he entered, sat down without permission, and began reciting a hadith without having been asked. The sultan bristled, ordered a servant to strike him, and the blow deafened him. Some of those present then explained the shaykh’s rank in religion and learning, so the sultan apologised and ordered money to be given to him, but he refused. The sultan said, “Shaykh, royal authority has its outburst of might and must exercise policy. I felt you had overstepped the proper bounds, so pardon me.”
The shaykh replied, “Allah lies in wait between us. You summoned me only for exhortation, to hear the traditions of the Messenger ﷺ and to foster humility—not to enforce the protocols of rulership.”
The king felt ashamed and embraced him. (1)

Yāqūt mentioned him in Muʿjam al-Udabāʾ and said (2): “He died in Shawwāl of the year 458 AH at Sanzuwār.” (3)

I say: Maḥmūd’s rank is lofty because of his striving in jihad, the conquest of India, and many admirable deeds. Yet he had his slips, and this incident is one of them. He regretted it and apologised. We seek refuge with Allah from every arrogant tyrant.

We have witnessed the defiant despots who have extinguished jihad and tyrannised the lands—alas for the servants of Allah.

91 – al-Lawzankī, Abū Jaʿfar Aḥmad ibn Saʿīd al-Andalusī *
The mufti of Toledo, the imām Abū Jaʿfar Aḥmad ibn Saʿīd al-Andalusī, known as al-Lawzankī, a Mālikī.

The ruler of Toledo, al-Maʾmūn, (4) put him, Ibn Mughīth, and Ibn Asad to the test