Shaykh, if you would allow me, by Allah, you mentioned the saying of al-Hasan al-Basri when the seller said to him, "This is for the people at such-and-such a price, and this is for you at such-and-such a price," and he said: "Have they already done that?"
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The questioner : Shaykh, if you would allow me, by Allah, you mentioned to the brother Mahmoud the saying of al-Hasan al-Basri when the seller said to him, "This is for the people at such-and-such a price, and this is for you at such-and-such a price," and he said: "Have they already done that?", and you presented it in a context of disapproval, even toward the brother Mahmoud. So the brother Mahmoud, meaning, has a problem, as does everyone, roughly speaking, because the seller has freedom over his merchandise; he may profit, or he may sell it at cost, or he may sell it at a loss or at a discount, so he is free with his merchandise. So how is the saying of al-Hasan al-Basri, "Have they already done that!!", to be understood?
The Shaykh : I did not understand. What did al-Hasan al-Basri say?
The questioner : When the seller said to him...
The Shaykh : No, no, do not repeat it.
The questioner : "Have they already done that?" You were the ones...
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Yes
Another questioner: He is asking you.
The Shaykh : What are you asking me?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : What did you write? Show me what he said.
The questioner : Excuse me!
The Shaykh : You did not understand why al-Hasan al-Basri said what he said?!
The questioner : We understood.
The Shaykh : What was it?
The questioner : That he differentiated between people in the sale.
The Shaykh : He differentiated between people? May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Or did he differentiate between himself and the people?
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Ameen
The Shaykh : One time or another, we convey to you any answer, and the questioner is forced to repeat the question in a different manner. This will be an incomplete answer.
The questioner : Oh, my!
The Shaykh : So now, what is your answer? Repeat it. Is it a difference? It is not like that, is it?
The questioner : Yes, indeed
The Shaykh : Okay, I do not know if he differentiated. The question returns now in another way: Why did he differentiate? May Allah guide you. Why did he differentiate? We have not told you why he differentiated!
The questioner : No, you did not mention, Your Honor.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. I am asking you a question. May Allah guide you. Did he differentiate because he is free, or not?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Why did you say that? You are saying that Muhammad, or Mahmoud, or the problem is with all people, as I said, that he is free. You are saying that no, he did not differentiate because he is free. So the previous question returns: Why? Why did he differentiate?
The questioner : For his person, or for his status?
The Shaykh : Okay, we have not told you, may Allah guide you, that the differentiation was because he is a scholar and he wants to honor the scholar? And he does not want to exploit his knowledge for material gain? But you are a people, and that is enough!
The questioner : May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner: And when we saw your reverence for your student, meaning...
The Shaykh : Excuse me, may Allah bless you.
The questioner : It increased us.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good for this. I did not know who the later one was.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh.
The questioner : Allahu Akbar...
Another questioner: But, Subhan Allah, O our Shaykh, alhamdulillah, to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. With your prayers, we are provided for.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
Another questioner: May Allah preserve you.
The Shaykh : I did not understand. What did al-Hasan al-Basri say?
The questioner : When the seller said to him...
The Shaykh : No, no, do not repeat it.
The questioner : "Have they already done that?" You were the ones...
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Yes
Another questioner: He is asking you.
The Shaykh : What are you asking me?
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : What did you write? Show me what he said.
The questioner : Excuse me!
The Shaykh : You did not understand why al-Hasan al-Basri said what he said?!
The questioner : We understood.
The Shaykh : What was it?
The questioner : That he differentiated between people in the sale.
The Shaykh : He differentiated between people? May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Or did he differentiate between himself and the people?
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you.
The questioner : Ameen
The Shaykh : One time or another, we convey to you any answer, and the questioner is forced to repeat the question in a different manner. This will be an incomplete answer.
The questioner : Oh, my!
The Shaykh : So now, what is your answer? Repeat it. Is it a difference? It is not like that, is it?
The questioner : Yes, indeed
The Shaykh : Okay, I do not know if he differentiated. The question returns now in another way: Why did he differentiate? May Allah guide you. Why did he differentiate? We have not told you why he differentiated!
The questioner : No, you did not mention, Your Honor.
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. I am asking you a question. May Allah guide you. Did he differentiate because he is free, or not?
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Why did you say that? You are saying that Muhammad, or Mahmoud, or the problem is with all people, as I said, that he is free. You are saying that no, he did not differentiate because he is free. So the previous question returns: Why? Why did he differentiate?
The questioner : For his person, or for his status?
The Shaykh : Okay, we have not told you, may Allah guide you, that the differentiation was because he is a scholar and he wants to honor the scholar? And he does not want to exploit his knowledge for material gain? But you are a people, and that is enough!
The questioner : May Allah bless you. May Allah reward you with good.
Another questioner: And when we saw your reverence for your student, meaning...
The Shaykh : Excuse me, may Allah bless you.
The questioner : It increased us.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good for this. I did not know who the later one was.
The questioner : No, O Shaykh.
The questioner : Allahu Akbar...
Another questioner: But, Subhan Allah, O our Shaykh, alhamdulillah, to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. With your prayers, we are provided for.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
Another questioner: May Allah preserve you.