The Wisdom of Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (r.a.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) was born in Gaza, and moved to Makkah when he was two years old.  He went to Madina, and was as a student of Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas (r.a.), who was very impressed with this young student.  He was also known for writing poetry. 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “When my heart was hardened, and my courses constrained; I made my hope a stairway to Your Forgiveness.  My sins burdened me heavily, but when I measured it by Your Forgiveness, Lord, Your Forgiveness was Greater.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Whoever slanders to you about others, will slander about you.  And whoever reports to you, will soon report about you.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Knowledge is that which benefits, not that which is memorised.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Let not your tongue mention the shame of another, for you yourself are covered in shame and all men have tongues.  If your eye falls upon the sins of your brother, shield them and say, ‘O my eye!  All men have eyes!’” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “I wish that people learnt this knowledge from me without ascribing one letter of it to me.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Whoever wishes that Allah Illuminate him, let him leave that which does not concern him.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “When the foolish one speaks, do not reply to him.  For better than a response is silence.  And if you speak to him, you have aided him; and if you leave him in extreme sadness he dies.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Support me with your advice in private, and avoid advising me in public.  Surely giving advice among the people is a kind of reproach, which I would rather not listen to.  If you disobey and ignore my wish, do not be saddened if you are not obeyed.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “To admonish your brother in private is to advise him and improve him.  But to admonish him publicly is to disgrace and shame him.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Three things will increase your intellect: sitting with the scholars, sitting with righteous people, and leaving off speech that does not concern you.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Intercession is only sought by one of a lower status before a superior and no one is superior to Allah.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “All humans are dead except those who have knowledge.  And all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds.  And those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere.  And those who are sincere are always in a state of worry.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Whoever recites Qur’an, his value is amplified.  Whoever records hadits, his proof is strengthened.  Whoever learns jurisprudence, his status is ennobled.  Whoever learns Arabic, his disposition becomes gentle.  Whoever learns mathematics, his opinion will be copious.  And whoever fails to defend his honor will not benefit from his knowledge.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “I have never debated with a knowledgeable person, except that I won the debate, and I have never debated with an ignorant person, except that I lost.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “I never once argued with anyone hoping to win the debate; rather I always wished that the truth would come from his side.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “The foolish one addresses me with words of disgrace, but I hate to respond to him in a similar manner.  The more ignorant he proves, the more patient I become.  Just like the incense, the more it is burnt, the more it releases its fragrance.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “When it comes to my provisions, I rely upon Allah, my Creator.  And I know with certainty that He will no doubt Provide for me.  Whatever is in my due, will not pass me by, even if it were to be in the depths of the sea.  Allah the Exalted will Bring it Forth by His Grace, even if I were to remain silent over it.  So, what can a soul feel sorrow over, when the Most Merciful has Set the Provisions of Creation?” 

Imam Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali ibn ‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Sadafi (r.a.) said, “I have never seen a wiser man than ash-Shafi’i.  I was arguing with him once about an issue and I left him.  Then one day, he met me, held my hand and said, ‘Can we not be brothers, even if we disagree about something?’” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “O my soul!  It is not, except a few days of patience; as if the extent were but a few dreams.  O my soul!  Pass quickly on through this world; and leave it, for indeed life lies ahead of it.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “I complained to Imam Waqi’ of my weak memory; he advised me to abstain from sins; for, verily, knowledge is a light from Allah; and this light of Allah is not awarded to sinners.”  He was referring to Imam Abu Sufyan Waki’ ibn al-Jarraḥ al-Kufi (r.a.), his teacher. 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “When I see a man from the adherents of ahadits, it is as if I have seen the Prophet (s.a.w.) alive.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Be aware of your tongue; it is dangerous!  It is like a snake and so many people have been killed by their tongues.” 

Imam Abu Ya’qub Yusuf ibn Yahya al-Buwayti (r.a.) said, “I heard ash-Shafi’i say, “A man does not become complete in this life except when he has four: religiousness, trustworthiness, scrupulosity, and sobriety.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Be hard on yourself; easy on others.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Do you mock the supplication and belittle it?  While you do not know what it has the power to do!  The arrows of the night do not miss target.  But they have a set limit, which shall come to end.  So, if my Lord Wishes, He Holds it back.  And if the Decree is to be Fulfilled, He Sets it forth.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Were this world to be sold on the market, I would not buy it for a loaf of bread, for all the troubles it contains.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Sciences worth studying are only two: the science of fiqh to do with religion and the science of medicine to do with the body.” 

Imam ash-Shafi’i (r.a.) said, “Knowledge without action is arrogance.”