I won’t return leaving Madinah

The caliph Haroon-ur-Rasheed asked Sayyiduna Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه: ‘Do you have a house?’ He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه replied: ‘No’ Upon this, he presented him with 3,000 dinars and said: ‘Buy a house with this money.’

He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه kept the dinars and did not spend them. When caliph Haroon-ur-Rasheed was leaving Madinah-e-Munawwarah, he humbly said in the court of Imam Maalik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه: ‘You will have to come with me because I have made the intention of gathering people over the famous book of Hadees, Mu’atta, the way Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna Usman Bin Affaan رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ gathered people over one Quran.’

He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه replied: “There is no justification for gathering people over only ‘Mu’atta’ because after the apparent demise of the Holy Prophetصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, the blessed companions رِضْوَانُ اللّٰہِ عَلَـیْہِمْ اَجْمَعِیْن  went to different cities. They relayed Ahadees due to which, everyone in Egypt now has the knowledge of Hadees. Moreover, Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also stated: ‘Difference (of opinion) of my Ummah is mercy.’^[1] And as far as leaving Madinah and going with you is concerned, then there is no way for this either because the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘Madinah is better for them if they understand.’^[2] In one narration, it is stated: “Madinah removes the dirt (of sins) like a furnace removes the rust of iron.’^[3] Then, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said to caliph Haroon-ur-Rasheed: “Here are your Dinars. If you want, you may take them and if you want, you may leave them.” I.e. you bound me to leave Madinah because you treated me nicely, then (listen!) I do not prioritise this world over Madinah. (Ihya-ul-Uloom, vol. 1, pp. 113; summarised)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد