Wealth did not detract from his asceticism

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

Imam Malik was a distinguished saint of Islam, recognised for his unwavering commitment to religion and remarkable asceticism. His heart remained detached from worldly concerns, and he was remarkably generous.

 Medina the Illuminated holds great merit

The Messenger of Allah said[reported by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim]:

((المدينة خيرٌ لهم لو كانوا يعلمون))

 (al-madinatu khayru l-lahum law kanu ya^lamun)

"Medina is better for them if only they knew."

The Prophet also said [reported by Al-Bukhariyy and Muslim] :

((المدينة تنفي خَبثَها كما ينفي الكِير خبث الحديد))

(al-madinatu tanfi khabathaha kama yanfi l-kiru khabatha l-hadid)

" The soil of Madinah repels the bodies of non-Muslims interred within it, much like a forge expels impurities from iron."

Al-kir is the forge bellows employed by the blacksmith to extract impurities from iron as it becomes reddish.

He refused to leave Medina

It has been reported that one day Ar-Rashid, the governor of the Muslims during the time of Imam Malik, inquired, "Do you have a house?" Imam Malik replied, "No, I do not." Ar-Rashid then bestowed upon him three thousand dinars, saying, "Use this to purchase a house." Although Imam Malik accepted the money, he did not spend it.

The Caliph then offered to accompany him so he could teach his renowned book, Al-Muwatta', and promote his madh-hab. The Imam declined his proposal, stating, "There is no way to ensure that everyone will apply what is in Al-Muwatta', because the Messenger's companions dispersed to different countries and transmitted hadith. Thus, in each country, there is a portion of the Prophet's knowledge. As for accompanying you, I cannot do that, because the Messenger of Allah said, 'Medina is better for them if only they knew.'"

By this, Imam Malik meant that he was not the sole scholar transmitting the science of religion at the time; there were other esteemed scholars to whom the companions had imparted their knowledge. It was essential to allow people the freedom to choose their madh-hab. Indeed, as long as the science of religion is transmitted by qualified scholars, its authenticity and transmission chain from the Prophet are preserved. Imam Malik knew he was not the exclusive custodian of this knowledge, and his refusal to impose his teachings demonstrated his humility and modesty despite his profound scholarship.

Then Malik said to Ar-Rashid, "Here are the three thousand dinars. If you wish, take them back; otherwise, leave them." In other words, if you have given me this money to persuade me to leave Medina, I will not exchange the lower world for the city of the Messenger of Allah.

Wealth did not detract from his asceticism

Imam Malik was an ascetic; he was not enamoured of worldly possessions. When money and goods were brought to him from various lands, due to the spread of his knowledge and the presence of his students, he distributed the goods he received in charitable ways.

His remarkable generosity and indifference to material possessions demonstrate Imam Malik's asceticism and disinterest in worldly desires. This reflects that asceticism doesn't necessarily mean impoverishment but rather a detachment of the heart from worldly wealth.

What further attests to his disinterest in worldly possessions is his interaction with Harun Ar-Rashid. When the Caliph suggested, "O Aba ^Abdi l-Lah, it would be fitting for you to come to my house more often so that the children can hear the Muwatta'", Malik responded, "May Allah honour the Emir of the believers, but we come to knowledge, it does not come to you." Harun acknowledged his statement, saying, "You have spoken the truth. Go to the mosque to teach the people." Imam Malik declined the Caliph's invitation to instil in him the respect that the dissemination of knowledge deserves.

The passing of Imam Malik

Imam Malik's demise occurred around 179 AH. His dedicated life in the service of the science of religion and his esteemed stature inspired numerous poets to compose verses in his memory.

He passed away in Medina the Illuminated, approximately ten nights into rabi^u l-‘awwal, around the year 179 of the Hegira. His final resting place is near Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet Muhammad in the Al-Baqi^ cemetery.

Many poets, including Ja^far Ibnu Ahmad As-Sarraj, composed verses in his honour. He praised Malik for preserving the Law of the Prophet Muhammad out of love and reverence for it. He highlighted Malik's robust transmission chains and the respect he inspired. As-Sarraj also noted Malik's students were all truthful and possessed a vast amount of knowledge. Even if Malik's pupils had only included Imam Ash-Shafi^iyy, the son of Idris, it would have been sufficient to honour Malik's legacy.

May God have mercy on Imam Malik ibnu Anas, and may He grant us the opportunity to benefit from his knowledge.