Author: Khalid Yaghi Zahi
Genuine Ascetic (Part Two)
A Scene in Raqqa
This story begins in Raqqa, a magnificent city at the time, not just a small village, known as the refuge of Harun al-Rashid, the greatest king of the world during that period. As Harun al-Rashid embraced the pure and simple lifestyle of the early Arabs, he remained accompanied by worldly splendor and grandeur. When the caliph’s caravan arrived, people rushed to welcome him, gathering around his palace to catch a glimpse of him and receive gifts. The caliph’s wives and concubines observed the crowd and the commotion from behind the windows, feeling a sense of pride and joy. However, one day, they noticed that people were quickly leaving the palace surroundings and heading toward the city gates, seemingly awaiting someone’s arrival. Surprised, they asked who was coming that had made the people forget about the caliph, his caravan, and his gifts?
The response came: “A scholar from Khorasan is arriving.” Curious, they asked again, “Who is this scholar, and what do people seek from him?” It was said: “People approach him to ask about their religion.” The women exclaimed: “Swear by Allah, this is the Genuine king, not Harun al-Rashid, to whom people come only for money or out of compulsion.” This scholar from Khorasan was none other than Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak, one of the wonders of the world.
His Status Among Hadith Scholars
Ibn Al-Mubarak lived during the era of Hadith compilation, a time when gatherings for Hadith studies were held throughout the Islamic lands, and numerous Hadith scholars emerged during that period and beyond. This era witnessed unparalleled scholars. Let us explore the opinions of some prominent Hadith scholars regarding Ibn Al-Mubarak.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the defender of Sunnah, the steadfast bearer of hardships, and the author of Musnad, remarked, “In the time of Ibn Al-Mubarak, no one pursued Hadith more than he did.”
Imam al-Nasa’i, one of the authors of Kutub al-Sittah, said: “At that time, there was no one greater than Ibn al-Mubarak.”
One notable scholar, Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdi, about whom Imam al-Shafi’i said, “I do not know anyone like him in the world,” testified that the imams of Hadith were four: Sufyan al-Thawri, Malik ibn Anas, Hammad ibn Zayd, and Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak. He also noted, “No one was more knowledgeable in Hadith than Sufyan, no one was wiser than Malik, no one was more discerning than Shu‘bah, and no one was more sincere to this Ummah than Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak.”
Abdur-Rahman even considered Ibn Al-Mubarak superior to Sufyan, stating, “Ibn Al-Mubarak was more knowledgeable than Sufyan al-Thawri.” When some objected, claiming that others disagreed, he responded, “People lack experience; I have never seen anyone like Ibn Al-Mubarak.”
When Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdi went to Baghdad to sell his house, the Hadith scholars visited him and asked, “You have sat with Sufyan al-Thawri and heard Hadith from him, as well as from Abdullah. Which of them is superior?” He replied, “What are you saying? If Sufyan were to exert all his efforts to be like Abdullah for just one day, he would not succeed.”
Ali ibn al-Madini stated, “The knowledge of Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak was broader than that of Abdur-Rahman ibn Mahdi.”
Yahya ibn Adam added, “If I sought an intricate issue and did not find it in the books of Ibn Al-Mubarak, I would despair of finding it elsewhere.”
Sufyan expressed, “I wished that for my entire life, I could be like Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak for just one year; however, I could not even manage three days.”
A man once approached Sufyan and asked him about a matter. When Sufyan inquired, “Where are you from?” the man replied, “From the East.” Sufyan then asked, “Is the most knowledgeable man of the East not among you?” The man asked, “Who is he, O Abu Abdullah?” Sufyan replied, “Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak.” The man asked again, “Is he the most knowledgeable in the East?” Sufyan affirmed, “And the most knowledgeable in the West as well.”
Fazil ibn Ayyad also attested to the same.
Ibn Uyaynah stated, “I examined the deeds of the Sahaba and those of Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak; the Sahaba surpassed him only in their companionship with the Prophet and their participation in Jihad alongside him.” Yahya ibn Ma’in, the imam of Jarh wa Ta‘dil, confirmed the same.
Continues…
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