Reverence for the Noble Hadith

Question

Zayd was reading disputed rulings and other matters from a book of hadith; he had no cap on his head, and he was sitting, reading, with one leg crossed over the other. Bakr, in private, forbade him this, [saying] that in such a state one ought to have a cap or the like on the head; Zayd then demanded proof. Kindly indicate the ruling on this matter.

Answer

Reverence for the noble hadith is obligatory. Imam Malik ﵀ would put on fine clothing, apply perfume, and sit facing the qibla, and [thus] give his lessons; a turban would be on his head; during the lesson he would not turn his attention to anything else at all — to such an extent that once a scorpion somehow got into his garment and kept stinging him, yet he continued giving…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.