I went to UiTM Law School in Malaysia. Five and a half years. It dawned on me recently that I am back in Law School again.
As with any Islamic Madrasah that typically has a good amount of focus on law and the study of law. And I’ve to say this time around the honey is much sweeter.
Unfortunately graduates (who do complete the program/reach a level of books) aren’t held in the same esteem as lawyers of the Civil Court, even by fellow Muslims. Including by the same societies that poke fun and remind others of the dark side of regular practicing Civil Court lawyers and their apparent seat in Hell fire. Our measuring sticks are not just the wrong ones, but also confused.
Perhaps we’ve understood these roles and sphere of life inaccurately, to say the least. I recently heard a remarkable story about a judge here in the city of Seiyoun, thirty minutes drive from Tareem.
Habib Saqaff bin Muhammad al-Saqaff.
He is the grandfather, to the grandfather, to the grandfather of the famous Habib Abdul Qader al-Sagoff, teacher to the likes of Habib Omar Bin-Hafidh and Dr Umar Faruq Abd Allah.
For 30 years as a judge, he only delivered two verdicts. The rest, he persuaded and succeeded in making the disputing parties reconcile/forgive.
Once there was an issue in which he couldn’t agree with the Sultan of the time. A soldier was sent to harm him, from which he fell off his riding animal onto the ground and quickly others found him declaring loudly,
“I forgive! I forgive! I forgive!”
Shortly after he was asked why did you say that? Why did you behave that way?
“Firstly I forgave the soldier, secondly the army and thirdly the Sultan who gave the command. I fear that I may not get the chance to do so before my death, whenever that is. So it must be done promptly.”
But was it not they that try to harm you? Sought your death perhaps?
“No. By God no I will not have a man’s sin hanging upon me on the Day of Judgment that he may end up in Hellfire for.”
*Pic: The famous castle in Seiyoun by Anthony Pappone.
