MUSJIDUL HAQ

Download PDF: [S] Hadrat Sufyan Thouri

The full name of Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – is Abu Abdullah Sufyan bin Saeed Thouri. His family was from Kufah. What can be said about this eminent son of Islam which has already not been said?

Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – was considered as “Imaamul Muslimeen” and “Hujjatullah.” He was unparalleled in Islamic law, the Science of Ahadith, Ijithad, piety, Ibadah and spiritual penitence. In fact, his status in these attributes is something on which the entire Ummah is unanimous. There is no doubt that Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – was the Qutb and a great pillar of Islam in his era.

He acquired knowledge from many luminaries of his age. He is also said to have sat in the blessed classes of Imam A’zam, Imam Abu Hanifah – may Allah be pleased with him – and acquired knowledge of Ahadith. He also acquired knowledge of Hanafi Fiqh from Imam Ali bin Mas-har – may Allah be pleased with him – who was also a special student of Imam Abu Hanifah – may Allah be pleased with him.

This is the reason that when Imam Tirmidhi – may Allah be pleased with him – has recorded some of his opinions, they have been according to the view of Imam Abu Hanifah – may Allah be pleased with him.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri’s – may Allah be pleased with him – list of eminent students is also quite long. They include such stars in Islam as Imam Sufyan bin Ayniyah, Imam Awzaa’i, Imam Mu’ammar, Imam ibn Juraij, Imam Malik and Imam Shubah – may Allah be pleased with them –  among others.

It is said that Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – was extremely humble and simple and never sat at the head of any gathering. He also never asked anyone to do anything for him. He only had one or two sets of clothing and nothing else.

In his entire life, he never built a house for himself. Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – had a great dislike for visiting the palaces of Kings or the houses of the rich and powerful. He was also open in his insult of those in power who went against Islamic Shari’ah. When Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – noticed any action which was against Shari’ah, he was never afraid to tell them on their faces. This is one of the reasons that the Khalifah in Baghdad, namely Abu Jafer Mansur, became one of his greatest enemies.

In fact, on one occasion, when Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – travelled for Hajj, the Khalifah ordered his special guards to capture the great Saint and he also informed them that he will be following them with his army as well. He also gave them strict instruction that if they capture Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him, they should hang him immediately. These guards followed the great Imam and eventually they found him inside the Haram Shareef. He was resting in such a manner that his blessed head was on the lap of Hadrat Sayyiduna Fudail bin Ayyaz – may Allah be pleased with him – and his blessed feet were on the lap of Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan bin Ayniyah – may Allah be pleased with him.

The guards then approached him and informed him about the instructions of the Khalifah and also informed him that the Khalifah would soon be arriving with his army as well. They also mentioned that if they delayed in hanging him all of them would also be punished.

When the great Imam heard this, he flew into a rage and walked forward and grabbed the Khilaaf of the Ka’ba. He then shouted to them, “You can be assured that Mansur will never enter Mecca Shareef and listen, if he enters Mecca Shareef, I will never look at the Ka’ba again.”

The miracle of these words were immediately seen. On the journey to Mecca Shareef, Mansur died on the road. As for the great Imam, he peacefully completed his Hajj and returned home. Hadrat Sayyiduna Sufyan Thouri – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away in 161 A.H. and his blessed grave is to be found in Basrah. (Akmaal, Tabaqaat, Tahzeeb)