Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani had memorised Bukhari, Muslim and mastered all the major books of hadith by heart. One day, he walked into the Ummayad mosque with his students who were the most knowledgeable scholars in the Middle East and he saw a little child teaching his young friends. Shaykh Badr al-Din sat on his knees in front of the child and sat like a student - so the child immediately stopped and got really shy before such a great man - but the Shaykh told him to continue on teaching.
The child talked for a while and the Shaykh sat down with his head down, listened attentively, and tears would not stop gushing from the eyes of the Shaykh. He then told his students, “This is today’s lesson… This will suffice for today. Benefit from all people - regardless of their age or rank.” If Shaykh Badr al-Din was able to humble himself so much whilst he was the greatest scholar of his time then why can’t we? Why are we unable to study with our local teachers? Why can’t we benefit from all types of people? Why can’t we humble ourselves for the sake of Allāh before those who are less than us?
The UK is filled with scholars and students who travelled across the world and devoted their lives to knowledge - so why are classes across the country so empty? Are we too good to humble ourselves before the knowledge they possess? Are they not good enough for us? Are they not famous or celebrity enough? Are they not ‘perfect’ enough? Do they not look spiritual enough? Is it because they do not dress like us? or follow our Shaykh? or commit to our Tariqa? When I was young - we would desperately travel the entire city to find someone who could teach in English. Now, teachers who speak English desperately travel the country trying to find students who want to study. What a calamity.
Shaykh Mohammad Aslam