Imam Malik ibn Anas

When Imam Malik started his teaching circle, he sat where Sayyidina 'Umar ibn al-Khattab used to sit in the Prophet's mosque, and he lived in the house that belonged to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. Thus, he surrounded himself with the atmosphere of the Prophet's companions in his teaching and living quarters.

His halaqah (circles) was of two types: one for hadith and the other for Fiqh and rulings for questions posed. The latter he would do in whatever he was wearing, but when he taught the hadith, he would appear in his best attire, using perfume, sat on a dias, and taking a most serious and devoted attitude. His approach was the same even when the question was raised by the Governor of Madinah. Moreover, he would not provide an answer to a hypothetical question. If an issue was put to him, he would ask whether it had taken place. If it had not, he would not consider it even if it would have been probable. He would exercise extreme caution in answering questions and would not venture to asnwer it if he was not sure.

It is reported that someone put to him a question and said: 'I have been sent to you with this question from my hometown in Morocco, undertaking 6 months journey to reach here.' Malik listened to the problem and reflected upon it before saying to that man: 'Tell the person who sent you that I have no knowledge of this matter.' The man then asked: 'Who knows it then?' Malik said: 'A man whom God has given knowledge of it.' In another narration, he was reported to have said: 'I do not have the competence to answer it.'

Malik was distinguished by a superb memory and a clear insight, with both qualities enabling him to achieve eminence amongst his peers. His own teacher, Imam az-Zuhri, described him as a 'great vessel of knowledge' - and his student, Imam as-Syafi'e says: 'When it is a question of hadith, then Malik is the brightest star.'

Yet, despite his vast knowledge, he would only mention a hadith when he felt that it would be useful to teach it to others. That, is a great lesson in humility for all of us to accept.