HADHRAT IMAAM SHAAFI (rahmatullah alayh)
1. Hadhrat Sufyaan Thauri (rahmatullah alayh) asked Hadhrat Khidhr's opinion regarding Imaam Shaafi (rahmatullah alayh). Khidhr (alayhis salaam) said: "He is among the Autaad."
(In the hierarchy of the Auliyaa of unknown identities, there are 12 classes. Autaad is one of the top-ranking classes.)
2. In the beginning, Imaam Shaafi remained in seclusion deriving baatini (spiritual) knowledge and direction from Hadhrat Saleem Raa-ee (rahmatullah alayh).
3. The reverence he had for Sayyids constrained Imaam Shaafi to stand in respect for even little boys of the family of Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم).
4. Once when going for Hajj, Imaam Shaafi took with him 10,000 dinars (gold coins). People advised him to invest the money in lucrative business ventures. Imaam Shaafi listened to the advices, but did not respond. He went to the outskirts of Makkah Muazzamah and made a heap of the gold coins. He sat down and gave a handful of dinars to every passer-by. Soon the whole pile of gold was depleted.
5. In terms of a treaty, the emperor of Room paid an annual sum to Khalifah Haroun Rashid. Once, the emperor sent the annual levy with a deputation of Christian priests. On this occasion the emperor has also issued the following ultimatum to Haroun Rashid:
"If the Ulama of your religion defeat these priests in debate, I shall continue to pay the levy. If they fail, I shall terminate it." Haroun Rashid assembled the Ulama on the banks of the River Dajla and requested Imaam Shaafi to debate with the Christian priests. Imaam Shaafi spread his musalla on the river-water. Seating himself on the carpet, he challenged the priests: "If you wish to debate, come here on the water."
When the priests beheld this miraculous scene, the vista of guidance opened in their hearts. All embraced Islam. When the emperor learnt of this development, he said: "We are fortunate, that man (i.e. Imaam Shaafi) did not come to Room. The whole population would have embraced Islam."
6. Imaam Shaafi said: "Whoever taught you even a little respect, consider him to be your Ustaadh."
"Do not vie with others in the accumulation of wealth. Vie with them in ibaadat. Wealth remains behind on earth while ibaadat accompanies you into the grave."
7. During his last illness, Imaam Shaafi wrote a wasiyyat naamah (last testament) to be given to a particular person who was not present. He also instructed that the man be told to give ghusl to his (Imaam Shaafi's) body. However, the man was not present when Imaam Shaafi died. He was in Egypt, hence someone else had to give the ghusl. When the man returned from Egypt many days later, the testament was given to him. The verbal message too was delivered. In the wasiyyat naamah was written: "I am in debt for 70,000 …" The man paid Imaam Shaafi's debt and said that ghusl here referred to the debt owed by Imaam Shaafi."
(In the hierarchy of the Auliyaa of unknown identities, there are 12 classes. Autaad is one of the top-ranking classes.)
2. In the beginning, Imaam Shaafi remained in seclusion deriving baatini (spiritual) knowledge and direction from Hadhrat Saleem Raa-ee (rahmatullah alayh).
3. The reverence he had for Sayyids constrained Imaam Shaafi to stand in respect for even little boys of the family of Rasulullah ( صلى الله عايه وسالم).
4. Once when going for Hajj, Imaam Shaafi took with him 10,000 dinars (gold coins). People advised him to invest the money in lucrative business ventures. Imaam Shaafi listened to the advices, but did not respond. He went to the outskirts of Makkah Muazzamah and made a heap of the gold coins. He sat down and gave a handful of dinars to every passer-by. Soon the whole pile of gold was depleted.
5. In terms of a treaty, the emperor of Room paid an annual sum to Khalifah Haroun Rashid. Once, the emperor sent the annual levy with a deputation of Christian priests. On this occasion the emperor has also issued the following ultimatum to Haroun Rashid:
"If the Ulama of your religion defeat these priests in debate, I shall continue to pay the levy. If they fail, I shall terminate it." Haroun Rashid assembled the Ulama on the banks of the River Dajla and requested Imaam Shaafi to debate with the Christian priests. Imaam Shaafi spread his musalla on the river-water. Seating himself on the carpet, he challenged the priests: "If you wish to debate, come here on the water."
When the priests beheld this miraculous scene, the vista of guidance opened in their hearts. All embraced Islam. When the emperor learnt of this development, he said: "We are fortunate, that man (i.e. Imaam Shaafi) did not come to Room. The whole population would have embraced Islam."
6. Imaam Shaafi said: "Whoever taught you even a little respect, consider him to be your Ustaadh."
"Do not vie with others in the accumulation of wealth. Vie with them in ibaadat. Wealth remains behind on earth while ibaadat accompanies you into the grave."
7. During his last illness, Imaam Shaafi wrote a wasiyyat naamah (last testament) to be given to a particular person who was not present. He also instructed that the man be told to give ghusl to his (Imaam Shaafi's) body. However, the man was not present when Imaam Shaafi died. He was in Egypt, hence someone else had to give the ghusl. When the man returned from Egypt many days later, the testament was given to him. The verbal message too was delivered. In the wasiyyat naamah was written: "I am in debt for 70,000 …" The man paid Imaam Shaafi's debt and said that ghusl here referred to the debt owed by Imaam Shaafi."
