Fawaid Abi Bakr al-Shashi
- Author died
- 507 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Rushd
Fawaid Abi Bakr al-Shashi (Benefits of Abu Bakr al-Shashi) is a short hadith tract (juz') containing selected narrations, reports, and ethical maxims transmitted by the Shafi'i jurist Abu Bakr al-Shashi (429–507 AH / 1037–1114 CE) .
Transmission and Authorship
The text records the transmissions of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Husayn ibn Sa'd (also recorded as Ibn 'Umar) al-Shashi al-Qaffal al-Fariqi . At the beginning of the transmission, the text notes an inquiry regarding al-Shashi's birth, to which he stated that he was born in Mayyafariqin in the year 429 AH .
The tract was transmitted through the hadith scholar Abu Tahir al-Silafi, who read the material to al-Shashi in Baghdad during the month of Rabi' al-Awwal in 497 AH . It was subsequently transmitted from al-Silafi by Abu Tahir Ismail ibn Khalaf al-Ansari al-Muqri', who heard it read before al-Silafi in Ramadan 574 AH .
Contents
The compilation preserves Prophetic hadiths with complete chains of transmission (asānīd), historical dialogues, and moral aphorisms . The transmitted reports address subjects such as the spiritual virtues of emancipating a Muslim slave, growing gray hair in the cause of God, and transcribing knowledge .
It also includes a lengthy non-prophetic dialogue between Amr ibn al-As and his son Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As defining various ethical qualities—including leadership (suʾdud), chivalry (murūʾah), nobility, forbearance, prudence, generosity, and foolishness . The text concludes with an ethical saying on wisdom heard directly from al-Shashi .
Printings
Fawaid Abi Bakr al-Shashi was edited by Samir ibn Husayn al-Hashimi al-Hasani and published by Maktabat al-Rushd in Riyadh (1st edition, 1418 AH / 1998 CE) . It has also been printed alongside Fawa'id Abi Dharr al-Harawi .
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