IMAM Ahmad would frequently mention the virtues of his sheikh, Imam Ash-Shafi'ee, to his wife. He would praise the Imam's extensive and superb knowledge as well as his Taqwa (i.e. piety). Once Imam Ahmad invited Imam Ash Shafi'ee to his home. When dinner was served, Imam Ash-Shafi'ee ate until he was full. He then retired to the guest room for some sleep. The next day Imam Ahmad's wife said to him, “O Ahmad! Is this the same Shafi'ee you used to tell me so much about?” Imam Ahmad said, “Indeed he is!” So she said, “I noticed three things about him worthy of criticism! Firstly, when we served him the food, he ate plenty of it! Secondly, when he went into the guest room, he went to sleep without standing up to perform the night prayer (i.e. Tahujjud)! Lastly, when he offered the Fajr prayer with us, he did not perform Wudhu?!” Subsequently Imam Ahmad went and asked Imam Ash Shafi'ee about these three matters, to which he replied in a way a father would explain to his son, “O Ahmad, I ate plenty because I know for certain that your food is Halaal and you are a generous man! And the food that comes from a generous man is a cure, while the food that comes from a stingy man is a disease. I didn't eat plenty of food in order to have my fill; rather I ate plenty in order to derive the cure from it. “As for the reason why I didn't stand up at night to perform the night prayer, when I laid my head down to get some sleep, I looked and all I could see was the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him) in front of me. So I deduced 72 Fiqh-related issues for the Muslims to benefit from. Thus there was no opportunity for me to stand and perform the night prayer! “As for the reason why I prayed Fajr without performing Wudhu, my eyes never tasted the sweetness of sleep in order for me to renew my Wudhu. I was awake the whole night. So I prayed Fajr with the same Wudhu I had for Isha Prayer. – Fath Al
