Download PDF: [S] He Wrote Fiqh Kitaabs in Prison (Islamic story)

Hadrat Shamsul A’immah Sarkhasi’s – may Allah be pleased with him – full name is Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Suhail and his title is “Shamsul A’immah”. “Sarkhas” is actually the name of a famous town in Khuraasan and hence the reason for his being termed “Sarkhasi”.

 

In his era, he was a master of Hanafi Fiqh, a great orator, writer and a great debater. In the principles of Fiqh, no one in his era matched him. Ibn Kamal Pasha has also mentioned that he was the Mujaddid of his era.

 

Hadrat Shamsul A’immah Sarkhasi – may Allah be pleased with him – was the eminent student of Hadrat Sayyiduna Shamsul A’immah Abdul Aziz Halwani – may Allah be pleased with him. He was also very famous for him amazing miracles and immense piety and nobility.

 

It is mentioned that one day, Hadrat Shamsul A’immah Sarkhasi – may Allah be pleased with him – scolded the ruler of the region, namely Khaaqaan. He was imprisoned in the Awzagnad prison and placed in a large hole inside the prison. One of his miracles is that even when he was inside this large hole, his students used to be above this hole and he used to dictate lessons for the day to them. Bear in mind that all of this was done in that time where he had no books or reference material. All of these lesson were dictated to his students from memory. In this state, fifteen volumes of the “Mabsut” were completed.

 

In fact, in the Sharah of “Al Mabsut” which is “Al Ibaad”, it is mentioned at the end, “This is the last part of the ‘Sharah Al Ibaad’ whose meaning is quite comprehensive and whose wording is quite precise and brief. This is also the dictation of that person who was imprisoned and was stopped from performing his Salaah and even his Jumuah”.

 

In fact, in another Sharah, which is entitled “Al Iqraar” it is mentioned, “This is the writing of that person who was jailed by mischievous people.”

 

In like manner, while in jail, the great Imam also dictated a book which explained the principles of Fiqh and he also dictated the Sharah of “Sayr Kabeer”. It is stated that when he came to the chapter which is called, “Baab Shuruut”, he was freed from jail.

 

He then spent the last few year of his life in Farhghaanah. The Ameer of this place, Ameer Hasan, displayed immense respect for him and a large number of students attended his classes. It was at this place that he completed the rest of his writing.

 

He was born in 400 A.H. and in the year 410 A.H. he went with his father to Baghdad Shareef on a business trip only once. The rest of his life, he spent in writing and teaching and passed away in 494 A.H. (Tabsirah Ad Daariyah)