The stories of the Awliya being challenged by the academic scholars (and defeating them) are abound in the texts and talks of the Tariqats. I will be presenting them here in a series.
From Shaykh Maulana Nazim al-Hakkani in Sohbet:
Shaban ar Rai was a simple shepherd, and also one of the great Sufi saints of the early Islamic era. He lived during the times when the four renowned Imams of the Sunni schools of Cannon Law were busy compiling the canon of their respective schools. One of those great scholars, Imam Shafi, considered Shaban ar Rai to be his spiritual mentor.
Another of the four great Imams, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, being skeptical of such an illiterate shaykh, decided to ask him a very elementary question to ascertain his level of knowledge. Imam Shafi warned him, “Beware of thinking of him as a simpleton, for if you ask him a question with that preconceived notion, he will understand your hidden intention and put you to shame.”
Imam Ahmad was, however, determined to pursue his course, so he asked him, “What is the rate of Zakat that all non indigent Muslims must pay to the poor?”
(Shaban Ar Rai Responded) “Which Zakat are you inquiring about, your Zakat or ours? According to your variety of knowledge or according to our way? ”
Surprised and always suspicious of heresy , Imam Ahmad asked, “What? Do you claim that there are two rates of Zakat in Shariah? I would like to know what they are, and on what evidence you base your claim.”
(Shaban Ar Rai said) “According to Shariah as it applies to you and those who are on your way, it is incumbent upon every person to give one fortieth of of his gold, silver, livestock and goods to the poor. According to the Shariah as it applies to His slaves, the slave and all he posses belong to the Master. So, on our way, from every forty, forty is for our Lord and nothing for us.”
Then Imam Ahmad asked him, “On what authority do you base this? Who is your Imam, and what is your chain of transmission back to the Prophet?”
(Shaban Ar Rai said) “Our Imam is Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (The first Khalifa of Islam): he gave all his wealth for the sake of his Lord.”
That was seriously awesome. I always tell everyone that if I were to redefine my career, it would be as a shepherd.
Allahu Akbar.
Salam
I hope you will reconsider your title. Surely a true scholar, like Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal, is also a Wali. Why not change the title to something like, “Saint Teaches a Scholar”, or something of the sort! Keep the stories coming, though!
Wassalam
Walaikumassalam Faramir,
While Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal achieved Waliyat through his legal work, indeed there was still a seperation between his Waliyat and the one he is encountering.
It is difficult to make the title ‘teaching’, as further instances will show. The jurists were often ones to behave poorly at the authority of the Saints of Tariqat, coming with demands and challenges, and the consequences of that were in some cases even fatal!
Salaam ‘Alaikum
I just think the word “defeat” is … not right, somehow, at least in the case of someone of the caliber of Imam Ahmad. I don’t even think it is a defeat — rather, I think it is the wali illustrating that there is a way higher and beyond what the legal minimum requirement is. I don’t call that a defeat. Illuminating.
as-salamu’alaikum,
I understand where you are coming from, it is not nice to think of great Shaykhs and Imam’s having suffered a defeat. Though as Imam Shaafi relates this was a challenge, with a warning, and the challenge was answered, so only in that way (and in the few others forthcoming) can we consider it a defeat.
It could also be viewed as a defeat in a debate or in a series of questions, many of which great scholars participated in and all of which some scholars won and lost.
But I hope we can take this sort of ‘defeat’ and realize that, in certain cases like this one, it is a defeat amongst lions, which we should keep in mind for us who are simply stray dogs.
As I said, the further on we go we will find that the Saints do indeed demonstrate that they defeat the challengers who come with questions and prejudgments.
So.. it is a series, and a title of illuminate and teach is a bit difficult to apply to the point getting across the set of posts.
In certain stories, people would think I’m being ill-mannered due to sarcasm (if I used illuminate), as the story ends in the death of the jurist.
[...] Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 [...]
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem:
Assalaamu Alaikum Br. Yursil:
Come on man!
There are people stating to you in this day and time that your title is in-appropriate for the many reasons that have been stated…yet you keep on stating and justifying the same.
point is this…no person in this age and time should claim to be judgemental on the previous Auwliyahs, Scholars and Saints of the past who have been recognized and duly respected by their own peers…
So be a trooper now, and change the title as your own peers are suggesting…
Salaam
BismillahirRahmanirRaheem
Walaikumassalam,
That is the title of the series, it is for a reason, my peers should reflect on that. There is a distinction between the scholar and saint, and the stories are present and should be repeated. My peers on this matter are those who are undergoing the same training as me.
Wassalam.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem:
Assalaamu Alaikum Br. Yursil:
You completely missed my point!
Khair Insha’Allah!
Assalaamu Alaikum