Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samtī

Among Abū Ḥanīfa’s companions was also Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samtī.

He had long been a companion of Abū Ḥanīfa and learned extensively from him. He then went to Basra, but did not manage his affairs well; he was removed from the congregational mosque and shunned. He remained in that situation until Abū Yūsuf entered Basra with al-Rashīd as his companion, fellow traveller and chief judge. Abū Yūsuf rode to him and drew attention to him, and people spoke of him again. He then abandoned worldly affairs and devoted himself to worship, speaking scarcely to anyone until he died.

Among Abū Ḥanīfa’s companions was also Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samtī.

He had long been a companion of Abū Ḥanīfa and learned extensively from him. He then went to Basra, but did not manage his affairs well; he was removed from the congregational mosque and shunned. He remained in that situation until Abū Yūsuf entered Basra with al-Rashīd as his companion, fellow traveller and chief judge. Abū Yūsuf rode to him and drew attention to him, and people spoke of him again. He then abandoned worldly affairs and devoted himself to worship, speaking scarcely to anyone until he died.

ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm the Qurʾan reciter informed us: Makram narrated to us: Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥimmānī narrated to us: I heard ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī say: We were with Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samtī when Abū Bakr Hilāl ibn Yaḥyā arrived. As he entered, the people gathered around him. Yūsuf asked them, “What is the matter?” I said, “Abū Bakr Hilāl ibn Yaḥyā.” He said, “Abū Bakr, I shall ask you a question. Consider it carefully, then answer me.” Hilāl said, “Ask.” He asked, “What do you say about exchanging ten raṭls of dates for ten raṭls of dates?” Hilāl answered, “It is permitted.” He said, “Did I not tell you to consider it carefully?” Hilāl replied, “What is there about ten raṭls of dates for ten raṭls of dates that requires deliberation?” Yūsuf asked, “Is their original standard not volume?” He answered, “Yes; I was mistaken. It is permitted if the two measures are equal.” He asked, “What do you say about a man captured in Byzantine territory who fasted Shaʿbān thinking it was Ramadan?” He answered, “It does not suffice.” He asked, “And if he fasted Shawwāl thinking it was Ramadan?” He answered, “It suffices.” He asked, “Then what of the Prophet’s prohibition, God bless him and grant him peace, against fasting on the day of Fiṭr?” He answered, “I was mistaken: provided he fasts a day of Dhū al-Qaʿda.” He asked, “What do you say about a man who tells his wife: You are divorced once on the first day of the latter part of the month, and on the last day of the first part of the month?” He said: We dispersed from the gathering. Yūsuf died, and I met Hilāl years later. He told me, “Your companion’s question exhausted me; it became clear to me only last night. I said: The month has thirty days. On the fifteenth day one divorce takes effect, for that is the last day of the first part of the month. On the sixteenth another takes effect, for that is the first day of the latter part of the month.”

ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm the Qurʾan reciter informed us: Makram narrated to us: Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥimmānī narrated to us: I heard ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī say: We were with Yūsuf ibn Khālid al-Samtī when Abū Bakr Hilāl ibn Yaḥyā arrived. As he entered, the people gathered around him. Yūsuf asked them, “What is the matter?” I said, “Abū Bakr Hilāl ibn Yaḥyā.” He said, “Abū Bakr, I shall ask you a question. Consider it carefully, then answer me.” Hilāl said, “Ask.” He asked, “What do you say about exchanging ten raṭls of dates for ten raṭls of dates?” Hilāl answered, “It is permitted.” He said, “Did I not tell you to consider it carefully?” Hilāl replied, “What is there about ten raṭls of dates for ten raṭls of dates that requires deliberation?” Yūsuf asked, “Is their original standard not volume?” He answered, “Yes; I was mistaken. It is permitted if the two measures are equal.” He asked, “What do you say about a man captured in Byzantine territory who fasted Shaʿbān thinking it was Ramadan?” He answered, “It does not suffice.” He asked, “And if he fasted Shawwāl thinking it was Ramadan?” He answered, “It suffices.” He asked, “Then what of the Prophet’s prohibition, God bless him and grant him peace, against fasting on the day of Fiṭr?” He answered, “I was mistaken: provided he fasts a day of Dhū al-Qaʿda.” He asked, “What do you say about a man who tells his wife: You are divorced once on the first day of the latter part of the month, and on the last day of the first part of the month?” He said: We dispersed from the gathering. Yūsuf died, and I met Hilāl years later. He told me, “Your companion’s question exhausted me; it became clear to me only last night. I said: The month has thirty days. On the fifteenth day one divorce takes effect, for that is the last day of the first part of the month. On the sixteenth another takes effect, for that is the first day of the latter part of the month.”