The Jurist of the people of Basrah

485. A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Zayd Al-Shahaam who said: Qatada Bin Da’ama came up to Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام, so he عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘O Qatada! Are you a Faqih (Jurist) of the people of Basra?’ He said, ‘That is what they are alleging’. Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘It has reached me عليه الصلاة والسلام that you are explaining the Quran’. Qatada said to him عليه الصلاة والسلام, ‘Yes’. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said to him: ‘You are explaining it by knowledge or by ignorance?’ He said, ‘No, by knowledge’. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said to him: ‘So if you are explaining by knowledge, so ‘you are’ ‘who you are’ and I عليه الصلاة والسلام would like to ask you’. Qatada said, ‘Ask’. He عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Inform me عليه الصلاة والسلام about the Statement of Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic in (the Chapter) Saba: “[34:18] and We apportioned the journey therein: Travel through them nights and days, secure”. Qatada said, ‘That is for the one who goes out from his house with lawful provisions, and camel rented lawfully intending this House (Kabah). He would be safe until he returns back to his family’. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘I عليه الصلاة والسلام hold you to Allah عز وجل, O Qatada! Do you know that if the man comes out from his house with lawful provisions, and a camel rented lawfully, intending this House, he could get cut off (by bandits) on the road, and his provisions would be lost and he could be injured due to that?’ Qatada said, ‘Our Allah عز وجل, Yes!’ So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Woe be unto you! But rather, you are explaining the Quran from your own free will, so you are destroyed and causing others to be destroyed. And if you have taken it from the men (others), you have been destroyed and so have they. Woe be unto you! (But) that is for the one who comes out from his house with provisions, and lawful means of transportation aspiring for this House while having recognised our عليه الصلاة والسلام rights, loving us عليه الصلاة والسلام with his heart, just as Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic has Said: “[14:37] therefore make the hearts of some people yearn towards them” and it does not mean the House, for He عز وجل is Saying ‘towards them’. So we عليه الصلاة والسلام are, by Allah عز وجل, the supplication of Ibrahim عليه السلام towards whom عليه الصلاة والسلام if one loves with one’s heart, his Pilgrimage would be Accepted, otherwise it will not be, O Qatada! So if it is like that, he would be safe from the Punishment of Hell on the Day of Judgement’. Qatada said, ‘No offence. By Allah عز وجل, I will not explain it except like this’. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Woe be unto you, O Qatada! But rather, you should understand the Quran from the ones عليه الصلاة والسلام who have been addressed by it’.