Imam Shafi’i, whose full name was Muhammad bin Idris As-Shafi’i, was highly respected by other scholars. One of the prominent scholars, Imam Ahmad bin Hambal said: " In my forty years of praying, I have never missed accompanying it with a supplication for Shafi’i."

One day when Abdul Malik Almaimuni was discussing with Imam Ahmad bin Hambal, the discussion touched on the person of Imam Shafi’i. Almaimuni said: " I noticed it was obvious that Ahmad greatly respected Shafi’i and he also said: " I used to read a Hadith of the beloved Prophet S.A.W., that for every hundred years, Allah will raise for the ummah, a man who will revive the affairs of the religion."

Imam Shafi’i abhorred foul words and foul language which are directed to fellow man. On one occasion when he heard someone articulating foul words towards a scholar, Imam Shafi’i advised him: "Cleanse your hearing from listening to foul words, as you would cleanse your tongue from articulating abusive language. An ugly and dirty person will always leave his dirt to smear your clean self. Should you reply with foulness, you are just committing the same thing as that done by the abuser."

At all times Imam Shafi’i was pleased to resolve matters of religion brought to him. There are times when hundreds of problems were resolved in one night for the benefit of the ummah. Imam Ahmad used to tell his son regarding Imam Shafi’I: "His movements and his silence, his words, zikir and thoughts, are all for Allah S.W.T. His standing is obedience, his sleep is sadaqah, his zikir is tasbih, his silence and knowledge are cures for the humankind."

Among the gems of his words of wisdom on knowledge:

" You will not acquire knowledge unless you have six things: intelligence, strong will, diligence and patience, sufficient means and befriend your teacher. But beware! One who is honoured because of his knowledge is unlikely to be heaped with wealth, because knowledge and wealth are unlikely to be together. It is fate that one who is honoured for his knowledge shall be tested with a life of hardship. It is evident that one who is wise, leads a difficult life and a stupid person lives a life of complete sufficiency. One who is given easy wealth, is short of blessing, not honoured and not guided."

In addition Imam Shafi’i also said: "To stay up at night patiently in study, is more pleasurable to me than sweet music and pleasant perfumes. The scribbles of my pen in the middle of a page, is more enjoyable than any imagination."