The slave who became a Teacher to Kings. Ata ibn Rabah radhiAllahu anhu was an Ethiopia, born a slave to a Makkan lady.( he was from the second generations of Muslims who met or accompanied manypanionsof the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam... Since his childhood he became interested in learning. He divided his time into three portions:one third he spent in the service of his mistress carrying out his duties as a faithful servant. The second portion he devoted to worship and prayers and one third he devoted to learning whatever he could from the former companions of the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam. The Makkan lady was impressed with her bondsmans devotion. So she set him free, giving him the chance to spend all his time in the Sacred Masjid of Makkah, learning first,then teaching and engaged in.devotions. Our heros knowledge and piety earned him a high place in the hearts of the rulers and ruled alike. Of his knowledge we are told that a great man like Abdullah ibn Umar was reported to have been surprised that people in Makkah needed to seek religious guidance from anyone while they had a man like Ata ibn Rabah amongst them. In the presence of Ata even the greatest of Muslim Caliphs humbled themselves. In Makkah , another Ummayad Caliph, Sulayman ibn AbdulMalik, accompanied his two sons to sit humbly in the presence of the ex-slave to listen to his teachings in the Sacred Masjid. When he was asked about the man by his sons, the Caliph answered,This was Ata ibn Rabah. Then he said, My children, seek knowledge.For through knowledge and learning the humble becomes great, the fool becomes wise, and SLAVES BECOME SUPERIOR TO KINGS.
Posted on: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 05:45:01 +0000
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