IMAM SHAFI’EE

The Imams of the four Mazh-habs
In the last issue we discussed Imam Malik (rahmatullahi alaihi). We continue with...
IMAM SHAFI’EE
NAME: ABU ABDULLAH MUHAMMAD BIN IDREES BIN SHAFI’
Imam Shafi’ee was of the Quraish tribe. He is called Shafi’ee after his grandfather, Shafi’.
BIRTH: He was born in the year 150 A.H. in Gaza, Palestine, and when he was two years old his mother brought him to Makka Shareef. There he grew up. His father had died while he was an infant, so his mother cared for him and set him on the path of learning.
HIS RANKING: He became a hafiz of the Quran at the age of nine. At the age of fifteen he had memorised the entire Muatta of Imam Malik and at that age started issuing fatwa on Deeni matters. He studied fiqah and Arabic in Makka and later on went to Madinah to learn hadith and fiqah under Imam Malik.
He was a natural poet, a master in the language of the Quraish.
Khaleefa Haroon Rasheed gave him a high post in Yemen.
In the year 195 A.H. he entered Baghdad and many Ulema came to learn from him. There his former mazh-hab was compiled. Then in 200 A.H. he emigrated to Egypt where he compiled his latter mazh-hab which was later on to become the standard Shafi’ee mazh-hab.
The Shafi’ee mazh-hab also spread to Iraq, Khurasan (north eastern Iran) and up to the borders of Russia.
One of his famous books is Kitabul Umm on laws of fiqah.
HIS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS: Among his famous tutors were Imam Malik, Imam Wakee’ bin Jarrah and Imam Muhammad bin Hasan, both students of Imam Abu Haneefa. Imam Muhammad also married Imam Shafi’ee's mother, so he was a stepfather to Imam Shafi’ee.
Among those who learnt from him were Imam Ahmad bin Hambal.
DEATH: He died on a Friday towards the end of Rajab in the year 204 A.H. in Egypt and was buried the same day after Asr in the graveyard known as Al-Qaraafa.
Today hundreds of people flock to his grave in Egypt.
Stories of pious ladies — From Bahisti Zewar
Fatimah Neshapuri
There was a very pious ‘alim by the name of Zun Noon Misri. He says that he benefited tremendously from this woman. She used to say: “The person who does not remember Allah goes and falls into every type of sin, and blurts out anything and everything that comes on his tongue. As for the person who remembers Allah all the time, he becomes dumb to vain talks and begins to have shame and respect for Allah.” Abu Yazid says: “I have not come across a woman like Fatimah.” From wherever any news came, she used to have knowledge of it before hand. She passed away in the year 223 AH. in Makkah while going for ‘umrah.
Lesson: Look at the great advice that she has given. If one acts on this, one will be saved from all sins. We also learn that this woman used to get kashf, although this does not necessarily imply great status. However, if a good person experiences this, it is considered to be good.
Rayi’ah or Rabi’ah Shamiyah bint Isma’il
She used to spend the entire night in ibadah and fast all the time. She used to say: “When I hear the azaan, I think of the angel who will call out on the day of qiyamah. When I look at the heat (hot weather), I think of the heat of qiyamah.” Her husband was also a very pious personality by the name of Ibn Abi al-Hiwari. She used to say to him: “I love you just as one loves one’s brother.” What she meant was that her nafs did not have any desire. She used to say: “When a person occupies himself in the ibadah of Allah, then He makes the person aware of his faults and shortcomings. Once a person becomes aware of his shortcomings, he has no time to look at the faults and shortcomings of others.” She used to say: “I can see the jinns moving around, and I can also see the hoors of Jannat.”
Lesson: O women! This is what you call ibadah. See what a good cure she showed for the treatment of this sickness which you have, i.e. looking and searching for the faults of others. Look at your own faults and you will never see anyone else’s faults. We learn that she also used to get kashf. We have already mentioned this before.