صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

The generosity of Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه

O devotees of the Messenger! Another noble quality of Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was his immense generosity, as he would spend thousands upon thousands of his wealth on the poor. Sayyidunā Ḥumaydi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه    paints a picture of this generosity by saying:

Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهwent to Yemen for a particular reason. When he returned to Makkah, he had 10,000 dirhams (gold coins) with him. He set up a tent outside the city and gave his wealth away to whoever came to him. When he exited this tent, he had given away all 10,000 dirhams in the way of Allah.^[1]

Paying for the Bridal Dowry

Sayyidunā Rabīʿ رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه mentions:

When my marriage took place, Imam Shāfiʿi  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه asked me, “What did you agree to give as dowry?” I answered, “30 dinars.” Imam Shāfiʿi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه then inquired, “How much have you given?” I replied by saying 6 dinars. Hearing this he left, and after a short while, sent me a bag which contained 24 dinars. This was the exact amount remaining I needed to give as dowry. He gave this money even though he had not been asked to.^[2]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه! This is generosity! Imam Shāfiʿi  رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه enquired how much the dowry was and how much Sayyidunā Rabīʿ رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه had given. After becoming aware of his situation, he did not simply offer words of