May Allah have mercy on him. He was the chief qadi (qāḍī al-quḍāt) of al-Andalus. He was an imam, a scholar, eloquent, an orator, a poet, a man of letters, and a person of virtue. He had gathered various good deeds, taqwa (God-consciousness), and zuhd (asceticism) within himself. He had many beautiful works and fine sayings. On one occasion, he said: "The paradise in which the Prophet Adam lived and from which he was cast down is on earth; the paradise that Allah, the Exalted, has prepared for His servants in the Hereafter is not that paradise." Qadi Munzir has an independent work on this subject.
He used to utter sweet words that affected souls. One day, he went into the presence of Nasir li-Dinillah ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Umayyī. Nasir had built Madinat al-Zahra and the palaces there. He had also constructed for himself a magnificent and splendid palace there. He adorned his palace with rose motifs, curtains, and various ornaments. The dignitaries and emirs of the state had also gathered around him. Qadi Munzir came and sat beside him. Those present in the assembly
began to praise the structure of the palace in which they were sitting. Qadi Munzir, however, remained silent and did not speak. The ruler turned to him and asked: "O Abu'l-Hakam, what do you say?" The qadi began to weep, his tears flowing down to his beard, and he replied:
"I think that Allah, the Exalted, has not disgraced even Satan as much as He has disgraced you. This state you are in has destroyed you both in this world and the Hereafter. Although Allah has bestowed so much upon you and made you superior to most of the people, you still followed Satan, and Satan has made you like the disbelievers and the wicked. Yet the Exalted Allah says in a noble verse:
{wa-law-lā an yakūna al-nāsu ummatan wāḥidatan} ‘If it were not that mankind would become one community (inclined to disbelief), We would have made for those who disbelieve in the Most Merciful—for their houses—ceilings and stairways of silver upon which to mount, and for their houses—doors and couches (of silver) upon which to recline, and gold ornament. But all that is nothing but the enjoyment of worldly life. But the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.’ (al-Zukhruf, 33–35)
After he recited this verse, the ruler became sorrowful, lowered his head, and began to weep, saying: "May Allah grant you good and increase the likes of you among the Muslims."
In one of the years, a famine occurred. Rain was not falling, and the ruler sent word to Qadi Munzir to come for the rain dua (supplication). When the messenger brought him the letter, he asked: "In what state was the ruler when you came?" The messenger replied: "When I came, he was in a state of utmost humility, earnestly supplicating to Allah." Qadi Munzir said: "In that case, by Allah, rain will fall for you. For when the tyrants on earth humble themselves and submit, the Mighty Allah in the heavens shows mercy." Then he ordered his servant: "Call the people to prayer." The people gathered at the place where the rain dua was to be performed. Qadi Munzir came and ascended the pulpit. The people were watching him and listening to what he would say. When he turned to them, he first addressed them by reciting this noble verse:
‘Peace be upon you. Your Lord has prescribed mercy for Himself, so that if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and makes amends, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ (al-Anʿām, 54) He repeated this verse many times. The congregation began to weep and cry out, repenting and turning to Allah. They continued their supplications and entreaties. Finally, rain fell. As they returned to their homes, their feet were sinking into the water.