Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states that I have not seen anyone obey Hadees more than Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. (Hilyat-ul-Awliya, vol. 9, pp. 114, Al-Imam Shaafi’i, Hadees 13276)

Attributes of Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه

Dear Islamic sisters! Imam Shaafi’i’s رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه academic rank and greatness was indeed exemplary and matchless; but along with these attributes, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was also an embodiment of Taqwa and piety, Allah Almighty’s fear, a lot of worship, having passion for reforming the Ummah, contemplation of the Hereafter, good morals, asceticism and piety, humility and humbleness, following of Shari’ah, forgiving and forbearance, patience and gratitude, love of Allah Almighty, accountability of Nafs, opposing shetaan and various other noble attributes. Let us listen to three narrations regarding his acts of worship and staying awake at nights:

1. Sayyiduna Haroon Bin Sa’eed رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has narrated: I have not seen anyone like Sayyiduna Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. When he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came to us in Egypt, people said: ‘A Qurayshi Faqeeh [jurist] has come to us.’ Hence, we went to him and he was offering Salah. We did not see anyone with a more graceful face than his and someone who offered Salah better than him. We kept waiting. When he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه completed his Salah, then he started the conversation. We did not find anyone who would converse better than him either. (Ar-Rauz-ul-Faiq, pp. 210)

2. Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would divide night into three parts. In the first part, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would engage in writing books; in the second part, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would offer Nawafil and in the third part, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would rest. Sayyiduna Rabi’ Bin Sulayman رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states that Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would complete one Holy Quran every day, and he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would complete the Holy Quran sixty times in the nawafil of Ramadan. (Ar-Rauz-ul-Faiq, pp. 207)

3. Sayyiduna Hassan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has narrated: I spent many nights in the company of Sayyiduna Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. I saw that he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه would offer Salah in the one-third of the night and would never recite more than fifty Ayahs. Even if he did recite more than fifty Ayahs, then