Maajid ibn Abdulazeez az-Ziyadi in his verification of the book “I’maaratul Quboor” [Building of Graves] of the Allaamah the muhaddith shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yahya al-Mu’allimi , narrates a story showing the humility of the shaykh, he says:

 

” One time shaykh Ahmad Shaakir [the great muhaddith] wanted and  desired to  see shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yahya al-Mu’allimi (as he had never met him), so he went to the Maktabatul Haram [The Library in Makkah] (where shaykh al-Mu’allimi used to work) and proceeded to the-in-charge of the library; shaykh Sulayman as-Swan’ee.

And after some time talking to him, shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yahya al-Mu’allimi came with tea and water  to where they were and put it forth for them [shaykh Ahmad Shakir and shaykh Swane'ee], and then he left; and went back to his reading [research].

 

After a while shaykh Ahmad Shakir said to shaykh Swane’ee: ‘I want to see shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yahya al-Mu’allimi.’

So shaykh Swane’ee said to him: ‘ The one who brought tea and water; is  al-Mu’allimi.’

 

And thus it was’nt except for moments; and Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir started to cry.”

 

May Allaah have mercy on them all.