Product of a Pious Lady
Imam Rabee’ah Ar-Raai was the illustrious Ustaad of Imam Maalik (Rahmatullahi alaih) and of Hazrat Hasan Basri (Rahmatullahi alaih). Imam Rabee’ah’s father was Farrookh. During the reign of the Bani Umayyah, Farrookh was in the employ of the Islamic army. He participated in many battles in the far-flung parts of the world.
When Farrookh left home to join the Islamic army, his wife was pregnant with Rabee’ah who was destined to become the Ustaad of Imam Maalik and Hasan Basri. Farrookh had left 30,000 dinars (gold coins) in the custody of his wife when he had left home. The Islamic wars in the distant parts of the Islamic empire kept Farrookh away from home for 27 years.
Meanwhile Imam Rabee’ah was born in his absence. The intelligent and pious mother utilised all the money (30,000 dinars) for the Deeni education of her son. After 27 years when Farrookh returned home, he asked his wife about the 30,000 dinars. She responded that she had taken well care of his Amaanat (trust).
Meanwhile, it was the daily practice of the son, Imam Rabee’ah, to give discourses in the Musjid on Hadith. The next morning when Farrookh went to the main Musjid for Salaat, he observed (after Salaat) a huge assembly of men sitting at the feet of a Muhaddith who was lecturing on Hadith. On enquiring about the Muhaddith, he was informed that the name of the Muhaddith was Rabee’ah Ibn Farrookh. When he learnt that the Muhaddith was his son, he (Farrookh) coud not contain his happiness. He was proud of his great son. He exclaimed: “Allah has indeed elevated the son of Farrookh.”
On returning home, he related his happy experience to his wife who informed him that she had expended the thirty thousand dinars in the Ta’leem of their son. She now asked him to say what was better: the thirty thousand dinars or the wonderful Ni’mat of his son’s rank which he had observed? He spontaneously said that the thirty thousand dinars had no value in comparison to the Ilm of his son.
Such intelligent and pious ladies of the Ummah produced great Auliya, Fuqaha, Muhadditheen and Mufassireen of the calibre of Imam Rabee’ah Ar-Raai (Rahmatullahi alaih.)
(The Majlis Archives)