Commenting on the previous narration in his biography of al-Imām Mālik, Adh-Dhahabī said:

“How excellent was Mālik’s response to al-ʿUmarī, affirming Allāh’s prior decree concerning His servants. He did not prefer his own path of knowledge over al-ʿUmarī’s path of devotion and asceticism.” [Tārīkh al-Islām, 11/183] This is because Mālik’s response was that of a well-grounded Imām who knew exactly what he was saying. He understood Allāh's decrees among His creation, and he recognized the vital importance of every single door of knowledge and goodness. The ultimate goal is to establish Allāh's religion and bring people closer to it. Thus, you see that the insightful, intelligent person does not confine goodness to a single field, nor does he measure people by his own strengths. Rather, he knows that the doors of righteousness are wide, that Allāh grants His servants whatever goodness He wills, and that people differ in their abilities and aptitudes — all of which are provisions from the Rabb of the earth and the heavens. So the one for whom the door of knowledge and teaching is opened must not look down on the devout worshipper. The one for whom the door of jihād is opened must not despise the one devoted to fiqh and issuing fatwas. The one whom Allāh has blessed with the ability to author books has no right to belittle the sincere preacher, and so on. The observer of the lives of scholars and rabbāniyyūn finds that each of them performed what was opened for him. So there may be a scholar who was not an orator; an orator who was not a muḥaddith; a muḥaddith who was not a brilliant fiqh scholar. Yet all of them were pillars of the religion and building blocks in daʿwah and guidance, each performing his ordained role without competing with others in what was not opened for him. Therefore, the words of ʾImām Mālik, the commentary of ʾImām adh-Dhahabī, and the statement of Shaykh Ibn Bāz — are all words of those deeply rooted in knowledge, who recognize the value of oneself and others. They understand that the religion is not upheld by a single man nor a single expertise, but rather by the diversity of generosity and the integration of efforts. Whoever thinks that goodness only lies in what he himself excels at has narrowed what is vast, has been ignorant, and deluded himself. The one granted success is he who knows his own worth, proceeds in the door that Allāh has opened and distinguished for him, supports others in the doors of goodness that Allāh has opened for them, rejoices in their success, and does not envy them for the favor of Allāh. The religion is cooperation and completion, not conflict and contempt. The intelligent one is he whose own good increases through the good of others. The intelligent one is he who sees people as integrated forces working to elevate this religion, not as rivals who push each other aside. For this reason, some of the Salaf said: "Whoever thinks that no one upholds the truth but him is the most ignorant of people." For Allāh is the one who divides provisions and brings about goodness through the hands of whomever He wills, whenever He wills, and however He wills. There is no objection to His action, may He be glorified and exalted. So, O Allāh, open for us and for our brothers the doors of goodness. Make us locks against the doors of evil and the entrances of Shayṭān. Make us all tributaries flowing into the support of Your religion, the guidance of ourselves, their reformation, and whomever You will among Your servants. And all ḥamd is due to Allāh, the Rabb of the worlds. Written by: Abū ‘Abdirraḥmān Qāyid ibn Ghānim ash-Shābirah Translated by: Umm ʿAbdirraḥmān as-Sūdāniyyah & Umm Tamīm aṣ-Ṣūmāliyyah