*Imam Malik – Part 2*


Imam Malik’s jurisprudential school is contained in his book _Al-Muwatta_. Although it is a book of Hadith, it has been arranged in a juristic order. Once, the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid said to him: “I want to give your book _Al-Muwatta_ official status and order all people to act according to it.” But Imam Malik forbade him and said: “The companions of Hadith have spread to various cities and narrate hadiths, so people act according to whatever hadith has reached them. It would not be appropriate to bind them to my book.”


*Imam Malik and Love for the Messenger* — Imam Malik had extreme love for the noble person of the Messenger (peace be upon him). His state regarding respect for the Prophet (peace be upon him) was such that in the city of Madinah he never relieved himself, never rode a mount, and never walked wearing shoes. His purpose was that there should be no shortcoming in the etiquette due to the Messenger. Once, the Caliph of the time spoke loudly near the Prophet’s tomb in Masjid an-Nabawi, so he stopped the Caliph and said: “Respect for the Messenger, just as it was obligatory during his life, should remain the same after his passing.” After that, the Caliph never spoke loudly near the Prophet’s tomb. Because of these qualities, Imam Shafi‘i says: “When scholars are mentioned, Imam Malik is like a star among them.”


*Imam Malik’s Character* — Imam Malik was at the highest level of character and conduct. He was very forbearing, refined, and dignified. He was very generous and hospitable. He also had great patience and perseverance. The people of knowledge respected him greatly. He was extremely self-respecting and honorable. He avoided debates and arguments. When someone from the innovated sects would come to debate him, he would say: “My religion and its conviction and proof are present with me. You are a person of doubts — go and debate with someone like yourself who is doubtful.” When Imam Sahib did not know an issue, he would admit without hesitation: “I do not know.” Imam Sahib was unique in truthfulness and frankness. For the crime of speaking the truth, the government of the time punished him, but he did not stop speaking the truth.  


In the era of Caliph Mansur, Nafs al-Zakiyyah, who was from the Alawi family, claimed the caliphate. Imam Malik praised him. Mansur forcibly took allegiance from people and made them swear oaths that if they did not do so, their wives would be divorced forever. Imam Sahib gave the fatwa that forced divorce does not take effect. The governor of Madinah, Ja‘far, who was Mansur’s cousin, imposed restrictions on Imam Sahib, but he did not stop issuing fatwas. Consequently, he was lashed, seated on a camel, and paraded through the city as a warning. Even at that time he said: “I am Malik bin Anas, and I say that forced divorce does not take effect.” At that time the entire public flocked to see him and were praying for him. The ruler of the time saw what status and rank the Imam had in the eyes of the people.  


Once, Caliph Harun al-Rashid said to Imam Malik: “Come to my palace and teach your book _Al-Muwatta_ to my sons Amin and Ma’mun.” Imam Sahib said: “May Allah honor the Commander of the Faithful. This religion emerged from your house, and if you give it a place of honor, people will honor it. If you disgrace it, people will also disgrace it. People come to knowledge themselves; knowledge does not go to people.” Harun al-Rashid said: “You have spoken correctly,” and ordered his children to go to the mosque and acquire knowledge.


*Imam Malik’s Works* — Many books are attributed to Imam Malik, but at present no book of Imam Malik is found except _Al-Muwatta_. The books of Maliki Fiqh, such as _Al-Mudawwanah al-Kubra_, were compiled by his student Abdur-Rahman bin al-Qasim. Some letters of Imam Malik do exist, for example, letters to Harun al-Rashid, to Ibn Wahb, and to Hasan bin Muhammad Mutarraf. _Al-Muwatta_ was authored between 130 AH and 141 AH. The total narrations in _Al-Muwatta_ are 1,700. About this book, Imam Shafi‘i says: “On the earth, after the Qur’an, there is no book more authentic than _Al-Muwatta_ of Imam Malik.” Many scholars have written commentaries on this book.


*Death* — After serving the Qur’an, Hadith, and Fiqh for 62 years, Imam Malik passed away on 11 Rabi‘ al-Awwal 179 AH. He was buried in Jannat al-Baqi‘, where many Companions of the Messenger are buried. He lived to the age of 86.

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