Why did one of the most well-known scholars of Baghdad end his life hidden, far from all those who used to listen to him? Discover the last days of Imam al-Barbahārī.
More than a thousand years ago, in the great city of Baghdad, there lived a scholar called al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī al-Barbahārī.
He was mostly known by a simpler name:
Imam al-Barbahārī.
He had spent a large part of his life learning the religion, teaching it, and defending the Sunnah.
He reminded Muslims to hold fast to the Qur’an, to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and to the way of the first generations of Muslims.
His name became known in Baghdad.
Many people came to listen to his teachings.
But this popularity also brought him many enemies.
At that time, religious disputes were many. New ideas were spreading, and al-Barbahārī opposed them firmly.
This eventually attracted the attention of the authorities.
Things became more and more difficult for him.
Some of his companions were arrested.
Then his students were forbidden to gather.
Al-Barbahārī then understood that he himself was being sought.
A man who had taught before so many people had to begin living in secret.
He left the part of Baghdad where he was and crossed the city to hide elsewhere.
No one was to know where he was.
He finally found refuge in a house belonging to the sister of a man called Tūzūn.
For several weeks, the imam stayed there.
Hidden.
Far from his students.
Far from the gatherings where he had once taught.
He was already old.
And then, while he was still in that house, his health deteriorated.
The man who was being sought throughout the city would soon no longer be able to flee.
His final journey was approaching.
A few days later, Imam al-Barbahārī died.
But a terrible problem then arose.
How could his funeral be prepared without anyone discovering that he was there?
Even after his death, the secret had to be kept.
The mistress of the house therefore asked her servant to discreetly look for someone capable of washing the imam’s body.
A man was found.
He entered the house.
Then the doors were closed.
Everything had to take place in the greatest silence.
The funeral washing began.
Outside, Baghdad continued to live as if nothing had happened.
Almost no one knew that inside that house had just died one of the most well-known scholars of his time.
And soon, the funeral prayer would have to be performed over him.
But who would be there to pray?
