Not Rushing To Judge

Imam Sha‛bi (may Allah have mercy on him), said, "I was sitting with Shuraih (may Allah have mercy on him), a famous judge, when a woman came to us crying profusely and complaining about her absent husband. I exclaimed to Shuraih (may Allah have mercy on him) that I saw her as one who was wronged and whose rights have been deprived from her." The judge replied to Imam Sha‛bi (may Allah have mercy on him), "What brings you to this conclusion?" Imam Sha‛bi (may Allah have mercy on him) then said that the abundance of her tears indicated that she had been wronged. Shuraih (may Allah have mercy on him), in his wisdom stated, "Do not rule except after the matter has become clear for indeed the brothers of Prophet Yusuf (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to their father crying when in fact they were the ones who were the wrongdoers."