WHO IS 

SUPREME JUDGE EYAD AND

 HIS INTRODUCTION TO SHEFA







Extracted from

The Cure

SAHIH-SHEFA



by

Supreme Justice Abulfadl Eyad,

died (1123CE - Islamic Year 544H)

Reported 

by

Grand Muhaddith Habib Hafiz Abdullah Ben Sadek

Revised by

 Muhaddith Abdullah Talidi



An adaptation

by

Servant of Hadith, Shaykh Ahmad Darwish (Arabic)

Khadeijah A. Stephens (English)

Ayesha Nadriya (Indonesian)

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Who is Supreme Judge Eyad

 the author and the complier of Shefa?

Supreme Judge Eyad, the author and the complier of Shefa was the celebrated  Supreme Court Justice of Spain and Morocco. His name is Abulfadl Eyad.



Lineage:

Judge Eyad's son, Muhammad said, "Our great grandfathers were Arabs who came from Andalusia in Spain then relocated to Fez in Morocco and later became residents of Kairowan. When our grandfather Amron decided to leave Fez he settled in Sabta.

 

Judge Eyad's Rank:

Judge Eyad was an imam of not only the science of Prophetic Quotations but also of the interpretation of the Koran. He was also a scholar of the principals of Religion and Arabic language with its literature, poems and the genealogy of Arabs. He was acclaimed by the Imam Malik school of jurisprudence as a great jurist. Added to these accomplishments he was a great orator, patient, kind and good company. He was also known for his generosity and charity, and diligence in the production of his work and adherence to the truth.



His search for knowledge from the great shaykhs of the era:

When Judge Eyad embarked on his search for knowledge he left his home and travelled to Andalusia where he began his studies under the direction of its judge and one hundred highly acclaimed shaykhs from whom he earned the traditional Islamic certificates – the ijaza.



During his quest for knowledge he collected a great number of prophetic quotations which he then wrote down by hand and memorized. When he returned from Andalusia some thirty years later, the scholars of Sabta welcomed him and invited him to chair debates on the jurisprudence reference "Mudawana". Not long after is arrival he became a member of the Advisory Council and thereafter became the judge of his province for many years. He then accepted the position of judge in Granada, Spain and left Sabta only to return again and resume his position as judge.  



The Cordoba Mosque extension:

In the grand mosque of Cordoba he built its western extension. Thereafter he built a center in the mountains which was to become a prominent seat of learning.



His Death:

After a change of government Judge Eyad moved to Marrakech and it is there that he passed away in the lunar Islamic year 544 which equates to the Christian year 1123, which is nearly 900 years ago. Marrakech is a city known as the city of the seven men close (Awlia) to Allah and His Prophet  . Judge Eyad 's tomb is visited regularly by people from all over Morocco and the world. 



His authorship:

Judge Eyad wrote over ten books, amongst which is the explanation of the authentic collection of Prophetic quotations compiled by Muslim. The pinnacle of his great authorship rests in his splendid biography of Prophet Muhammad   "Ash Shefa", which has stood alone in its uniqueness for nearly 900 years



In this work his tremendous skill of research and collection are apparent that won the acclamation of his peers who recognized the great blessing of its production and subsequently praised him in their poems and writings. It has stood the test of time in which no one has surpassed this great work and the demand for copies still gain momentum and is now, Al Hamdulillah, available in the English and Indonesian languages.



Judge Eyad's reference contains some narrations that have been proved to be unauthentic. He made reference to this possibility in his writings saying that during his time there were insufficient scholars to rule upon the authenticity of some of the quotations, but he had no doubt that as time progressed and research became easier such quotations would be discovered and removed.

The current Muhaddith of Tangier, Morocco, Shaykh Habib Sayed Talidi, is that scholar blessed with the ability to research and authenticate these quotations and rule accordingly then delete the unauthentic from the reference and it is his edition we have relied upon for our translation.



Judge Eyad said of his book that, "we did not gather its presentation for a person who denies the rank of prophethood, or questions the miracles of Prophet Muhammad  rather it is for those who are believers so that they might know their Prophet  …… we wrote it for the believers in the faith of the Prophet   who accepted his invitation to Allah and deeply believe in his prophethood so that their love is assured and their good deeds and faith increase."



However, Judge Eyad wrote a fourth unit to address and deal with hypocrites, and those who dare to insult the Prophet  and his Companions. We have therefore produced that unit separately because no believer will enjoy it unless he is defending the prophethood as a nature of his work because he is not in need of it. If this is the case we welcome him to acquire our free edition of this unit. It is worth noting that at the end of the 3rd unit Judge Eyad himself concluded it with a supplication as an indication to the ending of the book for the believer. Therefore we are following in his vision of his authorship. 



Supreme Judge Abdul Eyad’s

Introduction



The Imam, Hafiz, Abulfadl, may Allah be pleased with him, opens his great work of Prophet Muhammad's biography with an introduction saying:



Praise be to Allah who is alone in possessing His most splendid Name, and is the Owner of unconquerable might.



Praise be to Allah who is Unique having the highest Names, the Owner of tremendous might, having neither a beginning nor an end. He is apparent, not by imagination or guesswork. He is the hidden because of purity, not out of non-existence who has encompassed everything in His Mercy and Knowledge



Allah has sent an abundance of His Favor to those whom He guides (friends) and He sent to them to Prophet Muhammad  a Messenger of pure descent from the best among Arabs and non-Arabs and who is the finest both in lineage and upbringing. 



Prophet Muhammad’s intelligence and patience were greater than any of the creation of Allah, and his knowledge and understanding were indeed of the highest standing. His conviction was the strongest likewise his determination, as for his compassion and mercy it was the greatest of all humans.



Allah kept His Prophet   pure in both spirit and body and protected him from all imperfections and blemishes, and bestowed him with wisdom and judgment. Through him, Allah opened eyes that were blind, hearts that were covered and ears that were deaf, and He caused people to believe in Him. Those whom Allah had decreed happiness honored and helped him, as for those to whom Allah had written wretchedness they rejected and turned away from him. Allah says, "But he who is blind in this life shall be blind in the Everlasting Life and will be further astray from the Path" (17:72). May Allah praise His Messenger with praising that increase continuously and may He grant peace upon his family and Companions.



(After the above introduction Hafiz, Abulfadl supplicated): "May Allah illumine both your heart and mine with the lights of certainty. May He bestow upon us subtleness as He bestowed His friends (Awlia), those who are fearful of Him, those whom He has honored by sending to them from His Purity and who has distanced them from humanity thereby gifting them from His Knowledge and the witnessing of the marvels of His Kingdom and the traces of His Might in which their hearts were full of wonderment and so their intellect wandered in His Greatness."



Such friends that make Allah their only pursuit and witness Him in this life and in the Everlasting Life are blessed by seeing the Beauty and Majesty of Allah as they go too and fro between the tasting of His Power and the enormity of His Greatness. They are totally satisfied immersed in their devotion and reliance upon Him applying to themselves the saying of Allah, "Say, 'Allah'. Then leave them, playing in their plunging" (6:91).



I have been asked many times to write a reference that harvests the definition of the rank of the chosen, Prophet Muhammad  which depicts his deservedly great honor and the respect due to him. And, the verdict upon those who do not fulfill what is due to him or those who attempt to degrade the superiority of his rank by even the clip of a nail. I have also been asked to gather the statements of our predecessors and imams on his greatness and will support their sayings with verses from the Koran or parables.



You should be aware that you have burdened me with a very difficult task, and that this task is a momentous undertaking and my heart is filled with apprehension.



In order to produce this work it is necessary for me to evaluate the primary sources and examine the secondary sources, and research in both depth and detail the science of what is necessary for the Prophet  what is permissible or forbidden in respect of him. It also necessitates a deep knowledge of the Prophet’s Messengership and prophethood coupled with the love, and intimate friendship and the extra special qualities of his superlative rank.



Here one finds a vast desolate desert in which even the native bird becomes perplexed and unable to cross, and unknown places in which intellect, if it is not guided by the direction of knowledge and clarity of thought, go astray. It is a slippery slope where feet slip if they do not rely solely upon success and support from Allah. I have, however, great hopes of a reward for both of us in answering your questions by exposing the tremendous value and superb character together with the exceptional qualities of the Prophet   all of which none of creation ever possessed. 



I quote now the saying of Allah defining his duties, "So that those to whom the Book was given are certain and those who believe increase in belief" (74:31). Those to whom Allah gave the Book were obligated by Him to clarify it to the masses and not to conceal it. To support this statement I quote the Prophetic saying narrated by Abu Hurayrah, the well learned Companion, who tells us that the Prophet  said, "Allah will bridle anyone with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection who, when asked about religious knowledge conceals it." And it is for this reason I hastened my search to find some clear anecdotes, thereby achieving the object of my goal and fulfilling the obligation. In this life a person's body and mind are occupied with trials and affliction, and tested thereby. Needless to say such matters can easily distract him/her from his obligation, and voluntary actions and a person, who after having achieved the best status can be reduced to the lowest, it is for this reason that I seize upon these anecdotes.



When Allah chooses the best for a person, He totally immerses him/her without restriction in his concern for that which will be praiseworthy both now and in the Everlasting Life. On the Day of Judgement there will only be bliss or the punishment of Hell, it is for this reason that a person should attend to his own affairs seeking the salvation of his/her own soul, and increasing the number of his good deeds as well as acquiring useful knowledge for the benefit of himself and others.



Allah is the One who mends our broken hearts. He forgives the enormity of our sins. He enables us to prepare for our return to Him and provides us with multiple reasons for doing good things which will bring us to safety and near to Him. He is the Bestower of Favor and Mercy to us all.



This then is my intention to proceed with the task. I have mapped out its path, organized its material and collated them. I name this reference “Ash-Shefa Bitarif Huquq Mustafa” - "The Healing (of the reader) by Defining the Rights of the Chosen Prophet" .



Signed: Supreme Justice Abulfadl Eyad