Imaam Shaafi’ (Rahmatullahi alaih) was extraordinarily generous. A whip fell from his hand. A slave picked it up and wiped it with his clothes. He then gave it to Imaam Shaafi’. Imaam Shaafi’ told his slave: “Give him [the slave who had picked up the whip] all the dinars [gold coins] you have with you.” The slave of Imaam Shaafi’ was carrying seven or nine dinars of Imaam Shaafi’. All this was given to the slave who had picked up Imaam Shaafi’s whip.
In this regard Imaam Rabee’ states: “We have heard about generous persons; we did not see them. Yes, when we saw Imaam Shaafi’ then we saw generosity. When he would come to his hometown of Makkah Mukarramah or to Misr he would distribute everything he brought along.”
