It is the scholars that I seek out in every land

Abu al-Malih al-Hasan ibn ‘Umar (رحمه الله تعالى) said: I heard Maymun ibn Mihran (رحمه الله تعالى) say:

«الْعُلَمَاءُ هُمْ ضَالَّتِي فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ، وَهُمْ بُغْيَتِي، وَوَجَدْتُ صَلَاحَ قَلْبِي فِي مُجَالَسَةِ الْعُلَمَاءِ»

“It is the scholars that I seek out in every land, they are my desire and I found the rectification of my heart to lie in associating with the scholars.”

[Source: Hilyat ul-‘Awliya, (4/85)]

As if Hellfire has been created for them

Ali bin Zaid said:

وَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ زَيْدٍ: مَا رَأَيْتُ رَجُلَيْنِ كَأَنَّ النَّارَ لَمْ تُخْلَقْ إِلَّا لَهُمَا مِثْلَ الْحَسَنِ وَعُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ.

“I never saw two men behave as if the Hellfire had been created purposefully for them like al-Hasan [al-Basri] and ‘Umar bin Abdul Azeez”

[Source: al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, (9/205)]

Like the sun is to the world, and like good health is to mankind – ash-Shafi’ee

It is mentioned about al-Imam ash-Shafi’ee (رحمه الله تعالى):

وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بنُ هَارُوْنَ الزَّنْجَانِيُّ: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بنُ أَحْمَدَ، قُلْتُ لأَبِي:

أَيَّ رَجُلٍ كَانَ الشَّافِعِيُّ، فَإِنِّي سَمِعتُكَ تُكْثِرُ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ لَهُ؟

قَالَ: يَا بُنِيَّ، كَانَ كَالشَّمْسِ لِلدُّنْيَا، وَكَالعَافِيَةِ لِلنَّاسِ، فَهَلْ لِهَذَيْنِ مِنْ خَلَفٍ، أَوْ مِنْهُمَا عِوَضٌ ؟

[“سير أعلام النبلاء”, (10/45) و “تاريخ ابن عساكر” (14/415/1)، و”تهذيب الكمال” لوحة 1162]

Muhammad ibn Haroon az-Zinjaani relates: ‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad reported to us:

I said to my father (Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله تعالى)), “What sort of man was ash-Shafi’ee, for I hear you frequently supplicate for him?”

He (Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله تعالى)) said,

“O my son, he was like the sun is to the world, and like good health is to mankind. Is there anything that can take their place or any alternative that can be found for them.”

[Source: Siyar A’lam an-Nubala, (10/45) [Checked by Shaykh Shua’ib al-‘Arnaoot] , “Tareekh ibn Asaakir”, (14/415/1) and “Tahdheeb al-Kamaal”, (1162)]

None equal to me and Khaalid ibn al-Waleed

It was narrated that ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

وعَنْ عَمْرِو بن الْعَاصِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ :

( مَا عَدَلَ بِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَبِخَالِدِ بن الْوَلِيدِ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ مُنْذُ أَسْلَمْنَا )

[رواه الحاكم في “المستدرك” (3/515) وأبو يعلى في “المسند” (13/274) وقال الهيثمي في “مجمع الزوائد” (9/350) : ورجاله ثقات .]

“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not regard any of his companions as equal to me and Khaalid ibn al-Waleed from the day we became Muslim.”

[Source: Narrated by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak (3/515) and by Abu Ya’la in al-Musnad (13/274). Al-Haythami said in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id (9/350): its men are thiqaat (trustworthy).]

Pigeon of the Masjid – Abdullaah ibn al-Zubayr

‘Abdullaah ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) got a name “Hamama-tul-Masjid” (Pigeon of the Mosque) as he (رضي الله عنه) used to spend most of his time in the mosque in prayers.

Asma bint Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنها) said when ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) was mentioned:

{{ كَانَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ قَوَّامَ اللَّيْلِ صَوَّامَ النَّهَارِ، وَكَانَ يُسَمَّى حَمَامَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ }}

[“تاريخ الإسلام ووفيات المشاهير والأعلام”, (5/440), {الطبعة: الثانية، 1413 هـ} و  “تاريخ دمشق” (413) و “حلية الأولياء”, (1/335) و “صفة الصفوة” , (1/303)]

“The son of al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) (i.e. ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Zubayr (رضي الله عنه) ) used to observe long night prayers , fast during the days, and he used to be called, ‘The pigeon of the mosque’.”

[Source: Tareekh al-Islam (5/440) {2nd Edition 1413 A.H.}, “Tareekh Dimashq”, (413), “Hilyatul ‘Awliya”, (1/335) and “Sifwatus Safwah” of Ibn al-Jawzee, (1/303)]