[2] Exemplary Dealings of the Pious Predecessors with Their Leaders

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In The Name of Allāh, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam Al-Awzaa’ee, may Allah have mercy upon him, wrote to Abu Abaydillah – a governor of the khalifah- as follows: 

I ask Allāh, The Mighty and Most High, to neither deprived you of sound intellect nor religion; may He provide you with the best in your current circumstances—protect what you know (i.e. righteous actions), shield you from what you detest (i.e. blameworthy matters) before you face any trials, not make you unaware of Him due to the trials of covetousness of or excessive work;  bless you with the ability to remember the fleeting pleasures of this world, remind you of the imminent separation from it, make your time spent in it impactful (positively), and grant you mercy when it is taken from you. Indeed, you are someone for whom I feel obligated to mention the good that Allāh may bestow upon him.

Therefore, I wish to counsel you privately, desiring that your religious matters are safeguarded and that evil is kept at bay by the will of Allah. Idrees – the individual who has written to you – inquired if you were able – may Allah have mercy upon you – to… Then the Imam mentioned the request and finally supplicated for the governor. 

An Excerpt from “Muqaddimah Al-Jarh Wat-Tadeel” By Ibn Abee Hatim Ar-Raazee (rahimahullaah) 2/87-88