Seeking Knowledge: Inspiration from One of the Greatest Scholars

By Ibn Battäl in Shar’h Sahëh al Bukhäri p. 134-135 vol. 1,
Translated by Shaykh Omar Subedar

Yaĥyä ibn Yaĥyä reported, “The first thing Imam Mälik told me on the first day I sat with him when I came to him as a student; after Allah had inspired me to go to him, he asked me, “What’s your name?”

I replied, “May Allah ennoble you, [my name is] Yaĥyä.”

I was the youngest out of all my companions. He then advised me, “Yaĥyä, [fear] Allah, [fear] Allah. Be serious in this matter. I’ll tell you a story pertaining to this [line of knowledge] that will stimulate your interest in it and will deter you from everything else. A boy from Shäm came to Madina who was as young as you. He strived and sought [knowledge] with us until he [unexpectedly] passed away.

I saw something in his funeral that I have not witnessed the likes of in any person’s funeral [before] in our city; neither a student’s nor a scholar’s. I saw all the scholars crowding around his body. When the governor saw this he held back from leading the prayer and said, “Bring someone who you like from amongst you forward [to lead the prayer].”

Hence the scholars sent Rabī’ah forward. [Upon completing the prayer] he took the body to the grave. Thereafter he, along with Zaid ibn Aslam, Yaĥyä ibn Sa’ëd and Ibn Shehäb placed the body in the recess of the grave. The closest people around them were Muhammad ibn Al Mundhir, Safwän ibn Salëm, Abu Häzim and [great scholars] of their like. Rabī’ah then closed the recess with bricks while these people handed the bricks over to him.

On the third day after his interment a noble man from our city saw him in a dream as a handsome and beardless young boy. He had a white garment on and a green turban. He was on a grey horse and descended from the sky. It was as if he had intentionally come to [see] him. He greeted him with saläm and told him, “This is what knowledge has made me achieve.”

The man asked him, “What has knowledge made you achieve?”

The boy explained, “Allah granted me a level in Paradise in return for each chapter of knowledge I learnt however the levels did not make me reach the rank of the scholars. Consequently Allah the Exalted announced, “Grant [him] more of my prophet’s inheritance, for I have made a commitment to myself that whoever passes away from among those who are scholars of my practices and the traditions of my prophets or is seeking that knowledge, I shall collect all such people in one level.”

Hence my Lord made me reach the level of the scholars and [now] there are only two levels between myself and Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم; one level in which he is seated with all the prophets around him and another level in which all his companions and the companions of all the prophets are [situated]. The level after theirs is where all the scholars and the seekers of knowledge are. Allah took me there until I reached their midst. They all expressed, “Welcome! Welcome!”

[This is what I have been granted] with the exception of what I have additionally in store by Allah.”

The man asked him, “What is additionally in store for you by Allah?”

The boy explained, “Allah promised me that he will collect all the Prophets as I had seen them in one group. He will then [address the scholars], “O Scholars! This is the paradise which I have authorized for you and this is my pleasure. I am pleased with you all. You cannot enter Paradise until you make some wishes and intercede [for others]. I shall grant you whatever you like and I will accept your intercession for anyone you intercede for so that my servants may see how dear you are to me and witness your position by me.”

The next morning when the man woke up he told the scholars of his dream. News of this dream spread around Madina.

There were certain people in Madina who began their studies with us but later dropped out until they heard of this account. They returned to their studies [immediately] and took it up firmly. Today they are the scholars of our city. [Therefore fear] Allah, [fear] Allah O Yaĥyä and be serious in this line!”

[Source: Shar’h Sahëh al Bukhäri p. 134-135 vol. 1, Ibn Battäl, Maktaba Al Rushd, Riyadh, K.S.A. 2003]