T h e G a r d e n o f t h e H a d i t h S c h o l a r s

T h e G a r d e n o f t h e H a d i t h S c h o l a r s

C l a r i f i c a t i o n o f t h e B o o k s o f

H a d i t h a n d t h e i r S p l e n d i d A u t h o r s

By the Im¥m and ^adÏth scholar,

¢Abd al-¢AzÏz ibn Im¥m WalÏ All¥h ad-DihlawÏ

(1159 AH - 1239 AH)

Translated from Persian to Arabic

and annotated by

Mu^ammad Akram an-NadwÏ

Translated from Arabic to English by

Aisha Bewley

Turath Publishing

Copyright: 1428/2007, Turath Publishing

Published by: Turath Publishing 79 Mitcham Road Tooting London SW19 9PD +44-20-8767-3666 www.turathpublishing.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission of the publishers.

By: ¢Abd al-¢AzÏz ad-DihlawÏGeneral Editors: Ya^y¥ and Safi ra BathaTranslation from Persian to Arabic: Mu^ammad Akram an-NadwÏfrom Arabic to English: Aisha Bewley Edited by: Abdassamad Clarke

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data ad-DihlawÏ, ¢Abd al-¢AzÏz The Garden of the Hadith Scholars I. Title

ISBN 0-9547380-4-7

Book Design: Bookwright

Printed by: Megaprinters, Istanbul, Turkey. ahmet@mega.com.tr

Distributors for UK and Europe: Azhar Academy 54-56 Little Ilford Lane Manor Park London E12 5QA ++44-208-891 19797 sales@azharacademy.com www.azharacademy.comDistributors for South Africa : Darul – Ihsan research and education centre www.direct.za.org info@direct.za.org +27-835 939599Distributors for America and Canada: Whitethread Press www.whitethreadpress.com ar@whitethreadpress.com +1-(805) 968 4666

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P u b l i s h e r ’ s D e d i c a t i o nFor my beloved wife Safira

without whose help and encouragement this would not be possible.

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C o n t e n t sPublisher’s Preface …………………………………………………… xxvA Note to the English edition ………………………………………… xxviForeword by Abu’l-±asan ¢AlÏ al-±asanÏ an-NadwÏ …………………… 1Preface …………………………………………………………………… 3Hadith in the period when they were collected ……………………… 3Some of those who were famous for compilations of hadith ………… 5Biography of the author ………………………………………………… 6His birth …………………………………………………………………… 6His quest for knowledge ………………………………………………… 6His students ……………………………………………………………… 7His excellence …………………………………………………………… 8His books ………………………………………………………………… 9Bust¥n al-Mu^addithÏn ……………………………………………………10The order of the book in the Persian original …………………………11His death …………………………………………………………………11His isn¥d in hadith ………………………………………………………12The isn¥ds concerned with the book ……………………………………12My work on this book ……………………………………………………13

Opening of the Book ……………………………………………………15

Books of the Four Imams ………………………………………………17The Muwa~~a’ of Im¥m M¥lik ……………………………………………19M¥lik’s lineage ……………………………………………………………19His birth ……………………………………………………………………20His death …………………………………………………………………21His description ……………………………………………………………21His knowledge and fi qh …………………………………………………23

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His gathering and his relating hadith to people ………………………24His respect for the noble hadith of the Prophet @ ……………………25His position and venerableness …………………………………………25His position on new things and innovations ……………………………26His statements about knowledge ………………………………………26His respect for MadÏnah …………………………………………………27His writing the Muwa~~a’ …………………………………………………27Dreams about M¥lik ………………………………………………………27M¥lik and innovating heretics (zindÏqs) …………………………………28The Muwa~~a’ and its hadith ……………………………………………29Verses in praise of the Muwa~~a’ …………………………………………30

TRANSMISSIONS OF THE MUWA>>A’ ………………………………31The First Transmission ……………………………………………………31Ya^y¥’s Lineage ……………………………………………………………32His ancestors becoming Muslim and going to Andalusia ……………32Ya^y¥’s listening and his journey in quest of knowledge ………………32Ya^y¥’s excellence and eminence ………………………………………33His standing with the amirs ………………………………………………34The reason for the spread of M¥lik’s school in Andalusia ……………35His following M¥lik and adhering to his School ………………………36His witnessing the fi nal days of M¥lik …………………………………36The death of Ya^y¥ ibn Ya^y¥ ……………………………………………38Ziy¥d ibn ¢Abd ar-Ra^m¥n ………………………………………………38Ziy¥d’s lineage ……………………………………………………………38His journey to M¥lik and spreading his school in Andalusia …………38His scrupulousness and forgoing the post of q¥\Ï ……………………38Ziy¥d’s behaviour with kings ……………………………………………38Ziy¥d’s death ………………………………………………………………39Second Transmission ………………………………………………………39The lineage of ¢Abdull¥h ibn Wahb ……………………………………39His birth ……………………………………………………………………39His seeking knowledge and his journeying ……………………………39The transmission of his shaykhs from him ……………………………40His excellence and position in knowledge ……………………………41A report concerning him and a beggar …………………………………42His scrupulousness and doing-without …………………………………43His death …………………………………………………………………43His books …………………………………………………………………43The Third Transmission ……………………………………………………43His lineage and birth ……………………………………………………44His shaykhs ………………………………………………………………44His reading to M¥lik ………………………………………………………46The virtues of al-Qa¢nabÏ …………………………………………………46The Fourth Transmission ……………………………………………………46

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His Lineage ………………………………………………………………47His birth ……………………………………………………………………47His fi qh ……………………………………………………………………47The beginning of his quest for knowledge ……………………………48His excellence, worship and scrupulousness ……………………………48His death …………………………………………………………………49The Fifth Transmission ……………………………………………………49His lineage …………………………………………………………………50His position with M¥lik …………………………………………………50His death …………………………………………………………………50Sixth Transmission …………………………………………………………50His lineage …………………………………………………………………51His excellence ……………………………………………………………51Seventh Transmission ………………………………………………………51His lineage …………………………………………………………………52His trustworthiness and integrity ………………………………………52His death …………………………………………………………………52Eighth Transmission ………………………………………………………52His lineage …………………………………………………………………53His listening and excellence ……………………………………………53His birth and death ………………………………………………………53Ninth Transmission …………………………………………………………53His lineage …………………………………………………………………53His birth and quest for knowledge ………………………………………53His transmission of the Muwa~~a’ ………………………………………54His excellence ……………………………………………………………54His death …………………………………………………………………54Tenth Transmission …………………………………………………………54Eleventh Transmission ………………………………………………………54Twelfth Transmission ………………………………………………………55The lineage of al-Gh¥fi qÏ …………………………………………………55His listening ………………………………………………………………56His excellence ……………………………………………………………56His books …………………………………………………………………56His death …………………………………………………………………56Note ………………………………………………………………………56Thirteenth Transmission ……………………………………………………56Fourteenth Transmission ……………………………………………………57His lineage …………………………………………………………………57His death …………………………………………………………………57What hadith scholars said about him ……………………………………57Fifteenth Transmission ………………………………………………………58His lineage …………………………………………………………………58The opinions of the hadith scholars ……………………………………58His death …………………………………………………………………59

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Sixteenth Transmission ……………………………………………………59Commentaries and notes on the Muwa~~a’ ……………………………61Important Point …………………………………………………………62The Musnad of the Greatest Im¥m Ab‰ ±anÏfah & ……………………63The Musnad of Im¥m ash-Sh¥fi ¢Ï & ……………………………………66The Musnad of Imam Ahmad ibn ±anbal ………………………………68Sections of the Musnad …………………………………………………69Composition and arrangement of the Musnad …………………………69Identifi cation of the lineage of al-Qa~Ï¢Ï ………………………………69The books of A^mad ibn ±anbal ………………………………………70The number of the hadith of the Musnad ………………………………70

The Six Primary Sources …………………………………………………73The al-J¥mi¢ a|-ßa^Ï^ by al-Bukh¥rÏ ………………………………………74His lineage …………………………………………………………………74His birth ……………………………………………………………………74The beginning of his affair ………………………………………………74Writing ……………………………………………………………………75His composing his collection, al-J¥mi¢ …………………………………76His trial ……………………………………………………………………77Al-J¥mi¢ a|-ßa^Ï^ by Im¥m Muslim ………………………………………80His lineage …………………………………………………………………80His books …………………………………………………………………80The birth and death of Muslim …………………………………………82The Sunan by Ab‰ D¥w‰d ………………………………………………83The lineage of Ab‰ D¥w‰d ………………………………………………84The error of Ibn Khallik¥n ………………………………………………84His birth ……………………………………………………………………84His journey and seeking knowledge ……………………………………84His death …………………………………………………………………88Al-J¥mi¢ a|-ßa^Ï^ by at-TirmidhÏ …………………………………………89His lineage …………………………………………………………………89Praise for his collection …………………………………………………90His death …………………………………………………………………91Using Ab‰ ¢¬s¥ as a kunyah ………………………………………………91As-Sunan a|-ßughr¥ by an-Nas¥’Ï …………………………………………92His lineage …………………………………………………………………92His birth ……………………………………………………………………93His journey and listening …………………………………………………93The Sunan of Ibn M¥jah …………………………………………………95His lineage …………………………………………………………………95His birth ……………………………………………………………………96His journey and quest for knowledge …………………………………96His death …………………………………………………………………97

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ßa^Ï^ Collections …………………………………………………………99A|-ßa^Ï^ by Ibn Khuzaymah. ………………………………………… 101His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 101A|-ßa^Ï^ by Ibn ±ibb¥n ……………………………………………… 102The lineage of Ibn ±ibb¥n …………………………………………… 103His listening to scholars and travel …………………………………… 103The trial of Ibn ±ibb¥n ……………………………………………… 104His death ……………………………………………………………… 104His books ……………………………………………………………… 104A|-ßa^Ï^ by Ab‰ ¢Aw¥nah ……………………………………………… 105Defi nition of Mustakhraj ……………………………………………… 105Al-Muntaq¥ by adh-Dhahab¬ ………………………………………… 105The beginning of the ßa^Ï^ of Ibn ¢Aw¥nah ………………………… 105His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 106His journey …………………………………………………………… 107His school ……………………………………………………………… 107His listening …………………………………………………………… 107His death ……………………………………………………………… 108A|-ßa^Ï^ by al-Ism¥¢ÏlÏ ………………………………………………… 109Defi nition of ¢aw¥lÏ …………………………………………………… 109His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 110His birth ………………………………………………………………… 110His yearning to travel and seek knowledge ………………………… 110His listening …………………………………………………………… 110His excellence ………………………………………………………… 111Kit¥b al-Mustakhraj ¢al¥ ßa^Ï^ Muslim by Ab‰ Nu¢aym al-A|bah¥nÏ … 112His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 112His birth ………………………………………………………………… 112His Ij¥zahs in hadith …………………………………………………… 112His listening to hadith ………………………………………………… 113Transmitting hadith and teaching …………………………………… 114His composing ±ilyat al-awliy¥’ ……………………………………… 115His grandfather becoming Muslim ………………………………… 115His books ……………………………………………………………… 115His death ……………………………………………………………… 116Kit¥b al-Muntaq¥ by Ibn al-J¥r‰d ……………………………………… 117A|-ßa^Ï^ (al-Mustadrak) by al-±¥kim ………………………………… 118The attribution of being a Shi‘ite to al-±¥kim ……………………… 118The standing of his book ……………………………………………… 119The excellence of al-±¥kim …………………………………………… 119The books of al-±¥kim ………………………………………………… 120His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 120His birth ………………………………………………………………… 120His seeking knowledge and travel …………………………………… 120His listening …………………………………………………………… 120

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Al-±¥kim’s students …………………………………………………… 121His being called “al-±¥kim (the judge)” …………………………… 121His death ……………………………………………………………… 122Al-Mustadrak …………………………………………………………… 122

Musannaf, Sunan and Ahkam Collections …………………………… 123Al-Mu|annaf by ¢Abd ar-Razz¥q ……………………………………… 125His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 125His transmission ……………………………………………………… 125Those who related from him ………………………………………… 126His connection to Ma¢mar …………………………………………… 126His Shi‘ite inclinations ………………………………………………… 126His death ……………………………………………………………… 126Al-Mu|annaf by Ab‰ Bakr ibn AbÏ Shaybah ………………………… 127His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 127Identifying his lineage ………………………………………………… 127His books ……………………………………………………………… 127His listening …………………………………………………………… 128Those who related from him ………………………………………… 128His position in knowledge …………………………………………… 128His death ……………………………………………………………… 128As-Sunan by Sa¢Ïd ibn Man|‰r ………………………………………… 129His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 130His listening to Hadith ………………………………………………… 130His students …………………………………………………………… 130Testimonial on his behalf …………………………………………… 130Al-Musnad by ad-D¥rimÏ ……………………………………………… 131His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 131His students …………………………………………………………… 131His excellence ………………………………………………………… 131His birth ………………………………………………………………… 132His death ……………………………………………………………… 132The transmission of the Musnad ad-D¥rimÏ ………………………… 132As-Sunan by Ab‰ Muslim al-KashshÏ ………………………………… 133His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 133His working on the Sunan …………………………………………… 133His death ……………………………………………………………… 134Kit¥b al-Ishr¥f fÏ Mas¥’il al-Khil¥f by Ibn al-Mundhir ………………… 135His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 135His books ……………………………………………………………… 136His position in knowledge and ijtih¥d ……………………………… 136His listening …………………………………………………………… 136His students …………………………………………………………… 137His death ……………………………………………………………… 137Shar^ Ma¢¥nÏ al-®th¥r by a~->a^¥wÏ …………………………………… 138

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His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 139His listening to scholars ……………………………………………… 139His students …………………………………………………………… 139His birth ………………………………………………………………… 139His books ……………………………………………………………… 140His death ……………………………………………………………… 140Al-Am¥lÏ by al-Mu^¥milÏ ……………………………………………… 141His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 141His birth ………………………………………………………………… 141His listening to scholars ……………………………………………… 141His students …………………………………………………………… 142His death ……………………………………………………………… 143As-Sunan by ad-D¥raqu~nÏ …………………………………………… 144The differences in transmissions …………………………………… 144The preface of the book ……………………………………………… 144His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 145His birth ………………………………………………………………… 145His listening …………………………………………………………… 145His journey …………………………………………………………… 146His students …………………………………………………………… 146His position in knowledge …………………………………………… 146His memory and precision …………………………………………… 146Some of his uncommon qualities …………………………………… 147His death ……………………………………………………………… 147As-Sunan al-Kubr¥ by al-BayhaqÏ ……………………………………… 149Kit¥b Ma¢rifat as-Sunan wa’l-®th¥r by al-BayhaqÏ …………………… 150His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 151Identifi cation of the lineage of al-BayhaqÏ ………………………… 151His birth ………………………………………………………………… 151His listening and travel ……………………………………………… 151His lack of familiarity with the Sunan ………………………………… 152His books ……………………………………………………………… 152His life ………………………………………………………………… 152His favour to ash-Sh¥fi ¢Ï ……………………………………………… 152His superiority in different types of knowledge …………………… 152Dreams ………………………………………………………………… 153His death ……………………………………………………………… 153Poetry …………………………………………………………………… 153

Musnad Collections …………………………………………………… 155Al-Musnad by Ab‰ D¥w‰d a~->ay¥lisÏ ………………………………… 157His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 157His listening …………………………………………………………… 157His death ……………………………………………………………… 158His accreditation ……………………………………………………… 158

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Al-Musnad by al-±umaydÏ …………………………………………… 160His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 161His students …………………………………………………………… 161The fi rmest of people of Sufy¥n ……………………………………… 161His death ……………………………………………………………… 161Al-Musnad by al-¢AdanÏ ………………………………………………… 162Al-Musnad by ¢Abd ibn ±umayd ibn Na|r al-KassÏ ………………… 163Identifi cation of Kashsh ……………………………………………… 163His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 163His travel and listening ……………………………………………… 163His death ……………………………………………………………… 164His books ……………………………………………………………… 164Al-Musnad by al-Bazz¥r ………………………………………………… 165His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 166The meaning of mu¢allal ……………………………………………… 166His listening …………………………………………………………… 166His journey to disseminate knowledge ……………………………… 167His being declared trustworthy ……………………………………… 167His death ……………………………………………………………… 167Al-Musnad by Ab‰ Ya¢l¥ al-Maw|ulÏ …………………………………… 168Kit¥b al-Jam¢ bayna a|-ßa^Ï^ayn by al-±umaydÏ ……………………… 169His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 169His travel and listening to scholars …………………………………… 169His birth ………………………………………………………………… 169The death of al-±umaydÏ ……………………………………………… 170

Mu¢jam Collections …………………………………………………… 173Al-Musnad by al-±¥rith ibn AbÏ Us¥mah …………………………… 175His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 175His listening …………………………………………………………… 176The opinion of hadith scholars about him ………………………… 176His death ……………………………………………………………… 177Al-Mu¢jam by Ab‰ Ya¢l¥ ………………………………………………… 178His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 178His listening …………………………………………………………… 179His students …………………………………………………………… 179His position …………………………………………………………… 179His birth and death …………………………………………………… 179Al-Mu¢jam by Ibn Q¥ni¢ ……………………………………………… 180His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 180His listening to scholars and his journey …………………………… 180His students …………………………………………………………… 180His birth and death …………………………………………………… 181The three Mu¢jam collections by a~->abar¥nÏ ……………………… 182Defi nition of al-afr¥d …………………………………………………… 182

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His name and lineage ………………………………………………… 183His birth ………………………………………………………………… 183His seeking knowledge and his journey ……………………………… 183His listening …………………………………………………………… 183His enduring hardships ……………………………………………… 185The excellence of a~->abar¥nÏ ………………………………………… 185The extensive narration (riw¥yah) of a~->abar¥nÏ ………………… 186His death ……………………………………………………………… 186Al-Mu¢jam by al-Ism¥¢ÏlÏ ……………………………………………… 187Al-Mu¢jam by Ibn Jumay¢ ……………………………………………… 189His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 189His travel and listening ……………………………………………… 189His students …………………………………………………………… 189His birth ………………………………………………………………… 190His death ……………………………………………………………… 190Al-Mu¢jam by ad-Dimy¥~Ï ……………………………………………… 191His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 191His birth ………………………………………………………………… 191His seeking knowledge and listening ………………………………… 191His death ……………………………………………………………… 193Part of his poetry ……………………………………………………… 193His books ……………………………………………………………… 195

Virtues and Good Manners …………………………………………… 197Kit¥b az-Zuhd wa’r-Riq¥q by ¢Abdull¥h ibn al-Mub¥rak ……………… 199His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 200His father’s story ……………………………………………………… 200His birth ………………………………………………………………… 200His journeys …………………………………………………………… 200His listening …………………………………………………………… 201His students …………………………………………………………… 201His excellence ………………………………………………………… 202His learning fi qh from Ab‰ ±anÏfah and M¥lik …………………… 204His division of his time ………………………………………………… 204Highlights from his words …………………………………………… 204His scrupulousness …………………………………………………… 204His death ……………………………………………………………… 205His generosity ………………………………………………………… 205Kit¥b al-Adab al-Mufrad by Im¥m al-Bukh¥rÏ ………………………… 207Kit¥b ad-Du¢¥’ by Ibn AbÏ’d-Duny¥ …………………………………… 208His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 208His birth ………………………………………………………………… 208His listening …………………………………………………………… 209His students …………………………………………………………… 209His death ……………………………………………………………… 210

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Naw¥dir al-U|‰l by al-±akÏm at-TirmidhÏ …………………………… 211His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 211His transmission ……………………………………………………… 212His students …………………………………………………………… 212His expulsion from Tirmidh ………………………………………… 212Weakness in his books ………………………………………………… 212Some of his statements ………………………………………………… 213Kit¥b al-Mujal¥sah by ad-DÏnawarÏ …………………………………… 214Kit¥b ¢Amal al-Yaym wa’l-Laylah by an-Nas¥’Ï ………………………… 215Kit¥b Kar¥m¥t al-Awliy¥’ by al-Khall¥l ………………………………… 216His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 216His birth ………………………………………………………………… 216His listening …………………………………………………………… 216His students …………………………………………………………… 216His death ……………………………………………………………… 216Kit¥b al-Mi’atayn by a|-ߥb‰nÏ ………………………………………… 218His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 218His birth ………………………………………………………………… 218His listening …………………………………………………………… 218His students …………………………………………………………… 218His excellence ………………………………………………………… 219Ash-Shih¥b fi ’l-Maw¥¢i· wa’l-®d¥b by al-Qu\¥¢Ï ……………………… 221His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 222His listening …………………………………………………………… 222His students …………………………………………………………… 222His books ……………………………………………………………… 222His death ……………………………………………………………… 222Kit¥b Al-I¢tiq¥d wa’l-Hid¥yah il¥ SabÏl ar-Rash¥d by al-BayhaqÏ ……… 224Kit¥b Iqti\¥’ al-¢Ilm wa’l-¢Amal by al-Kha~Ïb al-Baghd¥dÏ …………… 225Al-Firdaws by ad-DaylamÏ ……………………………………………… 226His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 226His listening …………………………………………………………… 227His students …………………………………………………………… 227His death ……………………………………………………………… 227His son ………………………………………………………………… 227His [son’s] death ……………………………………………………… 227Kit¥b ash-Shif¥ bi-Ta¢rÏf ±uq‰q al-Mu|~af¥ by Q¥\Ï ¢Iy¥\ …………… 229His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 230His birth ………………………………………………………………… 230His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 231ßal¥^ al-Mu’min by TaqÏ ad-DÏn al-¢Asqal¥nÏ, known as Ibn al-Im¥m 232His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 233His birth ………………………………………………………………… 233His seeking ……………………………………………………………… 233His books ……………………………………………………………… 233

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His death ……………………………………………………………… 233

TakhrÏj A^¥dÏth al-I^y¥’ entitled al-MughnÏ ¢an ±aml al-Asf¥r by Shaykh Zayn ad-DÏn al-¢IraqÏ ………………………………………………………… 234Al-±i|n al-±a|Ïn by Shams ad-DÏn al-JazarÏ …………………………… 235His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 236His birth ………………………………………………………………… 236His seeking ……………………………………………………………… 236His disseminating knowledge ………………………………………… 237His books ……………………………………………………………… 237His death ……………………………………………………………… 237His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 237Mukhta|ar al-±i|n al-±a|Ïn known as al-¢Uddah ……………………… 239

Juz’ Collections ………………………………………………………… 241Kit¥b Raf¢ al-Yadayn by al-Bukh¥rÏ, and ……………………………… 243Kit¥b al-Jumu¢ah by an-Nas¥’Ï ………………………………………… 243Juz’ al-FÏl by Ab‰ ¢Amr ibn as-Sim¥k ………………………………… 244His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 244His listening …………………………………………………………… 244His students …………………………………………………………… 245His death ……………………………………………………………… 245Al-Faw¥’id by Ab‰ Bakr ash-Sh¥fi ¢Ï …………………………………… 246His birth ………………………………………………………………… 247His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 247His listening …………………………………………………………… 247His journey …………………………………………………………… 248His students …………………………………………………………… 248His death ……………………………………………………………… 248Juz’ collection by Ibn Nujayd ………………………………………… 249His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 249His listening …………………………………………………………… 250His students …………………………………………………………… 250His death ……………………………………………………………… 250Juz’ Fa\¥’il Ahl al-Bayt by Ab‰’l-±asan ¢AlÏ ibn Ma¢r‰f al-Bazz¥r …… 252A^¥dÏth al-±unaf¥’ by al-±asan ibn ¢Abdull¥h al-Abr¥zÏ. …………… 254Al-Faw¥’id by Tamm¥m ar-R¥zÏ ……………………………………… 255His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 255His birth ………………………………………………………………… 255His listening …………………………………………………………… 255His students …………………………………………………………… 256His death ……………………………………………………………… 256

Arba¢‰n (40) Collections ……………………………………………… 259Al-Arba¢‰n by Mu^ammad ibn Aslam a~->‰sÏ ……………………… 261

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His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 261His listening …………………………………………………………… 261His students …………………………………………………………… 262His death ……………………………………………………………… 262Al-Arba¢‰n by Ab‰’l-Q¥sim al-QushayrÏ ……………………………… 263His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 263His seeking and listening ……………………………………………… 263His listening …………………………………………………………… 264His students …………………………………………………………… 264His death ……………………………………………………………… 264His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 264Al-Arba¢‰n by Ab‰ Bakr al-®jurrÏ ……………………………………… 266His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 266His listening …………………………………………………………… 266His students …………………………………………………………… 266His death ……………………………………………………………… 267Al-Arba¢‰n by ash-Sha^^¥mÏ ………………………………………… 268Al-Imt¥‘ bi’l-Arba¢Ïn al-Mutab¥yinah bi-Shar~ as-Sam¥¢ by ±¥fi · Ibn ±ajar al-¢Asq¥lanÏ ………………………………………………………………… 270

Musalsalat Collections ………………………………………………… 273Nuzhat al-±uff¥· by Ab‰ M‰s¥ al-MadÏnÏ …………………………… 275His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 275His birth ………………………………………………………………… 275His listening …………………………………………………………… 275His students …………………………………………………………… 276His books ……………………………………………………………… 277His death ……………………………………………………………… 277Al-Musalsal¥t a|-ßughr¥ by Jal¥l ad-DÏn as-Suy‰~Ï …………………… 278

History and Biographies ……………………………………………… 281T¥rÏkh Ya^y¥ ibn Ma¢Ïn on the states of the narrators ……………… 283His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 283His birth ………………………………………………………………… 283His listening …………………………………………………………… 284His death ……………………………………………………………… 284His desire in poetry …………………………………………………… 284Point …………………………………………………………………… 285Kit¥b al-Kun¥ wa’l-As¥mÏ by an-Nas¥’Ï ………………………………… 288Kit¥b T¥rÏkh ath-Thiq¥t by Ibn ±ibb¥n ……………………………… 289±ilyat al-Awliy¥‘ by ±¥fi · Ab‰ Nu¢aym al-A|bah¥nÏ ………………… 290Al-Irsh¥d by Ab‰ Ya¢l¥ al-KhalÏlÏ ……………………………………… 291His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 291His listening …………………………………………………………… 291His students …………………………………………………………… 291

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His death ……………………………………………………………… 291Al-Isti¢¥b fÏ Ma¢rifat al-A|^¥b by Ab‰ ¢Umar ibn ¢Abd al-Barr ……… 292His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 292His birth ………………………………………………………………… 292His acquiring knowledge ……………………………………………… 292His excellence ………………………………………………………… 293His books ……………………………………………………………… 293The highest isn¥d he had ……………………………………………… 293His death ……………………………………………………………… 293His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 294History of Baghdad by al-Kha~Ïb ………………………………………… 295His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 296His birth ………………………………………………………………… 296His seeking knowledge and listening ………………………………… 296His students …………………………………………………………… 296His transmission of ßa^Ï^ al-Bukh¥rÏ ………………………………… 296His books ……………………………………………………………… 296His excellence ………………………………………………………… 297His death ……………………………………………………………… 298His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 298

Commentaries ………………………………………………………… 301Ash-Shaw¥riq by Q¥\Ï Ab‰’l-Fa\l ¢Iy¥\ ibn M‰s¥ al-Ya^|ubÏ as-SibtÏ 303Kit¥b Shar^ as-Sunnah by al-BaghawÏ ………………………………… 304His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 304His profi ciency in knowledge ………………………………………… 304His listening …………………………………………………………… 305His worship and asceticism …………………………………………… 305His death ……………………………………………………………… 305Bahjat an-Nuf‰s by Ab‰ Mu^ammad ibn AbÏ Jamrah ……………… 306Shar^ al-Kirm¥nÏ ¢al¥ ßa^Ï^ al-Bukh¥rÏ ………………………………… 307His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 307His birth ………………………………………………………………… 307His seeking ……………………………………………………………… 307His death ……………………………………………………………… 308Fat^ al-B¥rÏ bi-Shar^ ßa^Ï^ al-Bukh¥rÏ and its preface Ibn ±ajar al-Kin¥nÏ al-¢Asqal¥nÏ ………………………………………………………………… 309His birth ………………………………………………………………… 309His journey and seeking ……………………………………………… 309His death ……………………………………………………………… 309The superiority of Ibn ±ajar over as-Suy‰~Ï ………………………… 310His books ……………………………………………………………… 310TanqÏ^ Alf¥· al-J¥mi¢ a|-ßa^Ï^ by Badr ad-dÏn az-ZarkashÏ …………… 313His birth ………………………………………………………………… 313His listening …………………………………………………………… 313

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The Garden of the Hadith Scholars

His death ……………………………………………………………… 314Ta¢lÏq al-Ma|¥bÏ^ Abw¥b al-J¥mi¢ a|-ßa^Ï^ by Ab‰ ¢Abdull¥h al-IskandarÏ 315His birth ………………………………………………………………… 316His seeking ……………………………………………………………… 316His death ……………………………………………………………… 316His books ……………………………………………………………… 316Al-L¥mi¢ a|-ßa^Ï^ fÏ Shar^ al-J¥mi¢a|-ßa^Ï^ by Shams ad-DÏn an-Nu¢aymÏ 318His birth ………………………………………………………………… 318His books ……………………………………………………………… 319His death ……………………………………………………………… 319Irsh¥d as-S¥rÏ by Shih¥b ad-DÏn al-Qas~al¥nÏ ………………………… 320His birth ………………………………………………………………… 320His quest ……………………………………………………………… 320His books ……………………………………………………………… 320What happened between him and as-Suy‰~Ï ………………………… 321His death ……………………………………………………………… 321±¥shiyah of Shaykh SayyidÏ Zarr‰q …………………………………… 322His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 322His birth ………………………………………………………………… 322His quest for knowledge ……………………………………………… 322His writing ……………………………………………………………… 322His excellence ………………………………………………………… 323His students …………………………………………………………… 323His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 323His death ……………………………………………………………… 323At-TawshÏ^, ±¥fi · Ab‰’l-Fa\l ibn AbÏ Bakr as-Suy‰~Ï ………………… 324Ma¢¥lim as-Sunan by al-Kha~~¥bÏ ……………………………………… 325His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 325His listening …………………………………………………………… 325His students …………………………………………………………… 325His death ……………………………………………………………… 325¢®ri\at al-A^wadhÏ fÏ Shar^ at-TirmidhÏ by Q¥\Ï Ab‰ Bakr ibn al-¢ArabÏ 327His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 327His travel and listening ……………………………………………… 327His students …………………………………………………………… 328His books ……………………………………………………………… 328His death ……………………………………………………………… 331Kit¥b al-Ma|¥bÏ^ by al-BaghawÏ ………………………………………… 332

Selective Books ………………………………………………………… 333Al-Im¥m fÏ A^¥dÏth al-A^k¥m and its summary al-Ilm¥m bi-A^¥dÏth al-A^k¥m both of them by TaqÏ ad-DÏn ibn DaqÏq al-¢¬d. ……………………… 335His lineage ……………………………………………………………… 336His birth ………………………………………………………………… 336His listening …………………………………………………………… 336

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Table of Contents

His death ……………………………………………………………… 336Some of his miracles …………………………………………………… 337His qualities …………………………………………………………… 337His poetry ……………………………………………………………… 338His excellence ………………………………………………………… 339

General Indexes ……………………………………………………… 341Index of Qur’¥nic ¥yats ……………………………………………… 343Index of hadith ………………………………………………………… 346Index of scholars with biographies …………………………………… 348Index of scholars with biographies in the notes …………………… 350Most important sources ……………………………………………… 356

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P u b l i s h e r ’ s P r e f a c eIn the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the Most Merciful

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets @. I would like to thank Dr. Mohammad Akram of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for translating the original work into Arabic, for his work in adding the extremely useful footnotes to this work and fi nally for bringing this wonderful work to our attention and giving us the opportunity to publish it. We ask Allah ta’ala to bless the author Sh¥h ¢Abd al-¢AzÏz and reward him well. I would like to thank Ustadhah Aisha Bewley for translating this work, Abdassamad Clarke for taking special care in editing and typesetting it and Muhammad Ansa for his meticulous and painstaking proofreading. If any benefi t is brought about from this book please remember us and the people mentioned above in your du¢¥s.

Yahya and Safi ra Batha