AI-Imaam Abu Abdillah Muhammad bn Idrees Ash-Shaafiee al-Qurashee was a descendant of the Haashimee family of the Quraysh tribe to which the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) belonged. He was born in Ghazzah, Palestine 150 years, after the Hijrah of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) from Makkah to Madeenah, which corresponds to the year of the death of Al-Imaam Abu Haneefah (RAH).
His Background: Al-Imaam ash-Shaafiee was brought up by his mother in a very poor home at the death of his father who died when the Imaam was very young. Thinking his relatives would help her raise him to be a good Muslim, she took him to Makkah while he was just two years old. He spent about twenty years at this early part of his life among the Bedouin Arabs of Hudhayl (one of the best Arabic speaking tribes of Arabia). There, he memorized the Quraan while he was ten years old and mastered Arabic Grammar and History. He also acquired great knowledge of Arabic Literature and Arabic Poetry.
Concerning this period of his life, he would say, "I was an orphan under the auspices of my mother and she would not have what to give to the teacher. The teacher was pleased with me that Istand in his place when he left (the classes). When I completed the memorization of the Quraan I would sit with the Scholars in the masjid and memorize a haadeeth or issues (responses of Scholars to questions usually on Fiqh and Hadeeth)." He would say, "I lived in the midst of the Arabs for twenty years learning their poetry, and their Language and I memorized the Quraan. I do not know any word that was read to me except that I already knew the meaning ... "(Manaaqib Ash-Shaafiee Ibn Katheer)
In Search Of Knowledge: At the age of twenty, he went to Madeenah and remained there, as a student of al-Imaam Maalik till the latters death in I79AH. He spent a total of nine years with the Imaam during which he learnt Hadeeth and Fiqh and any other thing he could from the Imaam. He was so brilliant at studies that his teacher- al-Imaam Maalik, wondered at his readings.
Imaam ash-Shaafiee possessed a very sharp memory and knew all of Imaam Maaliks Muwatta by heart even before he learnt it from the Imaam. He also came into contact and learnt from other Senior Scholars of the period including al-Imaam Abdullah bn al-Mubaarak, al-Imaam Sufyaan bn Uyaynah and Muslim bn Khaalid Az-Zanjee who were both Imaams in Makkah at their time, Fudayl bn Iyyaad and Muhammad bn Shaafiee, lsmaaeel bn Yahya bn Abee Katheer from whom he acquired more knowledge of the Quraan and the Sunnah.
Among his teachers was Wakee (RAH) from whom he benefitted a great deal. Imaam ash-Shaafiee (RAH) said, "I complained to Wakee about the poorness of my memory. So he directed me to abandon disobedience. And informed me that the knowledge of Allaah is light And that the light of Allaah is not given to the disobedient..[Deewaanush-Shaafiee (p.88); Al-Jawaab al-Kaafee of lbn a1-Qayyim (p.104).] Acquiring the knowledge of the scholars in Madeenah was only the start for ash-Shaafiee because he travelled extensively to most of the places known for knowledge at the time.
In 187AH, he visited Syria and from there he proceeded to Egypt where he settled. As a student of al-Imaam Maalik, the people and scholars of Egypt received him with great honour and respect. The search for knowledge also took him to Baghdad and there he was surrounded by a large number of students who were eager to acquire knowledge of the faith and practices of Islaam from him. One important student there was al-lrnaam Ahmad bn Hanbal who also later became his teacher.
A Great Favour: One of the greatest favours of Allaah on al-Imaarn ash-Shaaflee is his eloquence - being smooth-spoken.The Imaam spoke and wrote clearly and effectively. Concerning this, al-Imaam Ibn Katheer said, "He was of the most fluent of people." Younus bn Abdil Aalaa said, "His words are (as sweet) as sugar" and Ahmad bn Abee Surayj said, "I have not seen anyone as eloquent nor as articulate as ash-Shaafiee". Allaah says, "That is the Grace of Allaah, which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allaah is the Owner Qf Mighty Grace.(Q62[Jumah]: 4). Guiding The Tongue Abu Hurairah reported that theProphet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever guarantees me what is between his jaws (his tongue) and what is between his legs will enter paradise." (Tirmidhee)
He also said" A man may speak a word from Allaah’s pleasure and does not realize it. Allaah writes for him His pleasure until the day He meets him. And a man may speak from Allaah’s displeasure and does not realize it. Allaah writes for him His displeasure until He meets him." (Tirmidhee) Once, when he was asked a question, he kept silent. He was then asked why he kept silent. He responded, "Until I know which one benefits me more, my answer or my silence."
Concerning minding the tongue, Al-Imaam ash-Shaafiee said, "If you wish to speak then it is your responsibility to think before you speak. If you think there is good in it then you should speak and if you doubt (whether your statements will bring good or evil), then do not then do not speak until you are sure (it will bring good)." He once said to his friend "O Rabih, Do not speak about that which does not concern you, for you may speak about something and you do not catch it." The Imaam took so much care concerning his sayings that he never swore even when he was on the right, Harmalah reports that, al-Imaam ash-Shaafiee said, "I never swore whether on truth or on falsehood." In some of his poetic stanzas the Imaam said concerning the tongue, "Guide your tongue O man! You will not be bitten for it is a python.
How many are in the graves killed by their tongues. Verily! He dreaded death but it brought him in face with it." This is one of the greatest scholars this Deen ever had and one of the most eloquent persons history ever knew, he would not speak except it was going to bring about good caring so much about who t his tongue earned him. Wonder at the one who knows only next to nothing but talks the talk and says just what he wants to say! His Respect For Hadeeth His total deference to the hadeeth is observed from his words: "There is no one among us who has not had a sunnah of Allaah's Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) elude him or have one slip his mind; so no matter what rulings I have made or fundamental principles I have proposed, there will be in them things contrary to rulings of A1laahs Messenger (salalahu alayhi wa sallam).
Therefore, the correct ruling is according to what Allaah’s Messenger (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, and that is my ruling." His Death Imam ash-Shaafiee RH died on Yaomul Khamees (Thursday) in the month of Rajab 204AH in Egypt. Imaam ash-Shaafiee wrote several books, the most well known of which is called, al-Umm, which is a collection of writings and lectures of the Imam. A number of his students have also collected his writings, lectures and rulings in the form of books, or quoted him in their books.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited