Poetry of Imam Shafi'i

The life of Imam Al-Shafi'i

His father is Muhammad bin Idris bin Al-Abbas bin Uthman bin Shafi’ bin Al-Sa’ib bin Ubaid bin Abd Yazid bin Hashim bin Al-Muttalib bin Abd bin Qusayy bin Kilab bin Murra. Al-Shafi’i is related to the Messenger, peace be upon him, from Abdul Qusayy bin Kilab, and his mother is Fatima bint Abdullah bin Al-Hassan bin Al-Hussein bin Ali bin Abi Talib, and this indicates his good lineage.

Imam Al-Shafi’i was born in the year 105 AH, which is the great year in which Imam Abu Hanifa died in Ashkelon, located in Palestine. He grew up in a poor family that was not able to pay the costs of his studies. However, the Imam used to help the teacher in teaching the rest of the students who were with him, and thus he was In this way, he pays his tuition fees by teaching his fellow students.

When he was two years old, his mother took him to a tribe in the Hijaz that inhabited Yemen, and his mother kept him there until he was ten years old. Then the time came when the mother felt that the family was in danger, so she took her son to Mecca.

Professors of Imam Al-Shafi’i

He has many prominent professors, including: Muslim bin Khalid Al-Zanki (Mufti of Mecca during the year 180 AH), Sufyan Al-Hilali (one of the most important scholars at that time in Mecca), Ibrahim bin Yahya (one of the scholars of Medina), and Malik bin Anas (Imam Al-Shafi’i used to read the hadith to Malik bin Anas after memorizing it from his book), Waki’ bin Al-Jarrah bin Malih Al-Kufi, Muhammad bin Al-Hasan (he is a researcher from Basra and a distinguished student of the great Imam Abu Hanifa), Hammad bin Osama Al-Hashemi Al-Kufi, and Abd al-Wahhab bin Abd. Majeed Basri.

The artistic features that characterize the language of Imam Al-Shafi’i

• He has an eloquent way of speaking and extensive knowledge of the Arabic language.
• He has deep insight into speaking and understanding true narratives.
• Deep understanding of the principles of jurisprudence and hadith.

Writings and narratives of Imam Al-Shafi’i

• Old message
• New message
• Difference of hadith
• Difference between Malik and Al-Shafi’i
• The virtues of Quraysh
• Book of Sunan
• The miracle of the Holy Quran
• Enforce the law

Poetry of Imam Shafi'i

Imam Al-Shafi’i’s poetry covered many topics, and he wrote about love, love for the Prophet’s family, friendship, and wisdom.

• I put my trust in God, my Creator, for my livelihood

I was certain that God had undoubtedly provided for me

Whatever is my provision, I will not miss it

Even if it was at the bottom of the deep seas

God Almighty will bring him with his grace

Even if my tongue did not speak

In anything the soul goes with regret

The Most Merciful has divided the sustenance of creation

• Lions in the forests die of hunger

Mutton is eaten by dogs

A slave may sleep on silk

He has a lineage whose carpets are dust

• Eternity is two days of security and prosperity

And living is a life of purity and turmoil

Don't you see the sea with carcasses rising above it?

And it settles at the bottom of the pearls

There are countless stars in the sky

Only the sun and the moon are eclipsed

(Al-Shafi’i’s poems about love)

Al-Shafi’i has many poetic verses about love. Perhaps the most prominent of Al-Shafi’i’s stories about love is his story with the young man who died because of love. Imam Al-Shafi’i was walking on the road when he found a stone with the following verse written on it:

O people, by God, tell me

If a boy falls in love, what should he do?

Al-Shafi’i responded to the writer of the house and wrote on the stone

He manages his whims and keeps his secrets

He is humble in all matters and submits

After a while, Imam Al-Shafi’i returned to the same place and found the stone written on it

If he doesn't have the patience to keep his secret

There is nothing beneficial for him except death

Shortly after, the young man wrote the following verses

We heard and obeyed, then we died and they were informed

My greetings to those who were denied access

Congratulations to the lords of bliss, their bliss

And the poor person's distress is what he should swallow.

The death of Imam Al-Shafi’i

Imam Al-Shafi’i fell ill at the end of his life, and he passed away in Egypt on Thursday night, the last day of Rajab. He was buried in Cairo on Friday, that is, in the year 204 AH (819/820 AD). His mosque can be visited in Cairo in the Al-Shafi’i neighborhood.