He is Abu Abdullaah Sufyaan bn Sa'eed bn Masrooq bn Habeeb ath-Thawree al-Koofee. AI-Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thawree was born 97 AH into a family known for knowledge and piety. His father, who himself was a scholar, Sa'eed bn Masrooq, acquired knowledge from eminent scholars amongst the taabi'oon. These include 'Ikrimah (the famous student of Ibn Abbass), 'Aamir ash-Sha'bee (who learnt from more than 150 companions RA), and Salamah bn Kuhayl (another eminent and learned taabi'ee) and some of the most learned people at the time like Sulayman al-A'mash, Shu'bah bn al-Hajjaaj and Abu Awaanah learnt from him.
His grandfather Masrooq was a taabiee who fought the battle of the camels on the side of Ameer al-Mumineen, Ali RA On the other hand, Umm Sufyaan the mother of Sufyaan ath-Thawree was also known for her piety and virtue. She would encourage Sufyaan to learn and would admonish him concerning the fear Allaah. AI-Imaam Ahmad bn Hanbal RA reported that, once she said to her son, "O my Son! When you write ten alphabets think - see whether you increased in the fear of Allaah, your forbearance, and your sobriety. If you do not observe that, know that it (the acquired knowledge) will harm you and will be of no benefit to you." All these influenced al-Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawree on the path as a servant of The Most High. His two brothers Umar and Mabaarak were also renowned Scholars of hadeeth at the time.
Learning and Teaching the Deen AI-Imaam
Sufyaan ath-Thawree travelled to the different parts of the Islaamic world leaning from the greatest and the most knowledgeable of the people at the time including his father Sa'eed bn Masrooq, Hishaam bn 'Urwah, Humayd at-Iaweel, Abdullah bn Awn and some of those who acquired great knowledge from the Companions including Abdullaah bn Deenar, Amr bn Deenaar and Yahya bn Sa'eed al-Ansaaree (RAH). In all his teachers numbered over six hundred. Abdullah bn Wahb al-Masree, AbdurRahmaanbn al-Mahdee and about nine hundred others are those who learnt from the lmaam as students with a teacher.
Allaah alone knows the number those who benefited from his abundant knowledge in his general sittings he held in the various Masaajid across the Muslim World at the time which were usually filled with mentioning of the matters of death and aakhirah. Al-Imaam Qubaydah, [RH] said, "I never sat with Sufyaan ath-Thawree in any sitting except that he mentioned death. I have not seen anyone who so much mentions death as much as he does."
Knowledge and Action
Muhammad bn Ubayd reported that al-Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thawree emphasizing the essence of acting upon knowledge rather than acquiring knowledge and being praised to be knowledgeable without action. He would say, "Beautify knowledge with yourselves and do not decorate with knowledge." He also said, "Verily, the virtue of knowledge over other than it is that it (i.e. knowledge) is a means to fear Allaah" Thus one of the teachers of al-Imaam Ahmad bn Hanbal and one of the students of al-Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thawree , al-Imaam Abdurrahman bn Mahdee related: I heard Sufyaan say: "Never has a hadeeth reached me from Allaahs Messenger except that I would act upon it even a single time."
Thoughts about Hereafter
A symbol of the people of peity is that they think a lot about the Hereafter. Yoosuf bn Asbaat RH said, After Salaah al- 'Ishaa, Sufyaan ath-Thawree said: "Get me water so that I perform wudoo with it. I brought it to him. He collected with his right and placed his left hand under his cheek thinking. I left him, slept and woke at the time of Fajr and the water was still in his hands as I handed it to him. So, I said to him, It is Fajr and he said, I had remained here since you gave me the water thinking about the Aakhirah until this moment. "
Between the Imaam and the King Haroun Rashid
The famous Khalifah of the Abbaasi Dynasty and al-Imaam Sufyaan Thawree were friends from their childhood days. After Haroun Rashid was appointed the Khalifah, he expressed the desire to meet Sufyaan ath-Thawree . However, Sufyaan ignored the Khalifah's request. After a considerable time had lapsed, Haroun Rashid wrote the following letter to Sufyaan Thauri: "From Haroun Rashid to Brother Sufyaan, My honourable brother, you are aware that Allaah Ta'aala has created brotherly ties among all Muslims. Our old relationship still exists as before.
All my friends have come forward to congratulate my appointment to the Khilaafah. I have honoured them with many gifts. Alas! You have not yet come. I myself would have come to you. However, this would be in conflict with the dignity of the Office of Khilaafah. " Sufyaan ath-Thawree responded as follows: "From this weak servant Sufyaan to Haroun, the one in love with wealth - You, yourself have acknowledged in your letter that you have misappropriated the wealth of the Baitul Maal of the Muslims. You have wrongly spent it to present gifts. You are furthermore not contented with this (misappropriation). You now desire that I testify against you on the Day of Qiyaamah!
O Haroun! Be prepared to answer tomorrow in the Divine Court. You are seated on a throne. You on silken garments. You have guards standing at your door. Your officers consume liquor but punish others who consume it. They commit fornication, but cut off the hands of thieves. You and your officers first have to be punished for these crimes, then comes the turn of others.
Haroun remember that a day in Qiyaamah will come when you will be ushered forth in fetters. Your tyrannical officers will be following you. You will be their leader to lead them all to jahannam. I have fulfilled the rights of goodness towards you (by this admonition).
Henceforth do not write to me again." When Haroun Rashid read this letter, he let out a scream and sobbed profusely.
The Search for Dunya
AI-Imaam bn Wahb RH reported that Sufyaan ath-Thawree said, "The pleasure of the people is goal which can never be achieved and the search for the dunya is a goal that can never be achieved." So, what does it benefit a man spending all time In pursuit of goals unachievable? Love for Leadership Advising Abbaad bn Abbaad al-Khawwaas al-Arsoofee, al-Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thaoree said, And beware of the love of leadership, since leadership may be more beloved to a man than gold and silver - but it is something difficult and obscure; and this will not be understood except by wise scholars.
So seek after your lost soul and work with correct intention and know that there has come near to the people a matter which a person would be desirous of death." Encomiums AI-Imaam An-Nasaai (RAH) said, "He is greater than for it to have to be said that he is reliable, and he is one of the Imams whom I hope is one of those whom Allaah has made an Imaam for the pious."
AI-Imaam Ibn Hibban (RAH) said: "He was one of the foremost of the people in Fiqh, piety and precision of memory." Ibn Uyaynah said: "I have not seen a man knowing the lawful and prohibited better than Sufyaan." AI-Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (RAH) said: "No one takes precedence over him in my heart. He died 261 AH at the age of Sixty Six.
Rahimallaahul Imaa
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited