Imam Muslim
Imam Muslim
Al-Imam al-Kabir al Hafidh al-Hujjah Abul-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaaj ibn Muslim al-Qushaayri al-Naysapuri. One of the most renowned Hafidh of Hadith and the author of the second most authentic book after the Quran, the Musnad al-Sahih, more commonly known as Sahih Muslim.
He was born in the year 206 A.H. during the reign of the Abbasid Khalifa Ma'mun al-Rashid into an era and region that witnessed a plethora of some of the greatest scholars of Hadith and Islam. Names such as, Imam al Bukhari, Imam al-Tirmidhi, Imam al-Nasai, and Imam Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, to name but a few.
He began his search for knowledge at a tender age and by his twelfth birthday had already memorized the Quran and many Hadith from scholars in his hometown, Nishapur. At the age of 14, he decided to travel in pursuit of knowledge and traveled frequently and extensively throughout the Muslim World studying with more than 220 eminent scholars in Balkh, Baghdad, Busrah, Rai, Greater Khurasaan, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Hijaaz.
In this way, he continued to strive in pursuit of the Blessed Prophetic Traditions and for over 40 years served this Science collecting, verifying, memorising, implementing and transmitting Hadith until he passed away in 261 AH at the age of 55.
His is still fondly remembered throughout the world and is regarded as one of the leading scholars of Hadith; known for his knowledge, trustworthiness, piety, scrupulousness and dedication to the preservation of authentic Hadith.
May Allah have mercy upon him.
How he was held in the eyes of other great scholars.
Imam Muslim’s Shaykh Bandar Mohammed ibn Bashshaar said: “The hufadh (preservers of Hadith) of this world are four: Abu Zar’aah in al-Rai, Muslim ibn Hajjaj in Nishapur, Abdullah ibn Abdur Rahman al-Darimi in Samarqand, and Muhammad ibn Isma’eel in Bukhaara.
The great Muhaddith of Khurasan, Ishaq ibn Rahawayh once said to him, As long as you are alive there will be goodness for the Muslims.”
Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahab al Fara said, “Imam Muslim bin Hajjaj is from the scholars of the people and a fountain of knowledge.”
Imam Abu Bakr al-Jaruwdi said, “Imam Muslim ibn Hajjaj transmitted to us and he was from amongst the vessels of knowledge amongst us.”
Some of the most famous teachers that he studied with were:
Imam al-BukhariImam Yahya ibn Ma’een
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Imam Ishaq ibn Rahawayh
Imam Qutaibah ibn Sa’eed
Imam Ali ibn Hujair al-Saadi
Imam Abi Kuraib Mohammed ibn Ala
Imam Bandaar Mohammed ibn Bashar
Imam Mahmood ibn Ghaylaan al-Marwazi
Imam Abdullah ibn Abdur Rahman al-Darimi
Some of his most famous students were:
Imam Mohammed ibn Ishaq Ibn KhuzaymahImam Abdullah ibn Mohammed al-Balkhi
Imam Salih ibn Mohammed al-Baghdadi
Imam Yahya ibn Mohammed ibn Saad
Imam Abdullah ibn Yahya al-Sarkhasi
Imam Ahmad ibn Nasr al-Khafaaf
Imam Ali ibn Ismail al Safaar
Imam Abu ‘Eesa al-Tirmidhi
Imam Abu Haatim al-Raazi
Imam Makki ibn Abdaan
Some of his most famous works are:
Al-Musnad Al-Kabir ala Asma al-RijaalKitab al-Awham al-Muhaditheen
al-Munfaridaat wa’l-Wahdaan
Kitab al-Asma wal-Kuna
Kitab al-Mukhadrameen
Al-Tabaqaat al-Tabiyeen
Kitab al-Tameez
Kitab al-illal
Arguably the most indispensable collection of Hadith related to the Prophet’s (salalahu alayhi wa salam) blessed biography. It was compiled by the eminent Muhaddith, Imam al-Tirmidhi less than 3 centuries after the passing away of the Prophet Mohammed (salalahu alayhi wa salam).
This is the fundamental primer in the Science of Mustalah al-Hadith (Hadith Classification) having been authored by arguably the foremost authority in Mustalah al-Hadith, the illustrious al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr al-Asqalaani (RA)
The Muwatta of Imam Malik is a collection of over 1900 Prophetic sayings (ahadith) as well as the legal standpoints of his companions (Sahabah), their students (Tabi'een) and practices of the Madinan People.