Mālik b. Anas

Imam Malik ibn Anas (711-795 AD) was born in Medina and was a prominent Islamic scholar and the founder of the Maliki school of jurisprudence, one of the four major Sunni schools of law.

Advocating Shirk, interceding through Muhammad

Abu Ja'far humbled himself and said: "O Abu Abdullah, should I face the Qibla and pray, or should I face the Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "Why would you turn your face away from him, when he is your means and the means of your father Adam to Allah on the Day of Resurrection? Rather, face him and intercede through him, and Allah will intercede for you."

Blatant Idol Veneration

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "Whenever Ayub al-Sakhtiyani mentioned the Prophet, he would cry until he was pitied."

Mus'ab ibn Abdullah said: "When Malik mentioned the Messenger of Allah, his complexion would change, and he would bow his head so much that it would be difficult for his companions.

One day, he was asked about this, and he said: 'If you had seen what I have seen, you would not criticize me for what you see. I used to see Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, the leader of the reciters, and we hardly ever asked him about a hadith without him crying until we pitied him.

I used to see Ja'far ibn Muhammad, who was often playful and smiling, but when the Prophet was mentioned in his presence, he would turn pale, and I never heard him speak about the Messenger of Allah except in a state of purity.

Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim would mention the Messenger of Allah, and we would see his complexion as if blood was draining from him, and his tongue would dry up in his mouth out of reverence for the Messenger of Allah.

I once saw Amir ibn Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, and when the Messenger of Allah was mentioned in his presence, he would cry until there were no more tears left in his eyes."

The Paths of Guidance in the Biography of the Best of Servants, the Scholar Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Salhi al-Shami. Edited and annotated by Sheikh Adel Ahmed Abdul Mawjood and Sheikh Ali Muhammad Muawad. Twelfth Part. Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyah.