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 At-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
strict
follower 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.
