A dialogue between Imam Azam and Imam Auzai (May Allah shower His Mercy on them)

 

 

A dialogue between Imam Azam and Imam Auza’i

(May Allah shower His Mercy on them)

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Sufyan bin ‘Uyaina (May Allah be well pleased with him), Sufyan says:  Imam Auza’i and Imam Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on them) met each other in the wheat market of the blessed city of Makkah.  Imam Auza’i asked Imam Azam: For what reason you people don’t raise your hands when going into the Ruku’ and when coming out of it?

 

Imam Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  Because there is no rigorously authenticated Hadith of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) about it.

 

Imam Auza’i (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  How can that be?  Zuhri has related to me and he has related on the authority of Saalim and Saalim has related on the authority of his father ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) and he relates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would raise His hands (for the Opening Takbeer) when starting the Salaat and would raise His hands when going into the Ruku’ and also when coming out of it.

 

In reply to this, Imam Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  Hammad related a Hadith to us and he related it on the authority of Ibrahim and Ibrahim related it on the authority of ‘Alqama and Aswad and they both relate on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would raise hands (for the Opening Takbeer) when starting the Salaat and would not do so again (in the rest of the Salaat).

 

Imam Auza’i (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  I am relating a Hadith to you on the authority of Zuhri, who relates it on the authority of Saalim, who relates it on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar and you tell me a Hadith on the authority of Hammad, who relates it on the authority of Ibrahim?

 

Imam Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  Hammad is a better jurisprudent than Zuhri and Ibrahim is a better jurisprudent than Saalim and ‘Alqama is not inferior to ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) in matters of jurisprudence, although he has been in the company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and has the excellence of being a Companion.  As far as Aswad is concerned, he also has many excellences and ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud is ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him).  What else need be said about him?

 

Imam Auza’i (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) fell silent on this.

 

This is related by Sufyan bin ‘Uyaina in the Musnad of our Imam, Imam Azam (May Allah shower His Mercy on him).

 

 

[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 2]