Honouring the scholars

Only the virtuous are truly capable of recognising virtue, and that is why this Saint has recognised the status and virtue of the scholars. An example is the respect and veneration he awarded to the famous Tabi’i Tawus ibn Kaysan, the student of Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas radiya Llahu ‘anhu. It is reported in Hilyat al Auliya’:

توفي طاوس بالمزدلفة أو بمنى فلما حُمِل أخذ عبد الله بن الحسن بن الحسن بن علي بقائمة السرير فما زايله حتى بلغ القبر

Tawus passed away in Muzdalifah or Mina, and when his bier was lifted ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan ibn Hassan held one of the handles and did not let go until his bier reached the grave.”[1]

Imam Ahmed ibn Hambal rahimahu Llah narrates that ‘Abdur Razzaq reported from his father:

مات طاوس بمكة فلم يصلوا عليه حتى بعث ابن هشام بالحرس، قال: فلقد رأيت عبد الله بن الحسن واضعاً السرير على كاهله، قال: فلقد سقطت قلنسوة كانت عليه، ومزق رداؤه من خلفه

Tawus passed away in Makkah and no one read the funeral prayer upon him until Ibn Hisham sent a royal escort. I saw ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan carrying his bier on his back, such that the hat he was wearing even fell from his head; and his robe tore at the back.[2]

Also highlighting his respect and veneration of the scholars is the report transmitted by Ibn ‘Asakir rahimahu Llah from Hammad ibn Zaid:

كنا مع أيوب السختياني بمكة جلوساً فسلم عليه رجل من خلفه، فالتفت إليه بجسده كله، فسلم عليه تسليماً خفيفاً، ثم التفت إليه وقد دمعت عيناه فلم يزل منكساً حتى قام، فلما قام قلتُ: يا أبا بكر، من الرجل الذي سلمت عليه؟ قال: ابن النبي، ابن النبي، عبد الله بن الحسن

We were sitting in the company of Ayub al Sakhtiyani in Makkah when a person greeting him from behind. He then turned towards him with his entire body and greeted him softly. I then turned to him and his eyes were welled up with tears. He continued keeping his head lowered until he stood up. When he stood, I asked, “O Abu Bakr, who is the man who greeted you?” He answered, “The [great grand] son of the Nabi, the [great grand] son of the Nabi; ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan.”[3]

One can gauge from this report the admiration and honour ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan awarded to Ayub al Sakhtiyani, greeting him from behind out of respect for him. It also makes apparent the love this esteemed Tabi’i, Ayub al Sakhtiyani, had for the Ahlul Bayt radiya Llahu ‘anhum. And this was the character and practice of all our scholars; recognising the rights of the Ahlul Bayt and thus fulfilling the bequest of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala also bless us with the same love and admiration for the Ahlul Bayt.

NEXT⇒ Wise sayings of ‘Abdullah ibn Hassan

[1] Hilyat al Auliya’, 4/3.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Tarikh Dimashq, 29/254.

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