# How did Imam Malik come to study religion?

*His mother turns him from singing to study*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vhqvm47pns0/s/4/
- Date: 2023-03-10 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: The Legendary Imam Malik Ibn Anas | Mufti Abu Layth (17:40–22:12)
- Status: latest answer on its topic; general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhqVM47pNS0&t=1060s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vhqvm47pns0/

**Topics:** Imam Malik; Raising children

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** His mother gently steered him from singing to study, and that choice made him one of the most influential figures in Islamic history.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth says Malik's mother gave him direction without scolding him: pointing out that he was blond and blue-eyed, she said audiences in Arabia would not come to watch him perform, and suggested he put his mind to academic study instead. He says Malik's fair colouring came through his lineage, as with some other Arabs, and that this choice immortalised him and shaped Islamic civilisations. He says Malik's elder brother al-Nadr was the academic one, so that Malik was first known as his brother, but that once he devoted himself his whole family came to be known through him, citing the verse that God will teach those who are mindful of Him.

## Sources and names cited

- Imam Malik
- al-Nadr, Imam Malik's brother
- Quran 2:282 (be mindful of God and God will teach you), alluded to [?] (reference uncertain; possibly https://quran.com/2/282)

## Transcript (machine tier, 17:40–22:12)

[17:03] bukhari the prophet had plans not always but some in in the rewind they say he planted four main plats and tied them but the but today this is because it's not the common culture it comes as a culture shock so yeah so this was Imam Malik's upbringing he was very into music he was very into um singing he was not interested in Islam as much it doesn't mean he was against Islam he just wasn't drawn that way and he asked his mother his mother discouraged him from

[17:40] his mother you know it's Allah see your destiny determine your destiny his mother gave him that direction and she said she said to him that look and look at the wisdom she didn't say to him to discourage him what the hell are you doing you know this is all uh you know this is wrong and she said to him that she said but look you look at the culture at Large so Imam Malik for people who don't know he was blonde Imam Malik was blonde with blue eyes he wasn't um like dark haired and dark-eyed he was

[18:19] white and he and so why was he white with blonde hair and blue eyes and this is obviously something coming in his lineage and that's a different discussion how did that get there um is a discussion for you know a more Arab lineage because there were some Arabs that were like that now people may say well that origin somehow came with some whatever it was I don't know but there were certain Arabs like that and Imam Malik was amongst them he was uh he was known as you azarak he had blue eyes and he has ashkar had blonde hair and so his

[18:57] his mum said to him that look come on you'll never like it just won't fly your project won't take off because people who's gonna come to watch you perform talk about letting him down slowly who's gonna come to watch the Gora yeah she goes look come on let's be real it's not you know nobody's gonna you're not gonna get the it's not gonna work you're blonde your blue-eyed you're this you know in in Arabia it's come on so he was a bit

[19:37] disheartened his mom had foresight though she said to him look why don't you uh why don't you put your mind to some academic study sure you're gifted in music and stuff like this but what about and here Imam Malik thought okay then and little did he know that this choice of his was to immortalize him forever in Islamic history

[20:14] that his his thinking his understanding and interpretation of Islam was to go on to shape Islamic civilizations to our very age I mean that well that choice right there between should I become a musician or should I [Laughter] ah it's never too late huh so his mum encouraged him and he listened his elder brother was quite academic islamically and his brother's name was Nadar and this is how Imam Malik would

[20:51] be known as he oh he's another's brother and because his brother was academic but Imam Malik was just more of a chill you know into music into this is but when he did come on to he put his mind to it and his heart and he was really it Allah opened the path before him that it got to such an extent that his people around him his family his parents his brother everybody eventually came to be known through him that oh that's the father of Malik oh

[21:30] that's the brother of Malik oh that's the it's wow what you know we don't this is the thing you know that what how is it that foreign have this mindfulness of and Allah will from his gems he will teach you teach you things that you do not believe or can imagine that you will know so this journey began of Imam Malik he had some he had some great teachers

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment VhqVM47pNS0/s/4. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/vhqvm47pns0/s/4/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.