By Shaykh Ibrahim Fayaz
It is the habit of Allāh that He creates such personalities in every era who strive greatly for the uprising of the truth and in combating evil. In the 14 centuries of Islam, each century produced such men who kept alive the beliefs and fundamentals of Islam. As the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings upon him) said, “From all the representatives, the reliable ones will uphold and carry this knowledge.”
From amongst these reliable men is Imam Shaṭbī. His full name is Muḥammad Qāsim bin Fearow. He was born on 538 AH in the district of Shaṭbia which is located by the eastern coast of Spain.
Imam Shaṭbī (may Allāh’s mercy be with him) was a famous Imam in the field of reciting the Holy Qurʾān, a great scholar of exegesis and prophetic tradition, and an expert in Arabic grammar and morphology.
In 572 AH, Imam Shaṭbī travelled to Damascus where he was the guest of Qaḍī Fazil in the ministry of King Ṣalāḥudīn. They were overjoyed to have the great Imam at their door step, therefore Qaḍī Fazil built an institution especially for Imam Shaṭbī by the name of Madrassah Faziliya in which Imam Shaṭbī (may Allāh’s mercy be with him) taught Qiraʾat, Ḥadīth and grammar until his last breath.
Before teaching he would make fresh ablution, wear the best clothes, apply the best of perfumes, and walk with humility and humbleness towards his class.
Imam Shaṭbī had a brilliant memory. It is mentioned that whenever his students of Bukhārī and Muslim made a mistake because of a printing error, he would correct them even though he was blind!
Imam Jazrī narrates from his teachers that it was a habit of Imam Shaṭbī to call upon the students who arrived first to recite the Qurʾān. But coincidently one day, he called upon the second student. The student who arrived first thought to himself in shock and concern, “What mistake have I done to hurt the Imam?” After a while, he remembered that he had to take an obligatory bath. Therefore he ran home and bathed, and on returning, Imam Shaṭbī called out “Whoever came first, please come forward and read.” The student was shocked and amazed by this miracle of the Imam.
Out of the many great achievements of Imam Shaṭbī is the famous book he wrote on the rules of reciting the Holy Qurʾān in poetic form known as Al-Shaṭbiyyah. This book has been widely accepted by the Islamic world and has a high, lofty position amongst the books of art of tajwīd. On completing this book Imam Shaṭbī saw The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a dream and requested him to have a look at his book. The Prophet took it in his blessed hands and said “This book is blessed and whosoever memorizes it will enter paradise.”
On the 28th of Jamad-ul-Awwal, 590AH, after the ʿAṣr prayer, this huge ocean of knowledge took his last breathe. Abū Isḥāq, the orator of Egypt led the funeral prayer. Imam Shaṭbī is buried in the cemetery of Qurafah, in Egypt.
Indeed, Islam is a religion of tolerance, for it respects every culture, religion, race, gender, and individuals with disabilities. As Imam Shaṭbī was originally from Spain, and was blind, but no demoralization or dejection was expressed from his followers. Progression and creative innovation is free for all.
As the world becomes a smaller place, or a ‘global village’, we have to think broader and over our walls of culture, background, colour and race. Let us treat others with care, love, and justice, if there is anything common amongst us, its being human. Sadly, I have never seen a frightening animal like the lion killing his own but I have seen man destroying man.
