Imam al-Baqillaniyy had a very sharp intelligence–clearly witnessed once when the caliph sent a message with him to the King of the Romans. That Roman king had been told that al-Baqillaniyy would not bow to a kafir, so he would not bow to that king.
Thinking he was smart, that king devised a way to make al-Baqillaniyy bow for him when he entered the room. He made the doorway entrance so low, such that if one wanted to enter, he would have to bow down. When al-Baqillaniyy arrived, he was so keen and quick that he immediately realized what was intended. He turned around and entered backwards!
At another time, al-Baqillaniyy entered the session of that king when the king had the monks and their head priest with them. Al-Baqilaniyy addressed their head priest mockingly by saying, “How is the wife doing, and the children?” To that, the king said, “The caliph who sent you to us said you were among the knowledgeable ones–among the great scholars of your nation. How is it you ignore the fact the priests do not get married, they do not have children, and we clear them from that?” Al-Baqillaniyy told him, “You clear the priests and monks from these things, and you do not clear Allah from that? It is as if you hold them in a greater status than Allah!” The king, the monks, and their head priest were dumbfounded! If this great, intelligent man.
Imam al-Baqillaniyy, used to say, “I would be in the best of the levels of my knowledge if I comprehend the words of Imam al-Ash^ariyy,” what would be the status of al-Ash^ariyy?
Humbleness.
I ask Allah to grant us sincerity and knowledge.
