Qazi Ayaz authored a prominent book named Al-Shifa bi Tareef Huquq al-Mustafa (Healing by Understanding the Rights of the Chosen One) on the life and deeds of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace. He belonged to the Maghrib (West) region of the early period of Islam, comprising the Atlas Mountains and coastal plains of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya along with Moorish Spain, lagging behind that of the Mashriq (East). The first person whose scholastic contribution to Islamic studies made that region noteworthy was Qazi Ayaz. Later, other contributions, including that of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Musa al-Shatibi (720-790 Hijri) on Maqasid al Shariah (Higher goals of Islamic law), around two hundred and fifty years after Qazi Ayaz, were of a qualitatively high level. However, the Maghrib region surpasses other regions in its contributions to other sciences like medicine, astronomy, geography and chemistry.
Abul Fazal Ayaz bin Musa Yahsubi (476 – 507 Hijri) was born in Ceuta. His forefathers had shifted there from Al-Andalus. The city of Ceuta lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the border of Morocco. He studied in Ceuta with various scholars and went to Al-Andalus for further studies from scholars there. He served as Qazi (judge) at many places in the region so much so that the prefix “Qazi” became part and parcel of his name. He died in Morocco.
He followed the Maliki school of jurisprudence and pronounced his judgements without any fear or favour. This resulted in the displeasure of governors and rulers and subsequent removal from his position. His deputation and integrity would prevail on the consciousness of political administrators and he would be reappointed. This happened several times. Once a prominent literary person, Fatah bin Aaqan, in an inebriated state came to the court of Qazi Ayaz. The Qazi punished him for his drunk condition. Later, after the due punishment, Qazi Ayaz sent him eight dinars and a turban as gifts in recognition of his literary position.
Qazi Ayaz was well-versed in different subjects, including fiqh (jurisprudence) and hadith (traditions of the Prophet). He wrote several books, twenty-two of which have been reported by later writers. However, the book that made Qazi Ayaz a legend is Al-Shifa bi Tareef Huquq al-Mustafa (Healing by Understanding the Rights of the Chosen One). Qazi Ayaz holds a very high position in the hearts of Islamic scholars and his books in general and Al-Shifa in particular are widely referred to. Wherever scholars like Imam Nawawi and Hafiz ibn Hajar Asqalani wrote the expression “Qaal Qazi” (said Qazi); they meant Qazi Ayaz. Interestingly, what made this Qazi popular was not his jurisprudence but his writings on the Rights of the Prophet, may Allah bestow His kindness on him.
Qazi Ayaz bin Musa al-Yahsubi, whom we will be referring to as the Qazi, wrote a preface to the book describing why he authored it. He first narrated the attributes of Allah and the abundant kindness bestowed upon His creatures, including the author himself. This kindness includes providing Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, a perfect individual both in body and spirit, as a gift to mankind. The book aims at describing this particular gift from Allah, delineating rights of the Prophet on human beings emanating therefrom.
The Qazi said he was asked by many people, time and again, to prepare a reference material on the high position of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace. This was a difficult and delicate task and the people who were urging him to undertake this task were not aware of how they burdened him with an assignment that had filled his heart with apprehensions and shaken his whole body. The task comprised going through both primary and secondary sources and taking into view the opinions of experts on the subject. This was a slippery path where every step was required to be taken with utmost care.
The Qazi said finally he agreed to take up this task because of two reasons. One was the expectation of a great reward from Allah and the other was a tradition of the Prophet which made this work obligatory on him. He felt he was duty-bound to take up the job, otherwise the consequences of accountability before Allah for not doing this work would be serious. So, the dilemma before the Qazi was to go for getting rewarded by Allah by undertaking the difficult task or being reprimanded by Him for ignoring this. The Qazi opted for the former, in the name of Allah.
The tradition of the Prophet that led the Qazi to accept the assignment was reported to him by his teacher Abdul Wahid Hisham. It is now available in the book of Prophetic traditions, Sunan Ibn Maja, and reported in the book Tirmizi as under:
“Allah will drape a person in an attire of fire on the Day of Resurrection who is asked about knowledge (regarding religion/faith/Islam) and he conceals it (despite knowing the answer).” (Reported by Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, and recorded by Tirmizi -2649).
The book is organised in four divisions as under:
- Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, both in his words and actions, as described by Allah.
- Rights of the Prophet.
- What is necessary, permitted and valid for the Prophet and what is not.
- Issues relating to those who curse the Prophet.
Each division of the book is subdivided into different topics and each topic is further distributed into sections.