Category Archives: Article

May 10, 2014   Ahl us-Sunnah, Article, Awliya (Saints), English, English, Fiqh, Hanafi, Heritage, Personalities, Report, Scholars

The Twin Pillars of the Hanafi Madhhab: Qadi Abu Yusuf and Muhammad Shaibani

Qadi Abu Yusuf

Qadi Abu Yusuf was a descendent of the Ansar and Sahaba Hadrat Sa`d b. Sibat. Born in Kufah in 113 or 117 H and passed away on the 5th of rabi’ al-Awwal 182 H. Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Shaibani was born in 135 H and passed away in 189 H. He attended for about two yrs the lectures of Imam Abu Hanifah (ra), and upon the latter’s death, he completed his education under Abu Yusuf. He also studied for three yrs the Muwatta of Imam Malik (ra) under the great Imam himself, in Medina.

Qadi Abu Yusuf As long as Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) lived he regularly attended his court. Imam Abu Hanifah acknowledge his mastery in Fiqh. Returning once from a visit to Abu Yusuf during the latter’s sickness, Abu Hanifah (ra) said to his companions: “If, Allah forbid, this man (Abu Yusuf) dies, the world will lose one of its great scholars.”

Abu Yusuf attended the lectures of many other doctors. He heard Traditions from A’mash, Hisham b. ‘Urwah, Sulaiman Taimi, Abu Ishaq Shaibani, Yahya b. Sa’id al-Ansari and others, learned maghazi (military history) and siyar (biography) from Muhammad b. Ishaq and knowledge of Fiqh from Muhammad b. Abi Laila. Allah endowed him with so much intelligence and such a good memory that he learned all these disciplines simultaneously! Other Imams in other sciences acknowledged his quick intelligence and penetration.

Although he is known mostly in Fiqh, he was unrivalled in other sciences.The historian Ibn Khallikan quotes Hilal b. Yahya as having said: “Abu Yusuf was a hafiz of tafsir (exegesis), maghazi and ayyam al-`Arab (history of Arabia), Fiqh was one of his minor accomplishments.”

1. Abu Yusuf was ranked so high in Hadith so as to be counted huffaz in it, the famous and strict muhhadith Dhahabi included an account of Abu Yusuf in his Tadhkirat al-Huffaz.

2. Ahmad Hanbal (ra) said “When I was first attracted to Hadith, I went to Abu Yusuf.”

3. Muzni, a famous disciple of Shafi`i (ra) used to say: “Abu Yusuf follows more Hadith than anybody else. ‘Abd al-Barr, a well-known Muhaddith, writes that Abu Yusuf used to visit different Muhaddithin and at one sitting learn 50 to 60 Traditions, all of which he would retain in his memory!

4. A`mash the famous muhaddith having consulted Abu Yusuf on a question, said on hearing his reply: “Have you any authority for this?”. “Yes”, replied Abu Yusuf, and he reminded A`mash of a Tradition which the latter had narrated to him on a certain occasion. “Ya`qub”, said A`mash, “I first heard this Tradition when your parents had yet not got married, but I have understood its meaning only today” (Ibn Khallikan, Tarikh, note on Abu Yusuf).

Imam Muhammad Shaibani

The great Imam, Imam Shafi`i (ra) said: “Whenever Imam Muhammad expounded a point of law, it seemed as if the revealing Angel had descended upon him.”

“I acquired from Imam Muhammad a camel-load of learning” Ibn Hajar quotes Imam Shafi`i as having said: “….I used to visit him (Muhammad b. Hasan). I told myself that he was of high rank in Fiqh too.
Therefore, I made it a point to attend upon him, and I used to take down his lectures.”

[note: In his early days Ibn Taymiyyah denied that Shafi`i was a pupil of Imam Muhammad, but hundreds of historical books and rijal bear witness that Imam Shafi`i associated with Imam Muhammad]

On somebody asking the great Imam, Imam Ahmad Hanbal where he had learnt all the subtle points of law he used to make, he replied, “From the books of Muhammad b. Hasan.” (Tahdhib al- Asma’ wa’l-Lughat byImam Nawawi).

Again, similar to his teachers, most of his fame rests with his work in Fiqh but he had the rank of Mujtahid in exegesis, Tradition and literature also. Imam Shafi`i (ra) is reported to have said: I have not come across a man
more learned in the Quran than Imam Muhammad.” (Al- Jawahir al-Mudiyyah). His complete grasp on literature and Arabic linguistics is seen questions of fiqh based upon grammatical points in his Jami` Kabir. Jami` Kabir is a voluminous work where the dicta of Imam Abu Hanifah (ra), Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Zufar are quoted with the questions and arguments. Later Hanafi scholars used this book as the basis of the methodological reasoning employed by the Hanafi school.

Shaykh al-Kadi, a latter day scholar said in a talk (Fiqh and Fuqaha) that Fiqh is the fruition of all the other Islamic sciences such as Hadith, Exegesis, Grammer, History and so forth. These two great Imams were recognized Mujtahids in all the sciences making them Mujtahid Mutaqs of the madhhab. The same holds true for the other
madhhabs. Many scholars consider some of Imam Shafi`i students to be Mujtahid Mutlaqs also. The genius of Imam Abu Hanifah (ra) in operationalizing the Quran and Sunnah was nurtured and matured under the genius of his
students.

As time went by, scholars who were masters in the Hanafi madhhab methodology and its basis became the madhhabs custodians, such as Imam Abideen. We lay Muslims are indebted to these great Scholars for allowing creating and maintaining a vehicle for us to traverse and protect us on the “Straight Path” to our Lord and Creator, based on the teachings of Allah’s beloved, our Prophet and leader in this world and the next, Muhammad, Peace and choicest blessings be upon Him and the Ahlul Bait.

This information has been obtained and adapted from the English translation of Sirat-i-Numan by Allamah Shibli Nu’mani translated by M. Hadi Hussain.

 

 


© 2012 As-Sunnah Foundation of America

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January 6, 2014   Advice, Article, Bahrain, English, English, Maulud, Maulud, Prophets, Rabi ul-Awwal, Sacred Nights, Shagufta Ahmed Qadri, The Holy Prophet

History of the Mawlid / Milad Shareef and its Importance in the Contemporary World

 In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

Prayers and Salutations upon the Holy Prophet  Muhammad

“Wa dhakkirhum bi ayyamiLlah” i.e. “And remind them [O Beloved sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam] of the Days of Allah” [The Holy Quran, Surah Ibrahim, 14:5]

What are the “Days of Allah?” According to Hazrat Maulana Ismail Haqqi rahmatullah alayh in his 350 year old commentary of the Holy Quran called “Roohul Bayan,” the Days of Allah mean “the blessings of Allah.” These blessings of Allah include the air we breathe, the water we drink, our health, our family, our friends. However, none of these would be in existence if it wasn’t for the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam as is clear from the Hadith Qudsi where Allah Almighty says:

“If it was not for you [O Prophet] I would not have revealed My Lordship.”

In other words Allah Ta’ala would not have created had it not been for the sake of His Beloved sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

Another Hadeeth related by Hazrat Salman Farsi written in the famous Mawahibe Laduniyah of Imam Qastallani rahmatullah alayh, a 500 year old foundational text states that:

“Gabriel alayhis salaam descended on the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and said, ‘Your Lord says, ‘If I have taken Abraham as a beloved, intimate friend, I have taken you for the same. I have never created any creation more precious to Me than you, and I have created this world and its inhabitants for the purpose of letting them know your honor and what you mean to Me; and if it were not for you I would not have created this world.’”

Imam Qastallani rahmatullah alayh has written commentaries on both the Sahih al-Bukhari as well as Sahih Muslim. Any Hadeeth related by him must be accepted beyond the shadow of a doubt.

The same reality of the causality of creation is beautifully versified by Hazrat Imam Busiri rahmatullah alayh:

Wa kayfa tad’u ilad dunya darooratu man

Laulaahu lam tukhrajid dunya minal ‘adami

How can the necessities of such a noble personality incline him towards this world
For had it not been for him this world would not have come out of non existence

[Qasidah al-Burdah, Chapter 3, verse 5]

Maulaya salli wa sallim daiman Abadan

ala Habeebika khayril khalqi kullihimi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)

It is then clear that Allah Ta’ala created all the blessings of the world for the sake of the Greatest Blessing – The Ni’matul Kubra – The Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. This greatest Blessing is a Mercy to the worlds “Rahmatal lil alameen” as Allah Ta’ala says:

“And We have sent thee not but as Mercy to Worlds.” [The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Ambiya, 21:107]

Let us further examine what Allah Ta’ala has commanded for  us in regards to His blessings. Allah Ta’ala says:

“Say, ‘Upon Allah’s munificence and upon His mercy – upon these should the people rejoice …’” [The Holy Quran, Surah Yunus 10:58]

Imam Jalaaluddeen Suyuti rahmatullah alayh says in his famous Tafseer Durr al Manthoor, which is a Tafseer of the verses of the Holy Quran based on the Ahaadeeth of our Beloved Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam:

وأخرج أبو الشيخ عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما في الآية قال: فضل الله العلم، ورحمته محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال الله تعالى
{ وما أرسلناك إلا رحمة للعالمين }
[الأنبياء: 107].

Abu Sheikh rahmatullah alayh narrated from Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma:

That “Bounty of Allah” [in this verse] means Knowledge, whereas ”Mercy” means Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam. 

Allah Ta’ala said: And We have sent thee not but as Mercy to Worlds [As-Suyuti in Durr al Manthoor (4/330)]

The above verses make it clear that it is Allah Almighty’s command for us to express happiness at His Blessings; and therefore we must express the greatest happiness at His Greatest Blessing. The night when this Greatest Blessing was sent from the world of Spirits to this earthly life as a mercy for us must indeed be the Night of Greatest Happiness and one that must be remembered and celebrated over and over again. This is the Milad Shareef or the Mawlid or the Maulud. The word Milad comes from the Arabic root “walada” which means to be born.

In the Holy Quran, Syedna Isa alayhis salaam sends peace upon himself on the day that he was born:

“Was Salaamu ‘alayya yauma wulidtu…” i.e. “And peace is upon me the day I was born …” [The Holy Quran, Surah Maryam, 19:33] 

If peace descends upon Syedna Isa alayhis salaam on the day that he was born, would peace not descend on the day that the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who is Syedul Mursaleen – the Leader of the Prophets, was born?

Indeed this night was so great that Allah Almighty Himself celebrated it by showing His Great Signs:

Transferred through generations of purity

Arrived into Aamina’s womb with complete security

No labor or birth pains did she have in the slight

What she saw coming from her was nothing but light

The castles of Qaiser and Kisra crumbled in the distance

The millennium old burning Magian light blew out in an instance

The winds of change were blowing in their finest

The scent of Madinah was arriving, at the Merciful’s behest

Maryam, Hawa, and Asiya were sent as nursemaids

To welcome this Mercy to the worlds, never to fade

A bright light shone from His  gentle, tender face

The joy of seeing which nothing could replace

Clouds covered the Ka’ba, stars bent in humility and awe

Ecstatic with Allah’s Greatest Blessing, which the world now saw

Food was at Abdul Muttalib’s for three whole days

Even Abu Lahab freed a slave on that blessed Monday

The first Milad however one must remember was conducted by Allah Ta’ala Himself in the pre-earthly spiritual realm before He even sent the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam to this earth. This Milad of the Spirits included in its audience the souls of all the Prophets where Allah Almighty praised the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and took a covenant “The Meethaq” with the rest of the Prophets that they would support the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. This blessed gathering is mentioned in Surah Aale Imran of the Holy Quran [3:81]:

And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allah took the covenant of the Prophets, [saying], “Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a Messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him.” [ Allah ] said, “Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?” They said, “We have acknowledged it.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”

This covenant was the first blessed gathering of the Mawlid as it mentions the coming of Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam to this world which is the definition of the Mawlid.

Another beautiful Hadeeth elucidates the great blessings Allah Almighty bestows on even His enemies due to the birth of our Beloved Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam.

Narrated ‘Ursa; Thuwaiba was the freed slave girl of Abu Lahab whom he had manumitted, and then she suckled the Prophet. When Abu Lahb died, one of his relatives saw him in a dream in a very bad state and asked him, “What have you encountered?” Abu Lahab said, “I have not found any rest since I left you,except that I have been given water to drink in this (the space between his thumb and other fingers) and that is because of my manumitting Thuwaiba.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62, Number 38]

Abu Lahab freed Thuwaiba out of joy at the birth of our Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam, who was his own nephew. Even the worst of Kuffaar and greatest of enemies is given relaxation in his punishment due to freeing Thuwaiba by pointing with his finger, so one can only imagine the situation of a believer who rejoices on the Mawlid.

So it is clear then that Allah Ta’ala celebrated the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam’s Blessed Birth, so isn’t it incumbent upon us to do so?

Did the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam perform the Milad Shareef? Yes indeed he did.

Abu Qatada Ansari (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Massenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about fasting on Monday, whereupon he said: It is (the day) when I was born and revelation was sent down to me. [Sahih Muslim, Book 006, Number 2606]

This Hadith is also reported by Imam al-Bahayqi  in his “Sunnan ul Kubra” (Vol. 4, pg. 300 Hadith no 8182, 8259), in the “Sunan” of Imam Nisai and the “Musnad” of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.

Therefore, performing an act of worship or many acts of worship on the day that he alayhi salatu wa salaam was born is proven from the Sahih Hadeeth. It is a good practice to initiate any good deed on this blessed day whether one holds Naat khwaani or arranges a Mehfil of Dhikr or a Conference because another Sahih Muslim Hadeeth says that “He who inaugurates a good practice in Islam earns the reward of it, and of all who perform it after him, without diminishing their own rewards in the least.” Of course one must be careful when performing these good deeds that they be free from all spiritual ailments such as riya (showing off), takabbur (arrogance) etc as well be within the bounds of the Shari’ah in terms of modesty, clothing and other etiquette.

There is another narration by Hazrat Anas  that the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam performed his own aqiqah and slaughtered an animal 40 years after his Blessed Birth to remember it even though it had been done for him by his grandfather Hazrat Abdul Muttalib. This is related by Al-Bayhaqi, and Imam Suyuti rahmatullah alayhim ajmaeen.

So it is clear then that the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam celebrated His own Milad, so isn’t it incumbent upon us to do so?

Let us now turn to the Sahaba Kiram radi Allahu anhum ajmaeen – did they celebrate the Milad Shareef? Yes indeed they did as is proven from authentic texts. In the famous book “Al Tanwir fil Maulood Al-Basheer wan-Nazeer” it is related that Hazrat Abu Darda said that he was passing the home of Hazrat Amir Ansari in the company of the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He said that we saw that he was mentioning the Blessed Birth events and saying, “This was that day! This was that day that he sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam came to this earth.” The Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam upon seeing this said, “Allah has opened the doors of mercy and all the angels pray for your forgiveness and deliverance. Whoever does this will receive success.” (aw kama qal)

Additionally, in the famous book Ni’matul Kubra, Shaykhul Islam Allama Ibn Hajar Makki rahamtullah alayh writes:

Hazrat Abubakr Siddeeq radi Allahu says: “Whoever spends even one dirham on the recitation of the Milad Shareef of Huzoor sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam will be with me in Jannah.”

Hazrat Umar Farooq radi Allahu anhu says: “Whoever honors the Milad Shareef of Huzoor sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam has essentially revived Islam.”

Hazrat Uthman Ghani radi Allahu anhu says: “Whoever spends even one dirham on the recitation of the Milad Shareef of Huzoor sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam is as if he or she was present at the battles of Badr and Hunayn.”

Hazrat Ali  Murtaza radi Allahu anhu wa karrama Allahu wajhu says: “Whoever honors the Milad Shareef of Huzoor sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam and became the cause of Miladkhwani, he or she will leave the world with the wealth of Iman and will enter Jannah without any accounting.”

So it is clear then that the Sahaba Kiram celebrated and promoted The Blessed Milad Shareef, so isn’t it incumbent upon us to do so?

Did the Tabi’een celebrate the Maulid? Yes indeed they did. Hazrat Imam Abubakr Qastallani writes that Imam Hasan Basri said, “If I had gold equal to the mountain of Uhud I would give it away in the way of the Milad.”

So it is clear then that the Tabi’een celebrated The Blessed Milad Shareef, so isn’t it incumbent upon us to do so?

Did the 4 Imams of Fiqh celebrate the Milad Shareef. Yes indeed they did. It is a well known narration that Hazrat Ahmed ibn Hanbal used to distribute dates on the 9th and 12th of Rabiul Awwal in the happiness of the Blessed Birth. Similarly, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Muhammad Baqir, and Imam Jafar Sadiq used to distribute dates and gram flour (sattu). May Allah Almighty have mercy on them all.

So it is clear then that the Imams of our Deen celebrated The Blessed Milad Shareef, so isn’t it incumbent upon us to do so?

Did the Awilya Kiram celebrate the Milad Shareef? Yes indeed they did. It is written in Abu Muhammad Siyal Naqshbandi’s famous Tazkirah Ghause Azam that the Sultanul Awliya Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani radia Allahu anhu celebrated the 11th day of every lunar month because inevitably it would go into the 12th doing a Mawlid every month.

So it is clear then that the greatest Awliya of our Deen celebrated The Blessed Milad Shareef, so isn’t it incumbent upon us to do so?

Was the Milad Shareef celebrated in the actual birth place of the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam – the Holy City of Makkah? Yes indeed it was.

Early Commemoration of Mawlid in Makkah:

Ibn Jubayr (540-614) writes in his Rihal (“Travels”), wherein he describes his observation of Mawlid in Makkah Al-Mukarramah:

“This blessed place [the house of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam] is opened, and all enter to derive blessing from it (mutabarrikeen bihi), on every Monday of the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal, for on that day and in that month was born the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.”

The famous 8th-century historian Ibn Batuta relates in his Rihla: “On every Friday, after the Jumu’ah prayers and on the birthday of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam, the door of the Kaba is opened by the head of the Banu Shayba, the doorkeepers of the Kaba, and that on the Mawlid, the Shafi’I qadi (head judge) of Makkah, Najmuddin Muhammad ibn al-Imam Muhyiddin al-Tabari, distributes food to the shurafaa (descendants) of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam and to all the other peope of Makkah.”

“Each year on the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, after the evening prayer, the four qadis of Makkah (representing the four Sunni Schools) and large groups of people including the scholars (fuqahaa) and notables (fudalaa) of Makkah, shaykhs, zawiya teachers and their students, magistrates (ru’asaa), and scholars (muta’ammameen) leave the mosque and set out collectively for a visit to the birthplace of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam, shouting out dhikr and tahlil (laa ilaaha illa Allah).”

“The houses on the route are illuminated with numerous lanterns and large candles, and a great many people are out and about. They all wear special clothes and they take their children with them. Having reached the birthplace, inside a special sermon for the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam is delivered, mentioning the miracles that took place on that occasion.”

Similar events are recorded as having taken place in Makkah and Madinah up to the year 1917. Only then did these traditions and practices cease in these two holiest cities, though they are still held in the homes of many Hijazi families, attended by many Muslims who come from around the world. [taken from “Mawlid: Its Necessity” by Shaykh Hisham Muhammad Kabbani]

Until today in Muslim countries around the globe such as Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, just to name a few, government offices, universities and businesses are closed on that day.

It should also be clear that the actual birth date of our Beloved Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam is the 12th of Rabiul Awwal as proven from the follow authentic references:

Opinion of Renowned Historians about the Authentic Date of Milad:

1. Imam Ibn-e-Ishaq (85-151 H): Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born on 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel. (Ibn-e-Jawzi in Al-Wafa, Page 87)

2. Allama Ibn-e-Hisham (213 H): Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born on Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel. (Ibn-e-Hisham in As-Sirat-un-Nabawiya, Vol. 1, Page 158)

3. Imam Ibn-e-Jareer Tabari (224-310 H): Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born on Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel. (Tarikh-ul-Umam-wal-Muluk, Vol. 2, Page 125)

4. Allama Abu-ul-Hasan Ali Bin Muhammad Al-Mawardi (370-480 H): Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born 50 days after the event of Ashab-ul-Feel and after the death of His father on Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awal. (Ailam-un-Nabuwa, Page 192)

5. Imam Al-Hafiz Abu-ul-Fatah Al-Undalasi (671-734 H): Our leader and our Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), the Messenger of Allah, was born on Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel. (Aayun-al-Asr, Vol.1, Page 33)

6. Allama Ibn-e-Khaldun (732-808 H): Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born on 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel. It was the 40th year of Emperor Kasra Noshairwan. (Ibn-e-Khaldun in At-Tarikh Vol. 2, Page 394)

7. Muhammad As-Sadiq Ibrahim Arjoon: From various turaq (chains) it has been established as true that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was born on Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel in the reign of Kasara Noshairwan. (Muhammad Rasool Ullah, Vol. 1, Page 102)

8. Sheikh Abdul-Haq Muhadath Dehlvi (950-1052 H):Know it well, that over-whelming majority of the experts of sayar and tarikh (i.e. biographers and historians) hold the opinion that The Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم was born in Aam-ul-Feel. It is well known that the month was of Rabi-ul-Awal and its date was 12. Various scholars have shown their agreement with this (date). (Madarij-un-Nabuwa, Vol. 2, Page 14)

9. Nawab Muhammad Sadiq Hasan Khan Bohapalvi: The birth (of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) was happened in Mecca at the time of Fajar on Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awal in Aam-ul-Feel. Majority of scholars holds this opinion. Ibn-e-Jawzi has narrated a consensus (of scholars) on it. (Ash-Shumama-tul-Anbariya Fi Mowlid Khair-al-Bariya, Page 7)

The historians / scholars from the first / second century of Hijri, as well as the scholars of later times, have accepted the 12th of Rabiul Awwal as the birth date of our Beloved Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam.

It is clear beyond the shadow of a doubt that the practice of celebrating the Milad Shareef was a practice with an unbroken chain which started with Allah Almighty in the pre-earthly Realm till about 100 years ago when the horns of Satan arose in the Najd as per the prophecy of the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam to cause confusion and doubt in the minds and hearts of people.

It is clear beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Eid Miladun Nabi sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam is not the 3rd most important Eid, but it is THE most important Eid because all the other Eids came from it. One must understand that “Eid” here is being used in the sense of a happy event that returns every year. The Blessed night of 12 Rabiul Awwal is not just an important night for Muslims, but it is THE most important night for all the worlds because all other nights and days were gifted to us because of this night.

Imam Qastallani further writes in his famous Mawahibul Ladunniya that there is no greater blessing for the world than that which was received on the day of the Holy Prophet’s sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam’s Blessed Birth. To express gratitude for this is obligatory. This can be done in the form of spiritual gatherings, feeding people, giving charity, reading the events of the Blessed Birth and teaching it to others. The year in which the Milad Shareef is read becomes a source of success and peace, and freedom from tribulations. Allah bestows His special blessings upon those who celebrate this day as Eid.

Tala'al Badru

In our contemporary world where most people are victims of depression, stress and anxiety, it would be to our own selfish interests to celebrate the Mawlid so that its blessings help alleviate our individual and social problems. However, let us celebrate for the sake of celebrating because it is Allah’s command. Let us say, Ya Allah:

“Rula tu hamein bas ghame Musatafa mein

Na dunya ke gham me rula mere Maula”

Let us celebrate to express our love for whom we honor, to honor whom we love, whom Allah loves, whom everyone and everything, every animal, every stone, every mountain, every cloud, every sky, every ocean knows and loves and honors. May Allah Almighty always keep up among such fortunate ones who are recipients of the prayers generosity of the Holy Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Ameen.

Uthee nazar to Unke karam par thahar gaee

Dil kya badal gaya meri qismat sanwar gaee

Diyare Nabi mein aah bhi kabhi na be asar gaee

Tadpe jo ham yahan to Madeene khabar gaee

Shahon se mila hai na qalandar se mila hai

Allah ka irfan Tere Dar se mila hai

More information on the Mawlid can be found via audio lectures by IECRC’s Founding Director, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri at https://www.iecrcna.org/site/tag/milad-shareef/.

Some references for this article were taken from www.ahlus-sunna.com.

– Syeda Shagufta Ahmad Qadri

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December 22, 2013   Article, English, English, Fiqh, Fiqh, Fiqh, History, Islam, Islam FAQ, Personalities, Practice, Scholars

The Four Imams – fact sheet

IMAM ABU HANIFA (ra)

  1. Nu’man bin Thabit ibn Zauti,- well known in Islamic History as ‘Imam Abu Hanifa’ and ‘Imam Azam’ – was the son of a Persian merchant.He was born in Kufa, Iraq – in the Year 80 A.H.

     

  2. His father – Thabit – was privileged to meet Hazrat Ali (ra) who had at the time, made Kufa his capital. 
  3. Kufa was founded in 17 A.H. by Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab (ra) the 2nd Khalif.Kufa had become the 3rd most important centre of learning during Hazrat Umar’s (ra) Khilafat.

    A large number of Sahaba (ra) were sent to this new city to settle here by Umar (ra). These included Hazrat Abdulla ibn Ma’sood, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Ammar, Huzaifa & Abu Moosa etc. (ra).

    Records indicate the presence of 1050 Sahaba in Kufa of whom 24 were the participants of Badr.

     

  4. At the age of 20, Imam Abu Hanifa turned his attention towards the pursuit of advancing his Islamic knowledge. 
  5. Among his 1st and the most important tutors was Imam Hammad (Died 120 A.H.) whose educational lineage is linked with Hazrat Abdulla Ibn Mas’ood (ra). 
  6. Imam Abu Hanifa is also a Tabi’ee = One who saw and benefited from at least one Sahabi. 
  7. Imam Abu Hanifa benefited from nearly 4,000 Shaikhs.In those days, the Hajj season was the best means of spreading and deriving Islamic knowledge as Muslims from every corner of the Islamic world assembled in Makka.

    In his lifetime Imam Abu Hanifa is reputed to have performed fifty Hajj.

     

  8. Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) had joined his father’s business wherein he showed scrupulous honesty and fairness.Once his agent had sold a consignment of silk cloth on his behalf but forgot to mention a slight defect to the customers. When Abu Hanifa learnt of this, he was greatly distressed because he had no means of the refunding the customers; so he immediately ordered the entire proceeds of the sale ( 30,000 Dirhams ) to be given in charity.

     

  9. The Imam was also keenly interested in education.He established a school at Kufa, which later became a famous College of Theology. Here he delivered lectures on Islamic Law and related subjects.

     

  10. Fiqah or Islamic Law was systematically studied by his students under his expert guidance.A large number of his devoted and highly intelligent students worked under him for 30 years, and it is the labour of these students that gave us the Hanafi School of thought.

     

  11. Imam Abu Hanifa (ra) was the 1st of the Imams to advocate the use of “reason” in the consideration of religious questions based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. 
  12. He was also the 1st Imam to arrange all the subjects of Islamic Law systematically. 
  13. His most important work is the Kitab-ul-Aasaar which was compiled by his students – Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad. 
  14. In {164 A.H.} 763 A.C. Al-Mansoor – the Banu Abbas Khalifa of the Muslim Empire at Baghdad whose capital was Baghdad – offered Imam Sahib the post of Chief Qazi of the state, but the Imam declined to accept the post and chose to remain independent. In his reply to Al-Mansoor, the Imam excused himself by saying that he did not regard himself fit for the post offered. Al-Mansoor, who had his own ideas and reasons for offering the post, lost his temper and accused the Imam of lying.”If I am lying,” the Imam said, “then my statement is doubly correct.

    “How can you appoint a liar to the exalted post of a Chief Qazi?”

    Incensed by this reply, Al-Mansoor charged the Imam with contempt, had him arrested and locked in prison.

     

  15. Even in prison, the Imam continued to teach those who were permitted to come to him. 
  16. It was here in prison that the Imam was administered a dose of poison in 150 A.H.Realizing that the end was near, the Imam prostrated in prayer and passed away in this condition in the month of Rajab, 150 A.H.

    The news of his death soon spread throughout Baghdad

     

  17. 17. The whole town came out to pay their last homage to the greatest Imam of Islamic Law.More than 50,000 people participated in the first Janaza Salaat.

    People continued to flock and before the Janaza could be finally taken for burial, the Salaatul Janaza was offered 6 times in all.

    For days, people came in large numbers to pay their respects at the grave side.

     

  18. Among the four Imams, Abu Hanifa has the largest number of followers even today in all parts of the world {M.A.R.K.}.

 

IMAM MAALIK IBN ANAS (ra)

  1. Abu Abdullah Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn Abi Aamir (ra) was born in Madina in the year 93 A.H. (714 A.C)He came from a respectable family.
  2. His ancestral home was in Yemen, but his great grandfather – Aamir – settled in Madina after embracing Islam. 
  3. His grandfather – Maalik – was an important Taabi-ee and a famous reporter of Ahadith. 
  4. He was greatly attracted to the study of Islamic Law and devoted his entire interest to the subject after completing his primary education. 
  5. Madina was the most important seat of Islamic learning as the immediate descendants of the Sahaba-e-Kiraam were inhabitants of the City. 
  6. For the purpose of his study, he sought out over 300 “Tabi’een” = those who saw the Sahaba/Companions of the Holy Prophet (saw), and acquired from them the knowledge of the Holy Prophet’s (saw) Ahadith and Sunnah. 
  7. He spent his entire life in Madina where he studied Fiqah from 95 Shaikhs. It is these Shaikhs from whom he recorded the Ahadith in his Kitab-ul-Muatta.This Kitab contains 1725 Ahadith of Rasulullah (saw).

     

  8. He studied Qira’at & Hadith for nearly ten years under Hazrat Naafe’ the slave of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (ra). Hazrat Naafe’ had served his master for nearly 30 years.Naafe’ was once sent by Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (ra) to impart knowledge in Egypt.

     

  9. Although he is the author of numerous books, his most important work is the Kitab-ul-Muatta, which deals with the subject of Islamic Law based on Ahadith and Sunnah. The Kitab-ul-Muatta is the earliest surviving book of its kind – written around 150 A.H. – and it is used in all Islamic institutions as one of the text books in the final year studies by graduating Ulama. 
  10. Imam Malik had the highest regard for the Holy Prophet (saw) as well as for his Ahadith. He never tolerated indiscipline whilst Hadith-e-Rasul was under discussion.He even rebuked Al-Mansoor for talking loudly when some Ahadith were being discussed.

     

  11. The Imam always made Wudu or Ghusal, wore fresh clean attire and applied perfume before conducting lessons on Ahadith. 
  12. He delivered lectures on Islamic Law, and issued fatwas (Islamic Rulings) for nearly 62 years. Approx. 1,300 people have reported Ahadith from him. 
  13. He had the honour of occupying the home of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (ra) and conducting lessons from the same spot where Rasulullah (saw) spent his time for I’tikaaf, in the Masjid-un-Nabi. 
  14. Imam Malik was famous for his piety and integrity, and courageously stood up prepared to suffer for his conviction.For example, in 135 A.H., When the governor of Madina demanded and forced people to take the oath of allegiance in favour of Khalifa Al-Mansoor, the Imam issued a Fatwa that such an oath was not binding because it was given under duress.

     

  15. Since this fatwa was not in the interest of the ruler, the governor arrested the Imam and had him publicly flogged for the “crime”.Al-Mansoor, learning of this outrage, apologized to the Imam and dismissed the errant governor.

     

  16. Imam Malik (ra), was offered 3,000 gold coins (dinars) by Mansoor, as travelling expenses to Baghdad and subsequent residence in the Capital, but the Imam politely refused the offer saying that he prefered to live in Madina near Rasulullah (saw). 
  17. Imam Malik never intended the formation of a school of thought bearing his name. It was his disciples & followers who later developed a Fiqah School based on Imam Malik’s rulings. 
  18. Malikis are found mostly in North & West Africa – Tunis, Algeria, Morrocco and Egypt. 
  19. This Great Leader of Islamic Law died in Madina on the 11th Rabi-ul-Akhir 179 A.H. at the age 86 years. He lies buried in the Jannatul Baqi in Madina. (M.A.R.K.)

 

IMAM MALIK IBN ANAS (ra) – ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Madina was the most important centre of knowledge as scholars flocked to the City to pay their respects to Rasulullah (saw). 
  2. The home of Imam Malik too was a centre of Ilm-e-Nabawi. 
  3. Among his first tutors was Imam-ush-Shua’raa Hazrat Naafe’ bin Abdur Rahman (died – 169 A.H.) from whom he mastered the Qur’an. 
  4. Later, whilst still a youngster he joined the Hadith classes of Naafe’. 
  5. Physical description: Tall, heavily built, fair but reddish, wide eyes, beautiful nose, very little hair on the forehead, heavy long beard which reached his chest. trimmed moustache above/edge of the lip.He considered the shaver of moustache as Makrooh and a Mussla (disfigurer).

     

  6. He wore expensive clothing and used much Ittar. 
  7. He wore a silver ring with a stone and engraved was ‘Hasbun’Allahu wa Ne’mal Wakeel’. 
  8. On his door was written ‘Maa Sha Allah’. This house originally belonged to Abdulla ibn Mas’ood (ra). 
  9. He started teaching at the age of 17. 
  10. It was only after seventy Ulama certified him as an authority, did he commence issuing Fatwa. 
  11. His seat in the Masjid-e-Nabawi was the same seat that was occupied by Hazrat Umar (ra). 
  12. He never answered the call of nature within the perimeter of the Haram, except during illness or some Uzar. 
  13. He never rode during his entire life on an animal in Madina.He used to say, “How can I ride an animal whose feet tramples the ground in which lies resting of the Master (saw).

     

  14. During his advancing years, he never went out of Madina – hoping to be buried therein. 
  15. During Hadith lessons if anyone raised his voice, he would reprimand him and quote the Qura’nic verse … adding that the command was applicable even now.

 

IMAM MAALIK IBN ANAS (ra) – POLITICAL ERA

  1. During the Khilafat of Mansoor Abbasi, oppression was on the increase.Muhammad Zun-Nafs az-Zakiyah in Madina and his brother Ibrahim in Basra were compelled to raise the flag of rebellion against the the injustice directed mostly towards the Sayeds.

    Imam Malik issued a fatwa in favour of these two and against the government.

     

  2. 2. This led to his arrest by the governor of Madina and subsequent flogging – seventy lashes.Later when Mansoor learnt of this, he expressed regret and sent an apology to the Imam and requested the Imam to come to Baghdad, but the Imam refused.

    When Mansoor came for Hajj, he visited Madina as well and treated the Imam with great respect.

     

  3. Haroon ar-RasheedHaroon ar-Rasheed was a patron of the Ulama. He had great regard for Imam Malik. He personally, with his two sons, journeyed to Madina to listen to the Muatta. He invited the Imam to come to his camp in order to give lessons but the Imam refused. So Haroon brought his sons to the Imam.

     

  4. His deathImam Malik was 86 years and had become quite weak, but he still continued to give lesson and issue fatwas.

    It was Sunday when he became ill and for the next 22 odd days it got worse. He passed away on the 11 th Rabi-ul-Akhir, 179 A.H.

    He had taught and issued fatwas for 62 years.

 

IMAM MAALIK IBN ANAS (ra) – ORIGIN OF MALIKI FIQAH

The Fuqaha-e-Saba’ of Madina are:

  1. Saeed ibn Musayyib, Died 94 A.H.
  2. Ubaidullah ibn Uttba ibn Mas’ud, Died 98 A.H.
  3. Urwa, Died 94 A.H.
  4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, Died 108 A.H.
  5. Abu Bakr bin Abdur-Rahman bin Haris ibn Hisham, Died 94 A.H.
  6. Sulaiman ibn Yasaar, Died 109 A.H.
  7. Kharija Zaid, Died 109 A.H.

These 7 were the centre of Ilm-e-Fiqah and Hadith in Madina.

Their unanimous ruling was the basis of any verdict in the court of Madina in matters of Fiqah.

The basis of Imam Malik’s Fiqah and Fatwa originates from this Fiqah of Madina.

Allama ibn Qayyim (ra) states that the promotion of Deen, Fiqah, and Ilm in the Ummah is due to the students of Ibn Mas’ud, Zaid bin Thabit, Ibn Umar and Ibn Abbas (ra).

Ibn Mas’ud stayed in Madina but was later ordered to reside in Kufa.

Therefore the above 7 were instrumental in the promotion of Ilm in Madina.

And it is from these persons that the Shaikhs of Imam Malik benefitted, in particular Hazrat Rabi’atur Raai who is the most important Shaikh of Imam Malik (ra).

Imam Malik based his rulings in his Fatwas from the Fiqah of the above and this eventually became the “Maliki Fiqah.

 

IMAM SHAFI’EE (ra)

  1. Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Idrees Shafi’ee (ra) was a descendant from the Quraish tribe.He is the Only Imam who is related to Rasulullah (saw).

     

  2. Imam Shafi’ee (RAH) was born in Ghazza, Syria in 150 A.H. (765 A.C.)He lost his father during infancy and was raised by his mother under very poor circumstances.

     

  3. He completed Hifz of the Qur’an at the tender age of 7 years, and at the age of 13 memorized the Kitabul-Muatta of Imam Malik (ra). 
  4. He spent some time among the Beduins outside Makka, to acquire a good knowledge of the Arabic language. 
  5. At the age of 20, (170 A.H./785 A.C.) he went to Madina and became a student of Imam Malik (ra) who was greatly impressed with the young student who had memorized the Muatta. 
  6. He stayed with Imam Malik for some time; thereafter he returned to Makka. 
  7. He also came into contact with other learned men (81 Shaikhs) from all of whom he acquired the knowledge of the Qur’an, Hadith and Sunnah. 
  8. In 184 A.H./799 A.C., Imam Shafi’ee was arrested and taken to Baghdad to appear before Haroon Ar-Rasheed on “trumped up” charges of treason. It was due to the recommendation of Imam Muhammad (the state Qazi and student of Imam Abu Hanifa) that Imam Shafi’ee was discharged. He was then 34 years old. 
  9. Imam Shafi’ee remained in Baghdad as a student of Imam Muhammad for over three years to add further to his knowledge of Islamic Law. 
  10. He returned to Makka where he stayed for 9 years delivering lectures on Islamic Law. It was during this period that Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal came into contact with Imam Shafi’ee. 
  11. In 199 A.H., he went to Egypt where he was received with much honour and respect. He remained here until his death. 
  12. Imam Shafi’ee was the author of over 100 books, the most important of which is the Kitab-ul-Umm. It contains the rulings of the Imam on all subjects of Islamic Law. 
  13. He left behind a large number of dedicated students in Makka, Baghdad and Egypt. 
  14. The Shafi’ee School of Thought emerged from these students who propagated the views and rulings of the Imam through their writings and preachings. 
  15. Imam Shafi’ee (ra) never committed a major sin nor spoke a lie, nor did he swallow an unlawful morsel of food in his entire life.He never at any time performed Jumma without Ghusal.

     

  16. He was an extremely generous personality who on numerous occasions gave away all he possessed to the poor and needy. 
  17. He died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday evening after Maghrib, 29th Rajab, 204 A.H. (20th Jan, 820 A.C.) after a short illness, at the age of 53-54 years. { M.A.R.K. }

 

IMAM SHAFI’EE (ra) – ADDITIONAL FACTS

  1. Abu Abdulla Muhammad ibn Idris ibn Al-Abbas bin Usman bin Shafi’. 
  2. His ancestry joins the Prophet at Abd Manaaf. 
  3. His title is ‘Naasirun Sunnah’. He was honoured as Al-Imaamul Mujaddid in that he is the Mujaddid of the 2nd century. 
  4. His birth place is Ghazza/Asqalaan – a place two stages from Jeruselam. He was born in Rajab 150 A.H. 
  5. He was two years old when his parents moved to Makka and made it their home. 
  6. His mother was a Yemeni of the famous Bani Azd tribe. 
  7. His ancestor – Shafi’- was the flag bearer of the Banu Hashim in Badr.He was taken prisoner and released after ransom. Thereafter he embraced Islam.

    Another report states that he met the Prophet (saw) as a youngster and became a Muslim.

    However his father – Saa’ib – was the flag bearer…..

     

  8. Imam Shafi’ee completed Hifz at 7 and memorised Muatta at 10 years. 
  9. At 15 with the permission of his SHAIKH – Muslim bin Khalid Zanji (the Mufti of Makka) – he started issuing fatwas. 
  10. Earlier he spent his time in Arabic literature and poetry.One day at Mina, he heard a voice behind saying: “Aliaka bil Fiqah” – (GRASP THE FIQAH).

     

  11. Muslim bin Khalid who had noticed his remarkable intelligence, etc., advised him to study Fiqah.He spent three years with the Shaikh, until the age of 13.

     

  12. Later he went to Madina to study under Imam Malik.Besides Imam Malik, he studied Hadith under 81 Shaikhs.

    In Makka his tutor was Sufyan bin Ainiyyah.

    Imam Shafi’ee said about these two: “Had it not been for Imam Malik and Sufyan, then Ilm Would not have remained in Hidjaz.”

     

  13. He spent 8 months with Imam Malik, then returned to Makka. 
  14. He came into contact in 184 A.H. with Imam Muhammad – state Qazi – at Baghdad and stayed with him for over 3 years. Taking into account future visits to the Imam, he spent 10 years with Imam Muhammad.Comments: “I never came across a greater Alim of Kitabullah than Imam Muhammad (ra).

     

  15. Imam Muhammad made this comment:[a] The door of Fiqah was shut to the people, Allah opened it because of Shafi’ee.

    [b] Imam Shafi’ee is the Mujaddid of Deen.

     

  16. Imam Malik made this comment:No Scholar more brilliant than Muhammad ibn Idris Shafi’ee ever came to me as a pupil.

     

  17. Fiqah Shafi’eeThe Imam had mastered both Maliki and Hanafi Fiqah. Keeping both before him, he formulated the basis of the Shafi’ee Fiqah.

    His pupils compiled his works, Fatwas, teachings, etc., and promoted the Shafi’ee School of Fiqah.

 

IMAM AHMAD IBN MUHAMMAD HAMBAL (ra)

  1. Abu Abdullah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hambal Shaibani Al-Maruzi was of pure Arab descent whose ancestery joins Hazrat Ebrahim (as). 
  2. He was born in Baghdad in the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 164 A.H. He lost his father when he was only three years old. 
  3. Baghdad being the Capital of the Muslim State was an important centre of learning during the Banu Abbas Era. 
  4. Imam Ahmad Hambal (ra) completed Hifz of the Qur’an at an early age. 
  5. In 180 A.H., when he was 16 years old, he began to persue the knowledge of Ahadith under the Imam Abu Yusuf (the most important pupil of Imam Abu Hanifa (ra)). 
  6. He stayed with him for 3 years, during which time he recorded so much information, that the volumes filled 3 book shelves. 
  7. Later he also attended the classes of Imam Muhammad (another prominent pupil of Imam Abu Hanifa (ra)). 
  8. After accumlating knowledge from numerous scholars in Baghdad, he journeyed to Kufa, Basra, Makka, Madina, Yemen, Syria, Jazira in order to increase his knowledge of Ahadith. 
  9. After meeting with over a hundred Shaikhs, he is reputed to have made a collection of over a million Ahadith. 
  10. It was in 187 A.H. that he met Imam Shafi’ee (ra) in Makka for the first time. Later when Imam Shafi’ee came to Baghdad, Imam Hambal also joined him during the Imam’s residence here and mastered from him Fiqah. 
  11. Imam Shafi’ee (ra) too on the other hand relied very much on the knowledge of Ahadith and Sunnah which Imam Ahmad Hambal (ra) possessed. 
  12. It was in 204 A.H., only after he had reached the age of 40, that Imam Ahmad Hambal (ra) started conducting lessons and delivering lectures. 
  13. Being a prominent figure, his lectures attracted a huge gathering of at least 5,000 students among whom nearly 500 took down notes daily. 
  14. Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, and Imam Tirmizi (ra) were also amongst his noteworthy students. 
  15. The Mu’tazila controversy regarding the “immortality and creation of the Qur’an” was the cause of much trial in the life of the Imam, who suffered much over a period of nearly 15 years. 
  16. The Banu Abbas rulers – Al-Ma’moon and Al-Mu’tasim who were influenced by the Mu’tazila – tried to force the Ulama to accept the Mu’tazila doctrine. 
  17. Being a devotee of the Sunnah, and an opposer of Bid’at it fell upon the shoulders of Imam Hambal (ra) to oppose this doctrine vigorously. 
  18. Al-Mu’tasim even ordered the flogging and imprisonment of the Imam for several months.Imam Hambal succumbed to the sufferings rather than deviate from the beliefs and practices of the Sunnah.

     

  19. The sufferings of Imam Hambal ended when Al-Mutawakkil took over as ruler, restored the traditional teachings of Islam and accorded the Imam the honour befitting the great scholar. 
  20. Among his several works is the Encyclopaedia of Ahadith called Masnad, compiled by his son Abdulla from his lectures, and amplified by references to over 28,000 Ahadith. 
  21. His other important works include a collection of his fatwas (Islamic rulings on religious matters) – covering over 20 volumes.These fatwas form the basis of the Hambali School of Thought.

     

  22. The Hambalis represent the smallest group in the four Sunni Schools of Fiqah. 
  23. Imam Hambal (ra) died after a short illness in Baghdad, on Friday evening, 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 241 A.H. (855 A.C.) at the age of 77 years. 
  24. His Janaza Salaat was attended by nearly 1,000,000 people who came to pay their respects to this great scholar of Islam. {M.A.R.K.}

source: Ask Imam.com

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