absolute purity of intention.

By testing his manuscript against the elements, Imam Maalik was symbolically surrendering his monumental effort to the judgment of God. His statement, "If any of these pages gets wet, I will no longer use them," reveals a profound lack of ego. He was willing to destroy decades of his own intellectual labor if it lacked the divine acceptance that only true sincerity could bring.

3. Understanding the Phenomenon as a Karamah

In the Sunni tradition, extraordinary, supernatural events that occur at the hands of righteous, saintly figures (awliya) are recognized as karamat (charismata or wonders). Unlike a miracle (mu'jizah), which is granted to Prophets to prove their message, a karamah is a gift given to a saintly devotee as a sign of divine favor and validation.

The water failing to wet the parchment is understood by traditional scholars not merely as a historical anomaly, but as a divine sign affirming that the Muwatta was compiled solely for the sake of God. This spiritual blessing manifested structurally as well—the text survived centuries, remains a foundational pillar of Islamic law, and continues to be studied by millions of students of knowledge today.

Ultimately, this account recorded by Imam Al-Zurqaani serves as a timeless reminder for scholars and laypeople alike. It teaches that the longevity and impact of one's work are not determined by brilliant scholarship alone, but by the purity of the heart that produces it.