In the book, ‘Muslim Judges of Andalus’, by Abû al-Hasan ibn Abdullâh
al-Mâliqî, he recounts a story about the great scholar of our Ummah:
Muhammad ibn At-Tayyib Abû Bakr al-Bâqillânî (d. 1013). Lets
spend a moment in his sandals, perhaps we may feel the power that Islâm
had in the hearts of those Muslims.
This event took place when the Khalifah of the Muslims sent him to the
Roman King.
Quote:
Ibn Hayyân says: The transgressor – the King of the Romans – invited
Abû Bakr al-Bâqillânî to a Christian banquet and on the appointed
day, Abu Bakr Al-Bâqillânî arrived. The hall was lush with
Christian noblemen, the walls and tables dazzled in the decorations.
At that moment, the King beckoned AlBâqillânî near, sitting him a
step down from his throne and complimenting him with flattering
questions. All around the King sat noblemen and those most nearest to
his counsel.
Then the Batrik (the High priest) entered the banquet hall with his
entire splendor, the final guest, the chief of their religion.
Swarming him was an assembly of lower priests, each reciting the Injîl
(Bible) and carrying lanterns of incense, all of them dressed in their
most finely hemmed garments.
When the Batrik found himself in the center of the hall, the King stood
glorifying the Batrik. He bowed his head and rubbed both hands on the
Batriks shoulders. Then to his immediate right, the King sat the
Batrik down on a throne marvelous in its own right.
After the moment had passed and the crowd had focused on the stage in
that castle banquet hall, the King turned to AlBâqillânî and said
with a sniff, O Faqîh! The Batrik is the chief of our religion, and
the guardian of the flock.
AlBâqillânî turned to the Batrik with the warmest smile and the
gentlest of words. He asked the sweetest and most loving questions,
then AlBâqillânî said:
| So Batrik How are the kids and wife!?!” |
(Remember, the popes would practice celibacy).
The hall fell silent. Blasphemy! The King was shocked. The Batrik was
outraged. Brows cringed, decorations dimmed, disgusted faces shaped on
all.
Then Abû Bakr AlBâqillânî said,
| O people, listen to me. You dislike that this mere mortal could have a wife and children ascribed to him. And you deny any allegation to the contrary. Yet when it comes to your Lord, Glorious and most High, you do not feel the same disgust. And you attribute to Allah both the wife and child that you would never allow your Batrik to be associated with. |
| Suddatan lihâdha ar-Ra – Perished be your claim! How clearly wrong it is! |
It fell in the Christians hands and they had no answer. Fear and
nervousness shook their hearts.
Quickly the King turned to the Batrik and whispered in his ear, What
shall we do?”
He replied,
| Treat this man honorably, complete the dinner, then expel this Iraqi trouble maker from your land; today if you can. Otherwise, you shall not be safe from his mischief.” |
The King did as he was advised. AlBâqillânî was returned to Iraq –
back to the Khalîfah – with gifts and many Muslim prisoners finally
released.
This is a true story that happened in the year 1002 CE. May Allah
reward handsomely those that preserved it for us.
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