Bismillahir Rahman Nir Raheem, Assalamualaikum, Brief Biographies of Some Eminent Salaf-As’haabul Hadeeth Bismillahir Rahman Nir Raheem, Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen, Wassalaatu Wassalaam alaa Rasoolihil Ameen, Amma Ba’ad All praise is for Almighty Allah and May peace and blessings of Allah be upon his slave and his last Prophet Muhammad. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala exalt the position of The Prophet of Mercy-Muhammad SallAllahu Alayhi wa Sallam. Books will finish if one starts writing on the scholars of Islam, Imams(scholars) of this Ummah who belonged to various locations, across various timespans, studying under various sources and situations. Alhamdulillah, it’s a miracle. And it was difficult for me to pick a few from the thousands who are peers to each other. Allah Sub’hanu wa Ta’ala stated in the Qur’aan … We raise to degrees whom We will, But over all those endowed with knowledge is the All-Knowing [Surah Yusuf, Aayat 76] 1. Sa'eed ibn al-Musayyib(93/94 AH Rahimahullah) He was among the senior Taaba’een, an Imam, A Faqeeh. He met, learned and narrated from various companions of the Prophet SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam. Many praised him as a “Leader of the Taaba’een” as he was among the most knowledgeable people among the Taaba’een (successors of companions). 2. Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azeez (d. 101 AH Rahimahullah) 3. Abu Bakr ibn Hazm (Rahimahullah) He was a scholar and an Imam of Muslims who is considered as a righteous Khaleefa as well. He is among those who worked for preservation of Hadeeth. During his era, he was afraid that knowledge will be taken away and he ordered the scholars in his time in Madeena like Abu Bakr bin Hazm* and others to accumulate and write down hadeeth of the Prophet SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam. Imam Bukhari mentioned “And Umar bin Abdulazeez wrote to Abu Bakr bin Hazm ‘Look for whatever is available from the Hadeeth of Allah’s Messenger(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam) and get it written, I am afraid knowledge will vanish and the scholars will pass away(die). Do not accept anything except the Hadeeth of the Prophet(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam). Spread knowledge and teach the ignorant, for knowledge does not vanish except when it is kept secret (to oneself). Abu Bakr bin Hazm Rahimahullah was Muhammad bin Amr bin Hazm al-Ansaari a Faqeeh(scholar and jurist) among the Taba’een of Madeena. 4. Mujahid bin Jabr(d. 103 AH Rahimahullah) He was famous Imam, a Mufassir and Faqeeh from the Taaba’een, he learned from Abdullah Ibn Abbas(Radhi Allahu Anhuma) and other companions of the Prophet(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam). People used to sit with him and write Tafseer of the Qur’an from his explanations. His statements in explanation of the Aayat of Qur’an are invaluable and can be found in various books of Hadeeth and Tafseer. He has narrated many Ahaadeeth as well. 5. Ash-Sha’abee(d 103-105 AH Rahimahullah) He is Aamir Bin Sharaheel (It is also said – Aamir bin Abdillah Bin Sharaheel). He was a famous Imam from Koofa. In one report he mentioned meeting Five Hundred(500) companions of the Prophet(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam). He is considered as an Imam in Hadeeth and Fiqh. He was firm against the innovators. Sufyan bin Uyayinah Rahimahullah said “Three are the scholars, Ibn Abbas in his time, Ash-Sha’bi in his time and Ath-Thauree in his time” 6. Taawus (d. 106 AH Rahimahullah) He is ibn Kaysaan. It is said Taawus(lit. peacock) is his nickname. He was a famous Imam in Yemen, a senior Taaba’ee. He met several companions and reported from them. He was famous for his knowledge and Ibn Abbas(Radhi Allahu Anhu) is reported to praise him with regards to his piety. He is from the memorizers of Hadeeth, known to transmit Hadeeth accurately word for word. 7. Hasan Al-Basri(d. 110 AH Rahimahullah) He was a famous Imam in Basra, a senior Taaba’ee. He was born in Madeena to the slave-woman of Umm Salama Radhi Allahu Anha the mother of the believers(wife of Prophet SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam). He met several companions. He is considered as an Imam in Hadeeth, Fiqh, Zuhd and Tafseer. Many students have learned from him in Basra. He had a book from companion Samurah bin Jundub (Radhi Allahu Anhu). 8. Muhammad Ibn Seereen (d. 110 AH Rahimahullah) He was a famous scholar, and he was a specialist in the interpretation of the dreams. He met several companions of the Prophet(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam) including Abu Hurayra, Abdullah bin Umar and others. He is considered as an Imam in Hadeeth. He is from the memorizers of Hadeeth, known to transmit Hadeeth accurately word for word so much that he even did not like to transmit Hadeeth in different vocabulary but with same meaning. His statement “The Knowledge is the Deen, So see from whom you take your Deen” is a fundamental for every student of knowledge to take Deen from Ahlus Sunnah. 9. Mak’hool (d. 110/112-116 AH Rahimahullah) He is a Taaba’ee who reported from some of the companions. He was an Imam and faqeeh, from the well praised memorizers of Hadeeth. Imam Zuhri praised him among four scholars for his knowledge. He was considered as a Faqeeh of his time from Shaam(the greater Syria). 10. Ataa bin Abi Rabah(d. 114 AH Rahimahullah) He was a famous Imam, a Taaba’ee(successor of companions) from Makkah, he learned from Abdullah ibn Abbas and Abdullah bin Umar Radhi Allahu Anhum. And he also met other companions of the Prophet(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam). He was often appointed as a Mufti during the Hajj period in Makkah. His narrations in Hadeeth and statements on Fiqh and Tafseer are invaluable and can be found in various books of Hadeeth and Tafseer. 11. Ibn Abee Mulayka (d. 117 AH Rahimahullah) He was Abdullah bin Ubaydullah, a famous Imam, a Taaba’ee(successor of companions) from Madeenah, he met 30 companions of the Prophet SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam including Abdullah bin Abbas(Radhi Allahu Anhuma) and he narrated from Ayesha Radhi Allahu Anha as well. 12. Ibn Shihab Az-Zuh’ri(d. 124 AH Rahimahullah) He Muhammad bin Muslim As-Zuhri, was a famous Imam in Madeena. He met several companions. He met some of the companions of the Prophet(SallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam) and narrated from them including Abdullah ibn Umar(Radhi Allahu Anhuma). He is considered as an Imam in Hadeeth, among the first people who started collecting and writing narrations with chains/Isnad. He used to keep a book and meet other Taaba’een scholars and note from them. Among his statements “The people of knowledge before us used to say ‘salvation lies in clinging to the Sunnah’” “Upon Allah is the Bayan (explaining), upon the Messenger(sallAllahu Alayhi wa sallam) is the Balagh (conveying) and upon us is Tasleem (willingly accepting)." 13. Abu Haneefa (d. 150 AH Rahimahullah) He is Faqeeh of the nation, famous Imam from Koofa, Iraq, Nu’man bin Thaabit. He was considered as “Afqahun Naas” {among the best knowledgeable people} as he was a specialist and among the founders of science of Fiqh. Most of the scholars of the past and the present acknowledge him as an Imam and a Pious servant who served Islam. Imam Shafa’ee said “People are dependent on Abu Haneefa for Fiqh(jurisdiction)”. His statement: “If the hadeeth is saheeh then that is my madhhab” clearly shows his love for ‘Saheeh’ Hadeeth. 14. Auzaa’ee(d. 157 AH Rahimahullah) He was a famous Imam from present day Lebanon. Shaikh ul Islam and the scholar of people of Shaam, he moved from Damascus to Beirut. He is a scholar of Hadeeth as well as from the Fuqahaa(Jurists) who were well known. Imam Tirmizee mentions his opinions in many occasions in his Sunan in support of Ahaadeeth. 15. Sufyan Ath-Thauri( d. 161 AH Rahimahullah) He is Sufyan bin Sa’eed ath-Thauri, a famous Imam from Koofa. He is known as Ameerul Momineen fil Hadeeth{Leader of the faithful in Hadeeth}. Ath-Thawree was strong against the innovators. He is an imam of Hadeeth, Fiqh and Sunnah. Imam Tirmizee Rahimahullah mentions his opinions very often in support of Ahaadeeth in his Sunan. Among his sayings is “Beware of the Fitnah (trial) of the ignorant worshiper and the wicked scholar, because the trial of these two is indeed a trial for everyone put to trial” 16. Malik bin Anas(d.179 AH Rahimahullah) He is Abu Anas, a famous Imam from Madeena, He was an Imam of Hadeeth and rulings of Fiqh. He studied from Az-Zuhri and other eminent scholars of Madeena. He wrote and taught Hadeeth and Fiqh to several batches of students coming to learn in Madeena. His Muwatta is a famous book of Hadeeth. Imam Tirmizee mentions his opinions in many occasions in his Sunan in support of Ahaadeeth. Among his famous statements is “The Sunnah is like the ship/ark of Nooh Alayhis Salaam, whoever embarks upon it reaches salvation and whoever refuses gets drowned” 17. Abdullah bin Mubarak(d. 181 AH Rahimahullah) He is Abu Abdur-Rahman, a famous Imam from al-Marw, He was famous for his collection of Hadeeth, Fiqh, travels for knowledge, Hajj and military services to the Islamic nation, and firmness against the innovators and liars of Hadeeth. He is an imam of Sunnah and Jarh wa Ta’adeel.