city of Madinah. Let us listen to some famous accounts for our motivation:

Imām Mālik’s respect for Hadith

An elevated seating area was prepared for Imām Mālik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه before he came out to relate hadith. After a ritual bath, wearing fine clothing and applying fragrance, he رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه would humbly come out of his chamber and sit upon his seat without changing his posture during the narration of hadith. The scent of aloeswood and frankincense would spread for the entirety of the session.^[1]

The scorpion and the dars of hadith

Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullah Bin Mubarak رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه mentioned:

A scorpion stung Abu ʿAbdullāh Imām Mālik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه 16 times while he was narrating hadith. Due to the severity of the pain, his blessed face turned pale, but he continued (and did not even change his posture). When the session ended and the people left, I humbly said, “O Abu ʿAbdullāh! Today, I have seen a strange thing; a scorpion stung you sixteen times, but you did not change your posture. What was the wisdom behind this?” He replied, “I was patient out of reverence for the hadith of the Messenger.”^[2]

The colour of his face would change

Sayyidunā Muṣʿab Bin ʿAbdullāh رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said:

Whenever someone would talk about the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the presence of Imām Mālik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, his complexion would change and he would humble himself. One