Day 9: The Wing of Humility (Part 1)

Kuffa is a town in Modern Day Iraq and it was a bubbling intellectual city. About 1,275 years ago, Imam Abu Hanifa was the undisputed Chief Judge of Kuffa. Everyone turns to him for legislative rulings or juridical clarification (fatwah). Everyone! But not his mother.

One day, his mother told him she needed to go out to ask for religious advice on what to do as she has seen some blood on her cloth. Imam Abu Hanifa gave her the ruling, but she said “No! You don’t know that much. I must go to Abu Zurha for the fatwah.” Abu Hanifa was amazed because Abu Zurha is not even amongst the legal luminaries of the day. He exclaimed, “Abu Zurha, The Storyteller?” “Yes!” She said.

Abu Hanifa humbly and patiently took his mother to Abu Zurha. Abu Zurha was surprised to see Imam Abu Hanifa in his compound. “Why?” he wondered. Imam Abu Hanifa went into Abu Zurha’s abode telling him that his mother wanted a fatwa from him. Abu Zurha shook his head, flatly refusing, saying he does not know the ruling on that question. He declared that he is not a scholar, but just a storyteller. Abu Hanifa whispered the answer in his ear and took him out to his mother. Abu Zurha listened to Abu Hanifa’s mother and pretended to ponder deep before giving a ‘scholarly’ (hmm borrowed) response. The old woman was satisfied, patted his son on the back saying, “You were right, you know!”

How many times have your opinion been rubbished by your parents, Uncles or older siblings? It’s a common phenomenon; parents always regard their children always as children regardless of their age and achievements. That should be expected and our efforts to convince close relatives (even sometimes including spouses) of the stuff we are made of have to be doubled. Too much familiarity brings contempt; and the family is fully familial. But the issue here is how do we deal with our parents no matter how annoying they are?

Imam Abu Hanifa, a true scholar that he is, had the humility to fulfil the mother’s desires without argument or abandonment. Even when he was vindicated, he was not haughty or naughty. He lowered his wing of humility, allowed his mother to ride on them. When our parents are old, surprisingly, they still have the energy to challenge us, because it’s just like yesterday that we were helpless and knew absolutely nothing and they taught us the basics in life. Thus their obstinate attitude to us; and this we must understand, appreciate and accept as human nature for which we might one day also be guilty of.

Part 2 continues shortly...

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK.