Download PDF: [S] Scholar Subdues a Lion

Ibn Katheer has recorded this in the Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah.

 

It was during the time of Ahmed bin Tulun whose government was in control in Egypt. Ahmed bin Tulun was also someone who unduly oppressed the Muslims. In fact, there was such open transgression and oppression that no one had the courage to even go and report anything to the government. People feared that if they reported anything, they themselves would become the targets.

 

However, it must be borne in mind that Allah Almighty has always placed Muslims in every era who would protect other Muslims. There were those Muslims who did not have any fear in declaring the message of truth no matter what type of government was in power. During this period also, there was an eminent scholar present whose name was Abul Hasan Banaan bin Mohammed Hamdaan bin Sa’eed. He was the famous Islamic scholar of that period. He used to also openly condemn the acts of oppression committed by the government.

 

Once when Abul Hasan Banaan bin Mohammed did this, ibn Tulun became extremely upset and ordered that the eminent scholar be jailed. It was also ordered that the next day, this scholar be fed to the hungry lions.

 

These lions were also deliberately kept hungry for the job at hand. People were called to gather so that they could witness this event. The eminent scholar was then brought to this place in chains. This was done in an open piece of ground. The lion was then opened to attack the Islamic scholar. All the students of this great Shaikh were also present and everyone was convinced that the lion would tear Shaikh Ahmed into shreds.

 

The people then saw an amazing miracle. At the first the lion ran towards Abul Hasan Banaan bin Mohammed and then began to smell him. Suddenly, it appeared as if the lion had lost all power. The people also saw that the lion then turned around and went and stood on one corner.

 

People also started to read the Takbeer. Obviously ibn Tulun was extremely embarrassed in front of these masses. All he could do was bow his head. He ordered that the Shaikh be released.

 

Later on the people asked the great Shaikh, “O Abal Hasan, when the lion approached you, what were you thinking?” He replied, “I had no fear or apprehension. However, at that moment I was thinking about whether the saliva of a wild animal which appears from its mouth is clean or unclean”.

 

In Surah Hajj, verse 38, the Qur’an declares:

 

اِنَّ اللہَ یُدٰفِعُ عَنِ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اللہَ لَا یُحِبُّ کُلَّ خَوَّانٍ کَفُوۡرٍ ﴿٪۳۸﴾

 

“Indeed Allah repels the afflictions of the Muslims; indeed Allah does not like any

extremely disloyal ingrate.”