–
Imam al-Shatibi and Imam Ibn Malik were both great Andulusian scholars from the 5th Century AH. Coincidentally they were also great friends who had each specialised in different areas of the Islamic Sciences. Al-Shatibi was a initially a grammarian, proficient in the Arabic language and Ibn Malik was a scholar in Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and Seerah.
It is said that one day whilst they were conversing, one of them (I believe Ibn Malik) said to the other: ‘You are a scholar in such-and-such field, so become a scholar in another field and author something new therein.’ They challenged each other (as friends usually do!) and each took up the challenge of his companion.
It was here that Imam al-Shatibi wrote his famous nadhm (poem) in the Sciences of Qira’aat titled ‘Hirz al-Amani wa Wajh al-Tahani’ more commonly known as ‘al-Shatibiyyah’. Ibn Malik on the other hand wrote his piece in Nahw (grammar) and Sarf – which is none other than the famous ‘Alfiyyat Ibn Malik.
Each of their poetic works is over 1000 lines each with the Shatibiyyah alone consisting of 1173 lines covering all the rules of the 7 Qira’at, each with its subsequent 2 riwayat (variants of recitation).
Anyone who’s read or studied the Shatibiyyah will know the complexity and density of its verses as it is a codified text with great depth in language and hence needs thorough explaining, and in a way ‘decrypting’. As for the Alfiyyah, well there there, is a true masterpiece indeed…
… And so what are friends for, if they don’t encourage one another like these two scholars did? 🙂
May Allah have mercy upon them and allow us to benefit from good companionship like these two Imams did. Amin!
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh,
I have a friend who has been so generous with his time and knowledge that to date I have not met someone like him, ma sha Allaah, may Allaah protect him. I know some brothers who have mini libraries in their houses and some who are active in seeking knowledge but yet you don’t see the effects of all that knowledge in their character. Allaah knows best when they plan to implement all that knowledge. May Allaah guide us all.
I don’t praise anyone above Allaah but this friend of mine is an exception. You can literally see the effects of knowledge in his character ma sha Allaah although he is still a human being and capable of making mistakes but when he makes a mistake you straight away hear him make istighfaar.
Once on a cold winters night we were getting the car warmed up to head home. The care wouldn’t start and it way too cold to wait for a bus. We tried everything but the care wouldn’t work. Suddenly my friend started making istighfaar. Then I did that as well realising why my friend was doing it. After about a minute or so we tried starting the car again. This time it started. We praised Allaah for making the car start and were quiet for most of the journey home reflecting over that incident.
May Allaah beautify all our characters, not for the sake of gaining praise but for the sake of gaining His pleasure and fulfilling His rights.
A good righteous friend who reminds you of Allaah subhaanahu wa ta ‘ala is a real blessing.
Assalaamu alaykum
May Allaah reward, protect you and increase you in wisdom.
Asslaamu alaykum.
mashaAllah, despite the chaos you managed to maintain your blog and update it regularly…
As’salaamou alaykoum wa rahmatoullahi wa barakatouhou,
Masha’Allah this is what friends are for. Where can I find a copy of the Shatibiyyah insha’Allah?
Assalamu ‘alayki warahmatullah
Subhanallah, amazing people. The third paragraph nearly made my jaw hit the floor. May Allah have mercy on them.
To the brother above: you can read the complete poem, as well as listen to it recited, here: http://www.tadjweed.com/shatebeyya.htm
Do you have a reference for this story sister+
mashallah i’m waiting patiently for your next post =)
As salaamu ‘aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu
Forgive me for a comment not related to the post. There is an excellent new blog dedicated to a book called: *An Incomplete History: The Muslims of Spain Post 1492 in a Global Context and its Relevance to Muslims Today*
http://historyofandalus.wordpress.com/
The situation of the Muslims living in the West today poses a striking similarity to the situation of the Muslims in Al- Andalus post 1492 (when the last Muslim ruler surrendered the last Muslim stronghold of Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella). This marked the official end to Islamic rule in Al- Andalus. The end of Islamic rule was also marked by the Capitulations of Granada which was signed between Abu Abdullah Muhammad the Twelfth and the Spanish Crown of Castille. The agreement seemed to be made binding upon the Spanish Crown of Castille but as the reader shall see, it was broken within ten years after the agreement was put into effect.
Muslims lived in Andalus for at least two hundred years after the fall (1492). Their lives were not easy. In many cases they were forced to give up their identities, could not practice Islam in public, they were not allowed to speak Arabic (and therefore could not pray in congregation) or even give their children Muslim names! So what began as tolerance for the practice of Islam in Al- Andalus and allowing for their affairs to be judged under Shari’ah courts (Capitulations of Granada) slowly but surely led to the persecution of the Muslims of Al-Andalus until no trace of Islam in Andalus was to be found.
As salaamu ‘aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu
Forgive me for a comment not related to the post. There is an excellent new blog dedicated to a book called: *An Incomplete History: The Muslims of Spain Post 1492 in a Global Context and its Relevance to Muslims Today*
http://historyofandalus.wordpress.com/
The situation of the Muslims living in the West today poses a striking similarity to the situation of the Muslims in Al- Andalus post 1492 (when the last Muslim ruler surrendered the last Muslim stronghold of Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella). This marked the official end to Islamic rule in Al- Andalus. The end of Islamic rule was also marked by the Capitulations of Granada which was signed between Abu Abdullah Muhammad the Twelfth and the Spanish Crown of Castille. The agreement seemed to be made binding upon the Spanish Crown of Castille but as the reader shall see, it was broken within ten years after the agreement was put into effect.
Muslims lived in Andalus for at least two hundred years after the fall (1492). Their lives were not easy. In many cases they were forced to give up their identities, could not practice Islam in public, they were not allowed to speak Arabic (and therefore could not pray in congregation) or even give their children Muslim names! So what began as tolerance for the practice of Islam in Al- Andalus and allowing for their affairs to be judged under Shari’ah courts (Capitulations of Granada) slowly but surely led to the persecution of the Muslims of Al-Andalus until no trace of Islam in Andalus was to be found.
Salam Check this article out very interesting.
http://poorslave.wordpress.com/
Abu Emaan, it was mentioned by one of our teachers in his sharh of the Shatibiyyah, I assume it is a historical incident but I don’t have my books with me at the moment to search for a source (maybe you can dig into some of the siyar books).
I recently read somewhere that Imam al-Shatibi actually did a sharh of Ibn Malik’s alfiyyah (!). Has anyone else heard of this?
Salam.
Is there an Arabic source for this anecdote? I would love to share it with Arabic students.
Thank you.