knowledge in al-Andalus ever enjoyed the favor, lofty standing, and illustrious renown that was bestowed upon Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā. (1)

It has reached us that Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā al-Laythī was once in the company of Mālik ibn Anas—may Allah have mercy on him—when an elephant passed by Mālik’s door. Everyone in the gathering rose to watch it except Yaḥyā, who remained seated. Mālik was struck by this and asked him, “Who are you, and from which land do you come?” Thereafter he continued to show him special honor. (2)

Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā related: “I once took hold of al-Layth’s stirrup. His servant tried to stop me, but al-Layth said, ‘Leave him.’ Then he turned to me and said, ‘Knowledge will serve you.’ Days went by until I saw that come true.” (3)

It is also reported that ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥakam al-Marwānī, the ruler of al-Andalus, once looked at one of his slave-girls during the daytime in Ramadan, lost control, and had intercourse with her. Regretting the deed, he summoned the jurists and asked them how he should repent.

Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā said to him, “Fast two consecutive months.”

The other scholars remained silent, but when they left the gathering they said to Yaḥyā, “Why did you not issue the ruling we hold from Mālik—that he may choose between emancipating a slave, fasting, or feeding the poor?”

He replied, “Had we opened that door for him, it would be easy for him to commit the act every day and then free a slave. So I obliged him with the hardest option so that he would not return to it.” (4)