In the name of Allah most
gracious most merciful
Assalaamu alykum wa
rahmatuallahi wa barakatahu
Brief Biographies of the
Eminent Scholars of Hadeeth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. AHMAD (Ibn Hanbal):
He is Abu 'Abdullah, Abmad bin
Muhammad bin Hanbal Ash-Shaibani, known by the name Ibn Hanbal. He was a
celebrated theologian, jurist and a Hadeeth scholar. He is also one of the four
Fiqh Imam. Imaam Ahmad was born at Baghdad in Rabi'-ul-Awwal, 164 H. He studied
the Hadeeth and
Fiqh together with other
Islaamic disciplines in Baghdad, then travelled to Ash-Sham and Hijaz for
further studies. He was persecuted during the rule of Al-Ma'mun bin Harun
Ar-Rashid for refusing to acknowledge the Bid'aa (innovation) of claiming that
the Qur'aan was the creation of
Allaah * introduced by the Mu'
tazila. He however, stood firm against all the trials and saved the Sunnah from
the innovation of the wretched Mu 'tazila thoughts. He was the mostly persecuted
and most firm one amongst all the Imam. He is most famous for collecting the
Hadeeth of
the Prophet compiled in the
Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, which contain 28 to 29 thousand Hadeeth. It was said
that Ibn Hanbal memorized one million Hadeeth. Ibn Hanbal died in Baghdad on
Friday, 12 Rabi '-ul-Awwal 241 H. * The Creed of the Ahlus-Sunnahh is that the
Qur'aan is the Kalaam or Word of Allaah
2. AL-BUKHARI
, Muhammad bin Isma'il: He is
the Amir-ul-Mu 'mimn in the knowledge of Hadeeth, and his full name is Abu
'Abdullah, Muhammad bin Isma'il bin Ibrahim bin Al-Mughira bin Bardizbah
Al-Ju'fi Al-Bukhari. He was born in Shawwal 194 H. In Bukhara in what is now
Uzbekistan.
Al-Bukhari studied Hadeeth at
an early age and travelled widely over the Muslim world collecting Hadeeth and
compiled the most authentic ones in his book Al-Jami 'As-Sahih, which later
became known as As-Sahih Al-Bukhari and contains 2602 Hadeeth which he selected
from the
thousands of Hadeeth that he
had memorized. Al-Bukhari studied under famous Hadeeth Imam like Malik bin Anas
and Yahya bin Ma'in. He died in Samarqand, the present day capital of
Uzbekistan Nowadays, the capital is Tashkent. , the night of 'Eid-ul-Fitr, 256
H. Al-Bukhari was unique
in the science of the
methodology of Hadeeth and his book Al-Ja'mi 'As-Sahih is considered to be the
most authentic book after the Qur'an. Saheeh al-Bukhari has been translated to
English and is easily
available.
3. MUSLIM bin Hajjaj:
Muslim's full name is Muslim
bin Al-Hajjaj Al-Qushairi An-Nishapuri. He was born in 204 H., in the city of
Nishapur near the city of Mashhad in present Iran. Muslim is considered second
only to Al-Bukhari in the science of
the methodology of Hadeeth. He started the study of Hadeeth
at an early age and travelled
to 'Iraq, Hijaz, Ash-Sham and Egypt and studied under the scholars of Hadeeth
at that time like Al-Bukhari, Ahmad bin Hanbal and Ibn Abee Shaiba. He also
taught the famous Hadeeth scholars like At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Abu Haatim. Muslim
compiled the
Hadeeth book Al-Musnad
As-Sahih, which became known as Sahih Muslim. This book, which is considered by
the Muslim 'Ulama as the second most authentic Hadeeth book after Al-Bukhari,
contains 9,200 Hadeeth. Imam Muslim died at his birthplace in Rajab 261 H.
Saheeh al-Muslim has been translated to English.
4. ABU DA'UD, Sulaiman bin
Al-Ash'ath:
Abu Da'ud, Sulaiman bin
Al-Ash'ath bin Ishaq Al-Azdi As-Sijistani, who was one of the eminent Imam of Hadeeth,
was born in 202H. He studied Hadeeth under Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal along with
Al-Bukhari and taught many of the later scholars
of Hadeeth, like At-Tirmidhi
and An-Nasaa'ee. Though Abu Da' ud collected 5,00,000 Hadeeth, he compiled
4,800 Hadeeth only in his book entitled As-Sunan, which he taught in Baghdad
and other major cities at that time. He died at Basra on Friday in the month of
Shawwal 275 H. Sunan Abu Dawood has been translated to English.
5. AT-TIRMIDHEE, Abu 'Iesa
Muhammad bin 'Iesa:
Abu 'Iesa, Muhammad bin 'lesa bin Sura t-Tirmidhee was born in 209 H. In a town called Tirmiz in
Uzbekistan near the northern border of Afghanistan. He was a student of
Al-Bukhari, and compiled 4,000 Hadeeth in his book called Al-Jami
which later came to be known
as Sunan At-Tirmidhi. He also contributed tremendously to the methodology of
Hadeeth and composed a book on it called Al-'Ilal (the discrepancies). He was
famous for his piousness. He became blind and finally died on 13 Rajab 279H. An
abriged version of
Sunan at-Tirmidhi is available
in English in the Alim computer software CD.
6. AN-NASA'I, Abu
'Abdur-Rahman Ahmad bin Shu'aib:
Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, Ahmad bin
'Ali bin Shuiaib bin 'Ali Al-Hafiz was born in 215H. In Nisa',a city in
Khurasan. He became famous for the study of the methodology of Hadeeth,
memorizing and mastering it. His book known as Sunan An-Nasa'ee is third to
Sahih Al-Bukhari in terms of containing the least weak Hadeeth. He lived in
Egypt then moved to Damascus in Syria and died in Makkah in the year 303 H.
7. IBN MAJAH, Muhammad bin
Yazid:
Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammad bin
Yazid bin Majah Al-Qizwini was born in 207H. He studied under Imam Malik and
others, and many people narrated Hadeeth from him. He was one of the eminent
scholars of Hadeeth,but his Sunan contains many weak and even Munkar Hadeeth.
Ibn Majah died in Ramadan in
273H. Sunan Ibn Majah has been
translated to English, and printed by Kazi Publications, Lahore. Other Hadeeth
Scholars
8. IBN RAHWAIH, Ishaq bin
Ibrahim:
Abu Ya'qub, Ishaq bin Ibrahim
At-Tamimi Al-Hanzali Al-Marwazi was an eminent and great Haafidh, who was a
resident and the 'Aalim of Nishapur. He was also considered as the Sheikh of
the east of his time and was known as Ibn Rahawaih. Imam Ahmad said, “I don't know
an 'Aalim
equal to Ishaq in Iraq. Abu
Zar'a also said, “There was no body so good at memorizing the Hadeeth than
Ishaq.” Abu Hatim also said, “His mastery (of the Hadeeth), accuracy and
accuracy and memorization were very surprising.” Ibn Rahwaih was born in the
year 166 H and died on l5th
Sha'ban 238 H.
9. AL-ISMA'ILI, Ahmad bin
Ibrahim:
Abu Bakr, Ahmad bin Ibrahim bin Isma'il bin Al-'Abbas Al-Isma'ili
Al-Jurjani was born in 277 H. He was considered as an Imam and a Hafidh, and was
given the title Sheikh-ul-lslam due to his wide knowledge and because he was
the leader
of the Shafi'ees in his
region.
10. AL-BAZZAR, Ahmad bin 'Amr:
Abu Bakr, Ahmad bin 'Amr bin
'Abdul-Khaliq Al-Basri was one of the eminent and learned Hadeeth scholars who
had attained the rank of Hafidh in the memorization of
Hadeeth. He authored two books
on Hadeeth which are Al-Musnad Al-Kabir and Al-'Ilal. He studied under
At-Tabarani and others. Al-Bazzar died in 292 H.
11. AL-BAIHAQI, Ahmad bin
Al-Husain:
Abu Bakr, Ahmad bin Al-Husain
was born in Sha'ban in the year 374H. He was considered a learned Hafidh among
the eminent Imams of Hadeeth and a jurisprudence scholar in the Shafi'ee
Madhhab. He wrote many books like As-Sunan Al-Kubra and As-Sunan As-Sughra.
Adh-Dhahabi said, “His books
exceed one thousand volumes.”
Al-Baihaq, which he is named after, is a town near Nishapur. Al-Baihaqi died in
458 H.
12. ABU HATIM AR-RAZI,
Muhammad bin Idris:
Abu Hatim, Muhammad bin Idris
bin Al-Mundhir Al-Hanzali Ar-Razi was born in the year 195 H. He was an eminent
Hafidh and an Imam and one of the prominent scholars who excelled in the
methodology of Hadeeth. He was also one of the most respected scholars in the
knowledge Al-Jarh wat-Ta'dil (verifying the reliability and unreliability of
the narrators of the Hadeeth).
13. IBN AL-JARUD, 'Abdullah
bin 'Ali:
Abu Muhammad, 'Abdullah bin 'Ali bin Al-Jarud An-Nishapuri,who
lived near Makkah, was an Imam and a Hafidh who was among those 'Ulama who
mastered the recitation of the Qur'an. He authored Al-Muntaqa fil-Ahkam and was
among the pious
scholars of his time. Ibn
Al-Jarud died in 307 H.
14. AL-HARITH bin Abu Usama:
Imam Abu Muhammad, Al-Harith
bin Abu Usama Muhammad bin Dahir At-Tamimi Al-Baghdadi was a Hafidh and authored
Al-Musnad which he did not arrange. Ibrahim Al-Harbi and Abu Hatim verified him
as reliable, and Ad-Daraqutni said, “He is truthful.” Al-Harith was born in 186
H. And died on the day of 'Arafa 282 H.
15. AL-HAKIM, Abu Abdullah:
Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammed
'Abdullah An-Nishapuri Al-Hakim known as Ibn Al-Baiyi' was born in 321H. He was
a celebrated Imam in the verification of Hadeeth. He authored Al-Mustadrak in
the methodology of Hadeeth. It is said that he studied under one thousand
professors and authored many
valuable books. Al-Hakim was
pious and religious. He died in Safar 405 H.
16. IBN HIBBAN, Abu Hatim Ibn
Hibban:
Abu Hatim, Muhammad bin Hibban
bin Ahmad bin Hibban Al-Busti was born in Bust in Sijistan. He was one of the celebrities
in the knowledge of Hadeeth, pious, Faqih, learned and one of the students of
Ibn Khuzaimah. He died in Samarqand in 354 H., while in his eighties.
17. IBN KHUZAIMA, Muhammad bin
Ishaq:
Ibn Khuzaima, Muhammad bin
Ishaq was born in 223 H. In Nishapur. He was considered as a Sheikh-ul-lslam
(the most learned 'Aalim of Islam) and one of the eminent and senior Hafidh. He
was the Imam and Hafidh of Khurasan during his time. He also authored more than
140 books. Ibn
Khuzaima died in Nishapur in
311 H.
18. IBN ABU KHAYTHAMA:
Abu Bakr, Ahmad bin Abu
Khaythama Zuhair bin Harb An-Nasa'I Al-Baghdadi was a celebrated Imam, Hafidh
and an authority. He authored At-Tarikh Al-Kabir. Ad-Daraqutni said about him, “He was reliable and
trustworthy.” Al-Khatib also said, “He was reliable 'Aalim (learned), accurate
Hafidh, knowledgeable in the history of people, and the narration of poetry.”
He studied Hadeeth under Ahmad bin Hanbal and Ibn Ma'in. Ibn Abu Khaythama died
in Jumada-ul-Ula 289 H., at the age of 94
years.
19. AD-DARAQUTNI, 'Ali bin
Umar:
Abul-Hasan, 'Ali bin 'Umar bin Ahmad bin Mahdi Al-Baghdadi. He was
nicknamed after a big store called Dar Al-Qutn in Baghdad. He was a great
Hafidh and a unique Imam who was born in the year 306 H. He was the authority
in the methodology of Hadeeth,
the knowledge of the
weaknesses of the Hadeeth narrations and names of the Hadeeth narrators of his
time. Ad-Daraqutni died on 8th Dhul-Qa'da 385 H.
20. AD-DARIMI, 'Abdullah bin
'Abdur-Rahman:
Abu Muhamrnad, 'Abdullah bin
'Abdur-Rahmnan bin Al-Fadl bin Bahram At-Tamimi Ad-Darimi As-Samarqandi was
born in the year 181 H. He was a celebrated Imam, Hafidh and Sheikh-ul-Islam of
Samarqand and the author of Al-Musnad Al- 'Aali. He heard Hadeeth at
Al-Haramain, Khurasan, Ash-Sham, Iraq and Egypt. Muslim, Abu Da'ud,
At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and others transmitted Hadeeth from him. He was
described to be very intelligent and very virtuous and was considered to be an
exemplary person in piousness, patience,
hardwork, worship and abstinence.
Ad-Darimi died on 8th Dhul-Hijja 255H.
21. ABU DA'UD, Sulaiman bin
Da'ud At-Tayalisi:
Sulaiman bin Da'ud bin
Al-Jarud Al-Basri was a Persianby origin and the freed slave of Az-Zubair. He
was a great Hafidh and one of the eminent 'Ulama. Al-Qallas and Ibn Al-Madini
both said about him, “I have not seen someone who is more versed with the
Hadeeth more than him.” Ibn Mahdi said, “He is a most truthful person.” He
recorded Hadeeth from more than one thousand scholars. Abu Da'ud died in the
year 204 H.
22. IBN ABU AD-DUNYA,
'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin 'Ubaid:
Abu Bakr, 'Abdullah bin
Muhammad bin 'Ubaid bin Sufyan bin Abu Ad-Dunya Al-Qurashi Al-Baghdadi, the
freed slave of Banu Umaiya, was born in 208 H. He was a Muhaddith and truthful 'Aalim.
He wrote some books and educated more
than one of the caliphs' sons
like Al-Mu'tadid. Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya died in Jumada Al-Ula, 281 H.
23. ADH-DHUHLI, Muhammad bin
Yahya:
Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammad bin
Yahya bin 'Abdullah bin Khalid bin Faris, the freed slave of Banu Dhuhl was
born in 170 of the Hijra. He was a Sheikh-ul-lslam and Amir-ul-Mu'minin in the
knowledge of Hadeeth and theHafidh of Nishapur. He acquired Hadeeth from many
professors in
Al-Haramain, Ash-Sham, Egypt,
Iraq, Ar-Ray, Khurasan, Yemen and Al-Jazira and became very competent in this
field and became the authority of knowledge in Khurasan. Ahmad said, “I never
saw someone who knows the Hadeeth of Az-Zuhri from Muhammad bin Yahya than
Adh-Dhuhli.
He died in Rabl '-ul-Awwal,
258H.
24. ABU ZUR'A AR-RAZI,
'Ubaidullah bin Abdul-Karim:
'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdul-Karim bin Yazid bin Faroukh, Abu Zur'a
Ar-Razi Al-Qurashi by clientship was a Hafidh and an eminent scholar of the
Hadeeth. He was also considered among the Imam of 'Al-Jarh wat-Ta'dil (the
critical
study of the Hadeeth
narrators). Muslim, At-Tirmi&i, An-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and others narrated
Hadeeth from him. Adh-Dhahabi said, “Many people heard Hadeeth from him in Al-Haramain, 'Iraq, Ash-Sham,
Al-Jazira, Khurasan, and Egypt.” He was also well acclaimed for his
memorization, brightness, piousness, sincerity, knowledge and the good
application of his knowledge. Abu Zur'a Ar-Razi died towards the end of 264 H.
At the age of 64 years.
25. IBN AS-SAKAN, Sa'id bin
'Uthman:
Abu 'Ali Sa'id bin As-Sakan
Al-Baghdadi was born in 294 H. He was a celebrated Hafidh and an authoritative
Imam. He paid much attention to the study of Hadeeth, and collected and wrote
books on Hadeeth, thus becoming very famous in this
field. Ibn As-Sakan died in
the year 353 H.
26. SA'ID bin Mansur:
Sa'id bin Mansur bin Shu'ba
Al-Marwazi or At-Taliqani then Al-Balkhi lived near Makkah. He authored the
book As-Sunan. Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal praised him immensely. Harb Al-Karmani
said, “He (Saiid) dictated to me about ten thousand Hadeeth from his memory.”
Sa'id bin Mansur died in Makkah in Ramadan 227 H, while in his nineties.
27. ASH-SHAFI'EE, Muhammad bin
Idris:
Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammad bin
ldris bin AI-'Abbas bin 'Uthman bin Shafi'ee bin As-Sa'ib bin 'Ubaid bin 'Abd
Yazid bin Hashim bin 'Abdul-Muttalib bin 'Abd Manaf Al-Qurashi Al-Makki was
born in 150 H. in Ghaza and was taken to Makkah while a baby. He
lived in Egypt where he died
in 204 H. He was considered to be one of the most learned persons amongst the Muslim
Ummah, unique, learned and the founder of the science of Usul Al-Fiqh (the
principles of jurisprudence). His grandfather Shafi'i was a Sahabi who met the
Prophet
while a growing up boy. Imaam
Shafi'ee's book, ar-Risaala on Usool al-Fiqh has been translated to English
(Islaamic Texts Society - UK, 1961) and is available with us for reference.
28. IBN ABEE SHAIBA, Abu Bakr:
Abu Bakr 'Abdullah bin
Muhammad bin Abee Shaiba Ibrahim bin 'Uthman bin Hawasi Al-'Ansi (by
clientship) was a unique Hafidh. He authored Al-Musnad wal-Musannaf and other
books. He was a leader in the knowledge of Hadeeth and Abu Zur'a, Al-Bukhari,
Muslim, Abu Da'ud and Khalaf
narrated it from him. Abu Bakr
died in Muharram, 235 H.
29. AT-TABARANI, Sulaimman bin
Ahmad:
Abul-Qasim, Sulaiman bin Ahmad
bin Ayub bin Mutair Al-Lakhmi At-Tabarani was born in 260 H. in Tabariya
As-Sham. He was an authoritative Imam and narrated Hadeeth from more than one
thousand scholars. He left Ash-Sham to acquire the knowledge of Hadeeth and
spent thirty-three years of travelling in its pursuance. He authored many
interesting and amusing books, among them are Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir, Al-Mu'jam
Al-Awsat, and Al-Mu'jam As-Saghir.
At-Tabarani lived in Asfahan
and died there on 27th Dhul-Qa'da, 360 H.
30. AT-TAHAWI, Ahmad bin
Muhammad:
Abu Ja'far, Ahmad bin Muhammad
Salama bin Salama Al-Azdi Al-Misri At-Tahawi Al-Hanafi was born in the year 228
H. or 227 H. He was nicknamed after a village called Taha in Egypt. He was a
follower of the Shafi'ee Madhaab (school of jurisprudence) and a student of
Al-Muzni,
his nephew until the latter
one day told him, “By Allah, you will never became anything.” At-Tahawi then
became angry and moved to Abu 'Imran Al-Hanafi and not only became a Hanafi (a
follower of the Hanaf Madhhab) but very enthusiastic in proving the Hanafi
Madhhab by strengthening the
reports, adducing the Hadeeth
weakened by the others as evidence to support his Madhhab. Al-Baihaqi also said
that he used to weaken the unfavourable Hadeeth to his Madhhab through methods
not approved of by the scholars of the Hadeeth. Among his most famous books is
Sharh Ma'ani
Al-Athar. At-Tahawi died in
the beginning of Dhul-Qa'da,321 H.
31. IBN 'ABDUL-BARR , Yusuf
bin 'Abdullah:
Abu 'Umar, Yusuf bin 'Abdullah bin Muhammad bin 'Abdul-Barr bin
'Asim An-Namari Al-Qurtubi was born in Rabi'-uth-Thani, 368 H. He was a
celebrated learned Imam and was the Sheikh-ul-lslam and Hafidh of Al-Maghrib
(North West Africa). He was
considered as the master of
his time in the memorization and accurate rendering of the Hadeeth. He was also
skilled in the science of genealogy and history. Ibn Hazm said, “I cannot talk
about the knowledge of the Hadeeth like 'Abdul-Barr, so how can I do better
than him?” He
has authored many books, the
most famous of which is Al-Isti'ab. Ibn 'Abdul-Barr died on a Friday in
Rabi'-uth-Thani, 463 H. At the age of 95 years.
32. 'ABDUL-HAQ bin
'Abdur-Rahman:
Abu Muhammad, 'Abdul-Haq bin 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Abdullah bin
Husain bin Sa' id Al-Azdi Al-Ishbili was born in 510 H. He was a Hafidh and an
authority in the knowledge of Hadeeth. He resided in Bijaya in Spain where he
spread his knowledge and
authored books. He was famous
and a celebrated 'Aalim and was appointed as the Khatib of Bijaya. He was a Faqih
and knowledgeable in the methodology of the Hadeeth, its weak ones and the
history of the Hadeeth narrators. He was also described to be virtuous, pious
and a strictfollower of the Sunnah. He also took interest in the arts and
recited poetry. 'Abdul-Haq died in Bijaya in Rabi'-uth-Thani, 581 H.
33. 'ABDUR-RAZZAQ bin Humam:
Abu Bakr, 'Abdur-Razzaq bin Humam bin Nafi' Al-Himyari (by
clientship) As-San'ani was considered as one of the strongholds of
knowledge.Ahmad, Ishaq, Ibn Ma'in and Adh-Dhuhli narrated Hadeeth from him. He
became blind in his old age and became senile.
'Abdur-Razzaq died in 211 H.
At the age of 85 years.
34. IBN 'ADI, 'Abdullah:
Abu Ahmad, 'Abdullah bin 'Adi Al-Jurjani was born in 279 H.He was
a famous Imam, an eminent Hafidh and one of the celebrated 'Ulama. He was
also nicknamed Ibn Al-Qisar. Ibn 'Adi
died in Jumada-ul-Akhir, 365 H.
35. AL-'AQILI, Muhammad bin
'Amr:
Abu Ja'far, Muhammad bin 'Amr bin Musa bin Hamad Al-'Aqili was a
Hafidh, an Imam and the author of Kitab
Ad-Du'afa' Al-Kabir. He was a celebrated scholar, and the author of many
books. Al-'Aqili lived in Al-Haramain and died in 322 H.
36. 'ALI bin Al-Madini:
Abul-Hasan, 'Ali bin 'Abdullah
bin Ja'far bin Najih As-Sa'di by clientship - Al-Madini was born in 161 H. And
was considered as the most knowledgeable person regarding the Hadeeth of the
Prophet and Al-Bukhari said in this context, “I never belittled myself
before anyone else except
before 'Ali Al-Madini.” He was considered to be the Imam of Al-Jarh wat-Ta'dil,
the Hafidh of his time and the exemplary of Ahl Al-Hadeeth (the scholars of the
Hadeeth). 'Ali Al-Madini died at Samira in present Iraq at a place called
Katibata Al-Qa'qa in the year 234 H.
37. IBN AL-QATTAN, 'Ali bin
Muhammad:
Abul-Hasan, 'Ali bin Muhammad
bin'Abdul-Malik Al-Fasi was born in Qurtuba in Spain in 562 H. And lived in Fas
in Morocco. He was a Hafidh, an Imam and a learned critic of the Hadeeth
methodology. Moreover, he was more knowledgeable about the
Hadeeth methodology and the
mastery of the names and history of the narrators of the Hadeeth than anyone
else of his time. He also authored many books and died in Rabi'-ul-Awwal, 628
H.
38. IMAM MALIK, Malik bin
Anas:
Abu 'Abdullah, Malik bin Anas
bin Malik bin Abu 'Aamir AI-Asbahi (Dhi Asbah, his ninth grandfather was from
one of the noblest tribes of Yemen) was born in 93 H. or 94 H. He was the Imam
of Dar Al-Hijra (Al-Madina), the Faqih of the Ummah and the leader of Ahl
al-Hadeeth. He
studied under more than nine
hundred professors and a large number of people learnt from him, among them
being Imam Ash-Shafi'ee. The Muwatta of Imaam Malik has been translated to
English.
39. IBN MANDA, Muhammad bin
Ishaq:
Abu 'Abdullah, Muhammad bin Ishaq
bin Muhammad bin Yahya bin Manda was born in 310 H. And was a Hafidh, an Imam
and a traveller. He was also one of the eminent scholars, who mastered many
Hadeeth. It is said that he travelled all over the Muslim world of his time and
returned with
about forty loads of books and
his teachers were one thousand seven hundred. Ibn Manda died in Dhul-Hijja
395H.
40. ABU NU'AIM, Al-Asfahani:
Ahmad bin 'Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Ishaq bin Musa bin Mahran
Al-Asfahani was born in Rajab 334 H. He was a famous Hafidh, one of the eminent Muhaddithin and one of the great
Huffaz. He studied under the celebrated scholars and himself taught many
virtuous
'Ulama. He authored many
books, among them Al-Mustakhraj 'Ala Al-Bukhari, and Al-Mustakhraj 'Ala Muslim
and Huliyat-ul-Awliya, which is one of the best books. It is said that when he
took it to Nishapur, it sold for four hundred Dinar. Al-Asfahani died in Safar
or 20th Muharram, 430 H. at-Asfahan.
41. ABU YA'LA, Ahmad bin 'Ali:
Al-Hafiz Ahmad bin 'Ali bin Al-Muthanna bin Yahya bin 'Iesa bin
Hilal At-Tamimi was born in Shawwal, 210 H.He authored AI-Musnad AI-Kabir and
was considered as the Muhaddith of Al-Jazira. He was truthful, trustworthy,
tolerant and religious. As-Sam'ani said, “I heard Ismaiil bin Muhammad bin Al-Fadl
Al-Hafiz say: 'I read the Musnad of Al-'Adani, the Musnad of Ibn Mani'' and
other Masanid, which are like rivers, but the Musnad of Abu Ya'la is like the
sea into which all the rivers
flow'.” Abu Ya'la died in the year 307 H.
Allah knows best.