Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi was one the leading scholars of Dimashq, despite having erred a lot in his aqidah. He was born into a pious, ascetic family. On the other hand, Al-Zahir Baibars was the second ruler of the newly formed Mamluk Sultanate after Muzaffar Qutoz. Baibars was a religious man, but he was also greedy. He once abusively taxed his residents, but was stopped by Al-Nawawi.
The Mongols had conquered Al-Quds and were going to reach Dimashq. So, Baibars decided to prepare a well-trained and strong army to defeat them. He ordered the scholars of Dimashq to sign a fatwa allowing the Waqf to be collected solely for the purpose of buying weaponry and military equipment for the battle. All of the scholars signed the fatwa, except for Al-Nawawi. This angered Baibars, so he summoned Al-Nawawi to his court, asking why he did not approve of the fatwa.
Baibars then told Al-Nawawi that the entire religion would be exposed to loss if he did not sign the fatwa. So, Al-Nawawi responded to him in a firm tone, saying, “Because you came to us as a slave of Al-Banduqari who owned nothing, and now, Allah has given you power to become ruler, and I see that you now own large gardens, many servants, lots of slave girls, and large amounts of silver, and gold. If you sell all of these things, and still need money after that, I will issue the fatwa you seek.” Al-Nawawi also reminded Baibars that true Jihad is done by humbling oneself to Allah.
Baibars was angry, and he brandished his sword, ready to kill the scholar. But he stopped in his tracks and pushed his sword back in its hilt. He then ordered Al-Nawawi to get out of Dimashq, which the scholar agreed to. Al-Nawawi returned to his hometown of Nawa, where he continued writing letters to Baibars to advice him on matters related to his rule and religion.
The vizier of Baibars asked him why he did not kill Al-Nawawi. Baibars replied that just as he was about to do so, two lions appeared on Al-Nawawi's shoulders and were ready to pounce on him, so out of fear, he kept his sword and instead ordered Al-Nawawi to leave. “Subhan'Allah!” said the vizier, after hearing this.
The scholars of Dimashq begged Al-Nawawi to return. But he merely said, “By Allah, I will not return there if Baibars is still ruling there.” Allah fulfilled his oath, and Baibars died a month later because of a poisoned drink that was meant for another Mamluk nobleman. Al-Nawawi returned to Dimashq and reconciled with his old colleagues.
Source:
Fi Dhilal al-Qur'an by Sayyid Qutb
Kitab al-Ilmaam by Muhammad ibn al-Kasim al-Nuwayri, volume four
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