We Do Not Speak in the Gatherings of Our Elders – The Humility of Ibn al-Mubārak

ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak (ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak ibn Wāḍiḥ al-Ḥanẓalī al-Marwazī, d. 181 AH / 797 CE), may Allah have mercy upon him, was once asked about a matter while Abū Isḥāq al-Fazārī (Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad al-Fazārī, d. 186 AH / 802 CE) was sitting beside him. ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak gestured to the questioner, who was from Khurāsān, instructing him to ask Abū Isḥāq al-Fazārī instead. The man posed the question, and Abū Isḥāq answered it. Afterwards, the Khurāsānī turned to ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak and said to him in Persian: «توجه مي كوهي» “What are you doing?” Ibn al-Mubārak replied in Persian: «مَا بِمَجْلِسِ مهنران سخن تكويم» “We do not speak in the gatherings of our elders.”

References

Abū al-Qāsim Ismāʿīl ibn Muḥammad al-Aṣbahānī (d. 535 AH / 1140 CE), Siyar al-Salaf al-Ṣāliḥ, Dār al-Riyāḥ, Riyadh, 1999, p. 1022.

Ṣalāḥ al-Irānī: This narration reflects the profound humility, etiquette, and reverence for knowledge that characterised the scholars of the early generations.

ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak (d. 181 AH / 797 CE) was among the foremost scholars, ascetics, and muḥaddithūn of his time. Despite his vast knowledge and eminent status, he refrained from answering while a senior scholar, Abū Isḥāq al-Fazārī, was present. Instead, he directed the questioner to the more senior scholar, recognising his precedence in age, scholarship, and experience. His response, “We do not speak in the gatherings of our elders,” encapsulates a foundational principle of Islamic scholarly conduct: knowledge is inseparable from humility and proper manners (adab). True scholarship is not merely the possession of information, but the ability to recognise one’s place, honour one’s teachers, and respect the hierarchy of learning. This conduct also demonstrates sincerity in seeking truth rather than status. Ibn al-Mubārak did not seek to display his knowledge or assert his authority. Rather, he preferred that benefit reach the questioner through the most appropriate and qualified person present.

The use of the Persian language in this exchange further illustrates the cultural diversity of the early Muslim scholarly tradition and the ability of its scholars to communicate effectively with students from different regions and backgrounds.

This narration serves as an enduring lesson for students and scholars alike. Speaking in the presence of one’s teachers without need, competing for prominence, or seeking recognition undermines the blessing of knowledge. By contrast, humility, restraint, and respect elevate both the student and the scholar. Thus, the statement of Ibn al-Mubārak remains a guiding principle for seekers of knowledge in every age: true honour lies in silence when appropriate, deference to those more learned, and sincere concern for the preservation of scholarly dignity.