Download PDF: [S] Imam Asma’i’s vast Memery (Islamic story)

It is reported that Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – was one of the greatest scholars of Arabic grammar and syntax of his era. His full name is Abdul Malik bin Qareeb bin Abdul Malik bin Ali bin Asma. He is referred to as “Imam Asma’I” because of his great grandfather. Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – was born in Basrah in 122 A.H. and passed away in Basrah in 216 A.H. It is reported that Allah Almighty had blessed him with amazing memory and he is said to have memorized sixteen thousand chapters in Arabic grammar and syntax.

 

One of the amazing incidents which substantiates his powerful memory is the incident which is mentioned and recorded by Ibn Kalakaan in his Waafiyaat Al ‘Ayaan. He mentions that once, the governor, Ameer Hasan bin Suhail, called all the Arabic language experts in his region. Among them were Imam Asma’i, Imam Abu Ubaidah and Imam Nasr bin Ali – may Allah be pleased with them. However, prior to speaking to these experts of Arabic grammar, the Ameer had also prepared nearly fifty instructions as per the requests which came from various parts of his region.

Thereafter, the Ameer decided to speak to these language experts. The topic of discussion turned to the eminent Muhaditheen and their power of memory and Imam Abu Ubaidah mentioned that, “There are also certain people in this gathering who possess that type of amazing memory. They are people who, if they read a manuscript only once, do not have to look at it again. They also claim that if something enters their mind, they are never able to forget that subject again.”

 

When Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – heard these statements, he replied, “Imam Abu Ubaidah is actually making these statements against me. However, I swear that this is exactly as he says. At this moment, you had written fifty instructions to fifty different people and since I was sitting near you, I also happen to look at these instructions and if you wish you can call for those fifty instructions and I will be able to read all of them to you from memory.”

 

Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – then began to read all of the instructions which had been written by the Ameer and when he came to forty of them, Imam Nasr bin Ali told him to stop before someone puts an evil eye on him. It is only at that time that Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – stopped going further.

 

Allama Jalaaludeen Suyuti – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that once Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – and Imam Abu Ubaidah went to visit someone named Fadl bin Ar Rabee. Fadl asked Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him, “Have you written any treatise on a horse.”

 

Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – replied that he had written only one treatise.

 

Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – asked Imam Abu Ubaidah and he replied that he had written over fifty volumes on this subject.

 

When Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – asked Imam Abu Ubaidah to explain each part of the horse, he mentioned that he had merely recorded whatever the people of Arabia had mentioned.

 

However, Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him – explained each part of the horse and Fadl bin Rabee was so impressed that he gave the horse as a gift to Imam Asma’i – may Allah be pleased with him.