Story of Shaykh Hammaad ibn Muhammad al-Ansaaree

Concerning the Muhaddith, the Shaykh Hammaad ibn Muhammad al-Ansaaree (rahimahUllaah), it has been narrated by his son 'Abdul-Awwal:

"My father said:

"I have come across twenty (different) manuscripts of the book ((al-Kaamil)) of Ibn 'Adee; None of them were complete except the (personal) copy which I had, which was from Turkey.

I bought this copy from a Turkish man who brought it with him to Madeenah. He offered it (for sale) to the Islaamic University (of Madeenah, al-Jaami'ah al-Islaamiyyah) soon after it had first opened. The University excused themselves from purchasing it because of its high price - its price being 1,000 Saudi riyals (approximately £180/$300), [and this was at a time when his salary was only a mere 1,000 riyals a month]. So my father found out about this man and said to him:

"inshaaAllaah I will buy it from you".

So my father went to someone well-known to him to seek a loan from him for the purchase of this manuscript and bought it from the (Turkish) man.

The University then found out about this extraordinary act from this muhaddith, and Shaykh Ibn Baaz said to him:

"This is extraordinary! a single man has outdone an entire group! (i.e. the University)".

And my father replied:

"Yes, because the issue is one of desire (raghbah), and I am more knowledgeable about the extent of the importance of this book, and Allaah knows best"."

al-Majmoo' fee Tarjamatil-Muhaddith Shaykh Hammaad ibn Muhammad al-Ansaaree wa Seeratihi wa Aqwaalihi - Volume 1, Quote No.14, Page 390