Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Hadith Huffaz & Major Hadith Authorities in the Hanafi Madhab

[Extracted from Imam Zahid al-Kawthari’s Fiqhu Ahl al-Iraq wa hadeethuhum, The Muqaddimah of Nasb al-Ra’yah]
Munawwar Ateeq Rizvi
© Aqsa Publications

This is a part of my recent reserach on Imam Abu Hanifah, his Madhab and contributions to Hadith.

The following list is a vital blow to those who say Imam Abu Hanifah and the men of his school have no contribution to Hadith conveyance and textual corpus. And Allah alone gives guidance.

1. Al-Imam Zufar bin al-Hudhayl al-Basri (d.158 h). In Kitab al-Thiqat, Ibn Hibban referred to him with memorization (hifz) and proficiency (itqan) in hadith. He is from the major colleagues of Imam Abu Hanifah and is the author of Kitab al-Athaar.

M: Zufar devoted himself fully to Hadith and was one of its experts. He took hadith from Sulayman ibn Mahran Al-A’mash, Yahya ibn Sa’eed al-Ansari, Sa’eed ibn Abi Uruba, Muhammad ibn Ishaq the author of Maghazi and others. He was excellent in Analogy too. Al-Hassan ibn al-Waleed said: ‘‘He was the strongest of the Imam’s companions and the sharpest in analogy’’. Zufar studied with Imam Abu Hanifah for over twenty years.

2. Al-Imam al-Hafiz Ibrahim bin Tuhman al-Harawi (d.163h). Imam Dhahabi records his biography in Tabaqat al-Huffaz. He narrated authentic hadith in large numbers.

3. Al-Imam al-Layth bin Sa’d (d.175h). Many sages have considered him Hanafi. This was the resolute opinion of al-Qadhi Zakariyya al-Ansari in Sharh al-Bukhari. Ibn Abi al-Awaam narrates with his chain from al-Layth who said he sat in the majlis of Abu Hanifah in Makkah. Al-Layth was from the mujtahid imams.

4. Al-Imam al-Hafiz al-Qasim bin Ma’n al-Mas’udi (d.175h). He was a major narrator of Hadith and poetry (sher) and most knowledgeable in Fiqh and Arabic amongst the students of Abu Hanifah. Muhammad bin al-Hassan used to ask him questions in Arabic linguistics. He was most dignified (Ajall al-As’hab) amongst the companions of Abu Hanifah. See Dhahabi’s Tabaqat al-Huffaz and Hafiz al-Qurashi’s al-Jawahir al-Mudhee’ah.

5. Al-Imam Abu Yusuf Ya’qub bin Ibrahim, the jurist (d.182h). Dhahabi mentioned him in Tabaqat al-Huffaz and also dedicated an entire volume to his biography. ‘‘He was a scrupulous faqih and an erudite hafiz who was known for memorising hadith. He used to take hadith from his hadith teacher, memorise fifty or sixty of them and then stand and recite all of them to the people. He received hadith in abundance’’ (Ibn Jareer) ‘‘he had extraordinary capacity for memorization’’ (Ibn al-Jawzi in Akhbar al-Huffaz). Ibn Hiban mentions him in Kitab al-Thiqat. He died in 182h. Kitab al-Amaali is his only book-it is said that he wrote it in three hundred volumes thus this proportion of writing is sufficient.

M: Among his sayings is: ‘‘Whoever pursues the rarities of hadith will lie and who ever studies the religion through non Sunni kalam will become a heretic’’. He continued to pray two hundred daily supererogatory rak’as even after he became the head judge of Iraq.

6. Yahya bin Zakariyya bin Abi Za’idah, the hafiz, the solid scholar in Hadith (thabt) and jurist (faqih) (d.182h). He is held with high esteem (Ajall al-As’hab) among the companions of Abu Hanifah. Dhahabi mentions him in Tabaqat al-Huffaz and Hafiz al-Qurashi in al-Jawahir al-Mudhee’ah.

7. Abdullah bin Mubarak (d.181h). His books consist of somewhat twenty thousand hadith. Ibn al-Mahdi used to prefer him over al- Thawri. ‘‘When I sought minutiae and did not find them in the books of Ibn al-Mubarak I would loose hope’’ said Yahya bin Adam. He was from the most prominent (akhass) companions of Abu Hanifah. Some people have falsely reported ill statements from him in regards to Abu Hanifah as many people have done so to numerous other scholars.

8. Al-Imam Muhammad bin al-Hassan al-Shaybani (d.189h). He received hadith in multiple numbers. I i.e. Zahid al-Kawthari have mentioned his biography in Bulugh al-Amani. He is the complier of Al-Athaar, narrator of the Muwatta and author of al-Hujjah ala Ahl al-Madinah all of which suggest his expertise in Hadith in spite of the ignorant men who are against his excellent status.

M: Al-Shafi’i studied under him, narrated hadith from him and praised him lavishly. Shafi’i spent sixty dinars buying Muhammad’s books and said: ‘‘I took two camel loads of learning from Muhammad’’. Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal was once asked: ‘‘From where do you know all these fine details?’’ to which he replied: ‘‘From the books of Muhammad bin al-Hassan’’. Al-Daraqutni defended the reliability of Muhammad bin al-Hassan. Al-Athaar is in print with an extensive commentary by the jurist Abu al-Wafa al-Afghani.

9. Hafs bin Ghiyas, the jurist (al-Qadhi). The companions transcribed four thousand hadith from his memory. He died in 194h. See Dhahabi’s Tabaqat al-Huffaz and Al-Hafiz al-Qurashi’s Al-Jawahir.

10. Wakee’ bin al-Jarrah (d.197h). Dhahabi said: ‘‘He used to give fatwa on the opinion of Abu Hanifah’’. Ahmad bin Hanbal said: ‘‘You must acquire the books of Wakee’ and stick to them’’.

11. Yahya bin Sa’eed al-Qattan al-Basri (d.198h). An Imam of the science of narrator discreditation and commendation (al-Jarh wa al-Tadeel). Dhahabi said: ‘‘He used to give fatwa on the opinion of Abu Hanifah’’. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz and al-Jawahir.

12. The peerless Hafiz, al-Hassan bin Ziyad al-Lu’wlu’iy (d.204h). He took somewhat twelve thousand hadiths from Ibn Jareej which every faqih requires. Yahya bin Adam said: ‘‘I have never seen anyone more meticulous in fiqh details than him’’. People have fabricated things about him as they have done with Imam Abu Hanifah. See al-Hafiz al-Qurashi’s al-Jawahir.

13. Al-Hafiz Ma’la? bin Mansur al-Razi (d.213h). He combined between mastery in fiqh and hadith. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz and al-Jawahir.

14. Al-Hafiz Abdullah bin Dawud al-Kahreebi (d.213h), a leading imam in both fiqh and hadith. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz and al-Jawhir.

15. Abu Abdur Rahman, the Qur’an specialist, Abdullah bin Yazeed al-Kuwfi (d.213h). He conveys a lot from Abu Hanifah. See Dhahabi’s Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

16. Asad bin al-Furat al-Qayrawani (d.213h). He combined between the two pathways in fiqh; Iraqi and Hijazi, and hadith.

17. Makki bin Ibrahim al-Hanzali, the shyakh of Khurasan (d.215h). He conveys a lot from Abu Hanifah. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

18. Abu Nu’aym Fadhl bin Dukayn (d.219h). He conveys a lot from Abu Hanifah. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

19. Al-Imam Isa bin Aban al-Basri (d.221h). He is the author of Kitab al-Hujaj al-Kabeer and Kitab al-Hujaj al-Sagheer both of which represent his mastery in hadith. See: Al-Sumayri, Ibn Abi al-Awaam, and al-Jawahir al-Mudhee’ah.

20. The established trustworthy Hafiz, Ali bin al-Ja’d (d.230h). He was an elite imam in both fiqh and hadith. He is the author of ‘Al-Ja’diyat’ which is one of the earliest resources kept safe in the library of Egypt, Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyyah.

21. Yahya bin Ma’een, an imam of the science of narrator discreditation and commendation (d.233h). He studied Al-Jami al-Sagheedr directly from Muhammad bin al-Hassan and took fiqh from him. He took hadith from Abu Yusuf. It is recorded in Uyun al-Tawareekh: ‘‘Ibn al-Madeeyni, Ahmad, Ibn Abi Shaybah and Is’haq used to study with him and held him in high esteem. He inherited one million? dirhams from his father and spent all of them on pursuing Hadith. He wrote with his own hands six hundred thousand hadith’’. Ahmad said: ‘‘Any hadith unknown to Yahya is not a hadith’’. Dhahabi referred to him as ‘‘A firm hanafi in his volume which he composed in defence of the trustworthy men who were unfairly criticised, rather, he was intolerant when it came to defend the men of the Hanafi madhab’’.

22. Muhaammad bin Sama’ah al-Tameemi (d.233h). It is recorded in Uyun al-Tawareekh: ‘‘He was from the reliable huffaz of hadith and the author of Ikhtiyarat’’. He has numerous works. See al-Hafiz al-Qurashi’s al-Jawahir al-Mudhee’ah.

23. The major Hafiz Ibrahim bin Yusuf al-Balkhi al-Bahili al-Makiyani (d.239h). Nisa’i commended his reliability. See Tabaqat and al-Jawahir.

24. Abu al-Layth, the hafiz, Abdullah bin Surayj bin Hajar al-Bukhari. He died around 258h. He is from the companions of Abu Hafs al-Kabeer al-Bukhari. He used to memorise ten thousand hadith. Abdan used to praise him lavishly. Ghanjar mentined him in Tareekh Bukhari and did not cite his date of death. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

25. The Imam, Muhammad bin Shuja’ al-Thalji. He died in 266h whilst in prostration during Asr prayer. Al-Muwaffaq al-Makki said: ‘‘He mentioned more than seventy thousand hadiths in his works. He is the authir of al-Manasik which is in over sixty volumes, Tas’heh al-Athaar which is a voluminous book, and al-Radd ala al-Mushabbihah. Dhahabi said in Siyar A’lam al-Nubula: ‘‘He was from the deep oceans of knowledge’’. Some men have criticised him fanatically. Read his biography in Fahrist ibn al-Nadeem and al-Jawahir al-Mudhee’ah. See also what we i.e. Imam Zahid al-Kawthari have documented on Tabyeen Kidhb al-Muftari and Takmilat al-Radd ala Nawniyat ibn al-Qayyim.

26. The Faqih, Al-Hafiz Abu al-Abbas Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa al-Burti (d.280h). He studied fiqh under Abu Sulayman al-Jawzjani. His son was Isma’il the jurist (Al-Qadhi). His is the complier of Musnad Abu Hurayrah. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz and al-Jawahir al-Mudhee’ah.

27. Abu al-Fadhl Ubaydullah bin Wasil al-Bukhari. He was martyred in 282h. He was the Muhaddith of Bukhara and Harithi took hadith from him. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

28. Al-Hafiz Ibrahim bin Ma’qal al-Nasafi (d.295h) the author of al-Musnad al-Kabeer and al-Tafseer. He narrated the Saheeh from Bukhari. Mustaghfiri said about him: ‘‘He was a jurist (faqih), a memorizer of Hadith, well acquainted with the differences amongst the scholars, modest and ‘sayyinan’. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz and al-Jawahir.

29. Abu Yala Ahmad bin Ali bin al-Muthni? Al-Muwsili, author of al-Musnad al-Kabeer and al-Mu’jam (d.307h). He took knowledge from Ali bin al-Ja’d and people of his calibre. Abu Ali al-Hafiz said: ‘‘If Abu Ya’la did not busy himself in studying the books of Abu Yusuf under Bishr? bin al-Waleed, he would have gone to Basrah [to take hadith from] Sulayman ibn Harb and Abu Dawud al-Tiyalisi. This shows how copious Abu Yusuf’s books are. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

30. Al-Hafiz Abu Bishr al-Duwlaabi, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Hammad (d.310h). He is the author of al-Kuna and other remarkable books. Al-Daraqutni said: ‘‘Many people have criticised him but nothing save virtue appeared about him’’. See Dhahabi’s Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

31. Al-Hafiz Abu Ja’far Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Tahawi (d.321h). He had unusual memorisation in hadith, profuse knowledge of the men and fiqh. Al- Badar al-Ayni wrote extensively on his biography among the men of Ma’ani al-Athaar. His teachers were three; Bikar? Bin Qutaybah, Ibn Abi Imran and Abu Hazim all of whom were major authorities among the huffaz of hadith.

M: Ibn Kathir referred to him saying: ‘‘One of the established trustworthy giants among the hadith masters’’. Imam Zahid al-Kawthari upheld that his Sharh Ma’ani al-Athaar definitely surpassed the Sunan in excellence! Imam Tahawi shared the same teachers of Muslim, al-Nisa’i, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.

32. Al-Hafiz Abu al-Qasim Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abi al-Awaam, al-Sa’di. He died around 335h. Dhahabi mentions him in his Tabaqat in the biography of Nisa’i. He took hadith from Nisa’I, Tahawi and Abu Bishr? al-Dawlabi. He wrote a large volume of the virtues of Abu Hanifah and from the seventeen Musnads of Abu Hanifah, his narration of the Musnad is of unrivalled importance. His grandson’s biography is mentioned in ‘The jurists of Egypt’ (Qudhat Misr). See Al-Qurashi’s al-Jawahir.

33. Al-Hafiz Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Harithi al-Bukhari (d.340h). He is the author of Manaqaib Abi Hanifah and narrates the Musnad of Abu Hanifah. In his Musnad, al-Harithi focuses more on imparting various channels of transmission to one hadith. Ibn Mundah narrates extensively from him and held a good opinion of him. However, some people did criticise him passionately and most major of their criticism is that he narrates from Nujauyrami Aba bin Ja’far? In Musnad Abi Hanifah. They did not realize that Nujayrami was not the only one who narrated those hadiths others also narrated the very same hadiths hence there is no harm in al-Harithi’s practice. This is what Tirmidhi does too with Muhammad bin Sa’eed al-Maslub and Kalbi. May Allah destroy fanaticism which makes people blind and deaf. See al-Jawahir and Ta’jeel al-Manfi’ah.

34. Al-Hafiz Abu al-Hussain Abd al-Baqi bin Qani’ the jurist (al-Qadhi), author of many books (d.351h) Khateeb said: ‘‘The general view amongst the shuyukh is that they credit his reliability’’. Al-Hassan bin al-Furat said: ‘‘He was confused and jumbled reports (hadatha bihi ikhtilat) two years before his death’’

35. Al-Hafiz al-Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad bin Ali al-Razi al-Jassas (d.370h). He was an imam in the fundamentals (Usul), fiqh and hadith. He had excellent memory of recalling the hadiths of Abu Dawud, Ibn Abi Shaybah, Abd al-Razzaq and al-Tiyalisi. His memeory was so good that he used to mention his chain, whichever part of it he wanted from anywhere he wanted. His book in Principles of Islamic jurisprudence al-Fusul fi al-Usul, his commentary on Mukhtasar al-Tahawi, al-Jami’ al-Kabeer, and his excellent book Ahkam al-Qur’an all symbolize his peerless mastery in these domains. His remarks on the proofs of differences illustrate his authoritative knowledge of the men.

36. Al-Hafiz Muhammad bin al-Muzaffar bin Musa al-Baghdadi (d.379h). His is also a narrator of Musnad Abi Hanifah. Al-Daraqutni used to revere him lavishly yet he is among the major huffaz [it may also mean: Ibn al-Muzaffar was among the major huffaz- if wa’w is for isti’naf]. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

37. Al-Hafiz Abu Nasr Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Kilabazi (d.378h). He is the author of Rijal al-Bukhari. Al-Daraqutni used to agree to his judiciousness. Abu Nasr was among the major hadith huaffaz in Ma wara’ al-Nahr during his era. See Dhahabi’s Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

38. Abu Ahmad bin al-Husain al-Marwazi, known as ibn al-Tabari (d.376h). He was firmly established (mutqin) in hadith and narration. See al-Hafiz al-Qurashi’s al-Jawahir.

39. Al-Hafiz Abu al-Qasim Talhah bin Muhammad bin Ja’far al-Ma’dil al-Baghdadi (d.380h). He was also an author of Musnad Abi Hanifah.

40. The Shaykh of Ma wara’ al-Nahr, Al-Hafiz Abu al-Fadhl al-Sulaymani Ahmad bin Ali al-Baykindi? (d.404h). Ja’far al-Mustaghfiri took hadith from him. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

41. Ghinjar Al-Hafiz Abu Abdillah Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Bukhari (d.412h). He was the author of Tareekh Bukhara. See Tabaqat al-Huffaz.
42. Al-Hafiz Abu al-Abbas Ja’far bin Muhammad al-Mustaghfiri, author of many books (d.432h). See Tabaqat al-Huffaz and al-Jawhir.

43. Al-Hafiz Abu Sa’d al-Siman Isma’il bin Ali bin Zinjaweyh Al-Razi (d.445h). He was an imam in hadith, rijal and fiqh of Abu Hanifah. See al- Tabaqat and al-Jawahir.

44. Al-Hafiz Abu al-Qasim Ubaydullah bin Abdillah al-Naysaburi al-Hakim (d.490h). See al-Tabaqat and al-Jawahir.

45. Al-Hafiz Abu Muhammad al-Hassan bin Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Samarqandi (d.491h). He graduated with al-Mustaghfiri. ‘‘Unparalleled in his proficiency in the east and west’’ (Abu Sa’d) He authored Bahr al-Asaneed min Sihah al-Masaneed (the ocean of transmissions from the authenticated hadith collections) in eight hundred volumes. He collected one hundred thousand hadiths in it and if it is arranged and meticulously corrected there will be no book in Islam of its kind!

46. The Musnid of Hurat, Nasr bin Ahmad bin Ibrahim al-Zahid, also known as ‘‘Last of the major hadith narrators (baqiyyat al-musnideen)’’.

47. The Musnid of Samarqand, Is’haq bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-Tanuwkhi al-Nasafi (d.518h).

48. The hadith scholar (muhaddith), Abu Abdillah al-Husayn bin Muhammad bin Khusruw al-Balkhi, author of the Musnad Abi Hanifah (d.522h).

49. Al-Hafiz Abu Hafs Dhiya al-Din Umar bin Badr bin Sa’eed al-Muwsili (d.622h).

50. Abu al-Fadha’il al-Hassan bin Muhammad al-Saghani (d.650h). He was an imam in linguistics, fiqh and hadith. He is authored al-Ubab, al-Muhkam and Mashariq al-Anwar.

51. The travelling hadith scholar (al-muhaddith al-jawwal), Abu Muhammad Abd al-Khaliq bin Asad al-Dimashqi, the author of al-Mu’jam (d.564h).

52. The major hadith narrator of Shaam (musnid al-Shaam), Taj al-Din Abu al-Yaman Zaid bin al-Hassan al-Kindi (d.613h).

53. Al-Imam Al-Musnid, Abu Ali Abu Ali al-Hassan bin al-Mubarak al-Zabeedi (d.629h).

54. al-Imam al-Muhaddtih, al-Jamal Abu al-Abbas Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Zahiri (d.696h). He collected the names to al-Fakhr al-Razi’s teachers in five volumes. See al-Tabaqat and al-Jawahir.

55. The hadith master, Abu Muhammad Ali bin Zakariyya bin Mas’ud al-Ansari al-Manbiji The author of al-Lubab fi al-Jami’ bayn al-Sunnah wa al-Kitab (d.698h). He is among the commentators of Imam Tahawi’s al-Athaar. His son, Muhammad is recorded in al-Jawhir al-Mudhee’ah and al-Durar al-Kaminah.

56. al-Shams al-Suruji Ahmad bin Ibrahim bin Abd al-Ghani, a commentator of al-Hidayah (d.701h).

57. Ala’uddin Ali bin Bulban Al-Farisi. He wrote a commentary on Talkhees al-Khilati and authored al-Ihsan fi tarteeb Saheeh ibn Hibban (d.731h).

58. The major hadith master, Ibn al-Muhandis Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Gana’im al-Shuruti (d.733h).

59. Al-Hafiz Qutb al-Din Abd al-Kareem bin Abd al-Nur al-Halabi (d.735h). He commentated on Imam Bukhari’s al-Saheeh in twenty lengthy volumes. He also authored al-Ihtimam bi Talkhees al-Ilmam and al-Qadh al-Mu’alla fi al-Kalam ala ba’dh Ahadeeth al-Muhalla. See Dhayl al-Husayni on al-Tabaqat.
60. Al-Hafiz Ameen al-Deen Muhammad bin Ibrahim Alwani (d735h). See Dhayl al-Suyuti.

61. Al-Hafiz al-Shams al-Suruji Muhammad bin Ali bin Aybak (d.744h). Se al-Dhuyul.

62. Al-Hafiz Ala’uddin Ali bin Uthman al-Mardeeni, the author of al-Jawhar al-Naqiyy (d.749h). Al-Jamal al-Zayla’i, al-Zayn al-Iraqi and Abd al-Qadir al-Qurashi all graduated with him. See al-Dhuyul.

63. Al-Hafiz Ibn Alwani Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim (d.749h). See Dhayl al-Husayni on Dhahabi’s Tabaqat al-Huffaz.

64. Al-Hafiz Jamal al-Deen Abdullah bin Yusuf al-Zayla’i, the author of Nasb al-Ra’yah (d.762h).

65. Al-Hafiz Ala’uddin al-Mughlita’iy al-Bikajri (d.762h). See Dhayl Ibn Fahd.

66. Al-Hafiz Abd al-Qadir al-Qurashi (d.775h). See al-Dhuyul.

67. Al-Majd Isma’il al-Balbeesi, author of Mukhtasar Ansab al-Rishaati (d.802h).

68. The well learned (Al-Allamah) Jamal al-Deen Yusuf bin Musa al-Multi, author of al-Mu’tasar (d.803h).

69. The well learned (Al-Allamah) Shams al-Deen Muhammad bin Abdillah al-Deeri, author of al-Masa’il al-Shareefah fi Adillat Madhabi al-Imam Abi Hanifah (d. 827h).

70. The hadith master, Abu al-Fath Ahmad bin Uthman bin Muhammad al-Kiluwtati al-Kirmani (d.835h). He narrated many hadiths from the major books. See al-Dauw al-Lami’.

71. The hadith master, Izz al-Deen Abd al-Raheem bin Muahmmad bin bin al-Furat (d.851h). He was from those hadith masters who narrated hadiths with elevated transmissions in large numbers. See al-Daw al-Lami’.

72. Al-Hafiz Badr al-Aiyni Mahmud bin Ahmad (d.855h). I i.e. Imam Zahid al-Kawthari mentioned his biography in length in the beginning of his commentary on al-Bukhari, titled: Umdat al-Qari, the Muneeriyah edition.

73. Kamal al-Deen bin al-Humam Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahid, author of Fath al-Qadeer (d.861h).

74. Sa’d al-Deen bin al-Shmas al-Deeri, author of Takmilat Sharh al-Hidayah li al-Suruji (d.768h).

75. Taqiyy al-Deen Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Shimni (d.872h). His commentary on Sharh al-Wiqayah entitled: Kamal al-Dirayah categorically denotes his mastery (lit. shining hand ‘‘yadihi al-bayda’’) in the hadiths which pertain to legal rulings.

76. The hadith memorizer and well-learned scholar, Qasim bin Qutlu Bugha (d.879h). He authored the takhreej to the hadiths of Al-Ikhtiyar and the hadiths of Usul al-Bazdawi. Everything that he has authored in hadith and fiqh suggest his high calibre in Hadith and fiqh. See al-Daw al-Lami’.

77. Shams al-Din Muhammad bin Ali, otherwise known Ibn Tauwlun al-Dimashqi, (d.953h). He conveyed fiqh and hadith at length. He has around five hundred books.

78. Ali al-Muttaqi bin Hussam al-Deen al-Hindi, author of Kanz al-Ummal fi tarteeb al-Jami’ al-Kabeer li al-Suyuti. Abu al-Hassan al-Subki said: ‘‘he has been graceful to Suyuti’’.

79. The supreme of hadith masters (malik al-muhaditheen) al-Shaykh Muhmmad bin Tahir al-Fitni al-Gujrati. He authored Majma’ al-Bihar, Tadhkirat al-Mawdu’at, al-Mughni and other valuable books in hadith and its solitary reports.
He was martyred in 987h.

80. The hadith master Ali bin Sultan Muhammad al-Qari al-Harwai al-Makki, (d.1014h). He wrote a commentary on Mishkat and Mukhtasar al-Wiqayah. From his valuable works in the hadiths of legal rulings are his takhreej on Qutb al-Nahrwaali and Abdullah al-Sindi.

81. The hadith master, Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Yunus al-Shibli (d.1027h).

82. The subcontinent hadith master, Abd al-Haqq bin Sayf al-Deen al-Dehlvi (d.1052h). He authored al-Lum’at Sharh al-Mishkat and al-Tibyan fi Addilat Madhab al-Imam Abi Hanifah al-Nu’man (The Explicit Exposition on the Proofs of Numan al-Imam Abu Hanifah’s School). He took hadith from Abd al-Wahhab al-Muttaqi who was the student of Ali al-Muttaqi and also Ali al-Qari. Muhammad Hussain al-Khafi took hadith from him and Hassan al-Ujaymi took from al-Khafi.

83. The hadith master Ayyub bin Ahmad bin Ayyub al-Khalwati al-Dimashqi (d.1071h).

84. The hadith master Hassan bin Ali al-Ujyami Al-Makki (d.1113h). The transmission of his hadiths are in Kifayat al-Mustatli’ in two volumes.

85. Abu al-Hassan al-Kabeer, Ibn Abd al-Hadi al-Sindi (d.1139h). He has authored commentaries on the six major books and Musnad Imam Ahmad.
86. Al-Shaykh Abd al-Ghani bin Isma’il al-Nabulsi, author of Dhakha’ir al-Mawareeth fi Atraf al-Usul al-Sab’ah (d.113h).

87. The hadith master Muhammad bin Ahmad Uqaylah Al-Makki (d.1150h). He is the complier of al-Musalsalat and has many channels of hadih collections (Athbat). He also authored al-Durr al-Manzum fi Tafseer al-Qur’an bi al-Ma’thur in five volumes and al-Ziyadah wa al-Ihsan fi Ulum al-Qur’an. Most of his works are in the library of Ali Basha al-Hakeem in Istanbul. He took hadith from al-Ujaymi and others.

88. Al-Shaykh Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Amasi (d.1167h). He commentated on Bukhari’s al-Saheeh in thirty large volumes titled: Najah al-Qari fi sharh Saheeh al-Bukhari. He also commentated on Saheeh Muslim in seven volumes entitled: Inayat al-Mun’im bi sharh al-Saheeh Muslim.

89. Muhammad bin al-Hassan, well known as Ibn Humat, author of Tuhfat al-Rawi fi Takhreej Ahadeeth al-Baiydhawi (d.1175h).

90. Al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Murtadha al-Zabeedi (d.1205), commentator of Imam Ghazali’s al-Ihya and author of Uquwd al-Jawahir al-Muneefah fi Adillat Madhab al-Imam Abi Hanifah (The Magnificent Jewel Necklaces on the Proofs of Imam Abu Hanifah’s Madhab).

91. The hadith master and jurist (faqih), Muhammad Hibatullah al-Ba’li (d.1224h), author of Hadeeqat al-Riyaheen fi Tabaqat Masha’ikhina al-Musnideen (The Garden of Soft Breezes on the levels of our Shyakhs, The Major Narrators) and al-Tahqeeq al-Bahir fi Sharh al-Ashbah wa al-Naza’ir (The Exquisite Verification in explaining the Similar and Parallel Issues of Fiqh).

92. Author of Radd al-Muhtar, the well learned (al-Allamah) Muhammad Ameen bin al-Sayyid Umar, otherwise known as Ibn Abideen (d.1252h), author of many far-famed books. His channels of transmissions and narrations are in his renowned compilation (thabt) entitled: Uquwd al-La’ali fi al-Asaneed al-Awali (The Diamond Necklaces in the Elevated Pathways).

93. Al-Shaykh Muhammad Abdid al-Sindi (d.1257h), author of Hasr al-Sharid, Tawali’ al-Anwar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar in sixteen extensive volumes and commentator of Musnad Abi Hanifah in many volumes entitled: al-Mawahib al-Lateefah (The Bestowed Subtleties in explanation of Imam Abu Hanifah’s Musnad).

94. Al-Shaykh Abd al-Ghani al-Mujadidi (d.1296h); whose channels of transmissions are collected in al-Yani’ al-Janiyy.

95. Al-Shaykh Muhammad Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhnawi, most learned in the hadiths of rulings among the people of his era (d.1304h), despite some of his anomalous positions which are not accepted in the Hanafi Madhab.

M: Al-Lakhnawi has great contributions in the Hanafi Madhab, both in fiqh and hadith. His books al-Rafa’ wa al-Takmeel on the principles of narrator commendation and discreditation, Al-Ajwib’ah al-Fadhilah li al-As’ilah al-Asharah al-Kamilah (Elite Answers to Ten Comprehensive Questions) in the principles of hadith, commentary on al-Sayyid al-Shareef al-Jurjani’s epistle in principles of hadith entitled: Zafar al-Amani bi sharhi Mukhtasar al-Sayyid al-Shareef al-Jurjani fi Mustalah al-Hadith (The Accomplishment of Aspirations by Explaining al-Sayyid al-Shareef al-Jurjani’s Epitome in the Nomenclature of Hadith), and commentary on Muwatta Imam Muhammad entitled: al-Ta’leeq al-Mumajjad ala Muwatta al-Imam Muhammad (The Exalted Footnote on Imam Muhammad’s Muwatta) are just some prime examples of his mastery in hadith. Ustadh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah has beneficial footnotes to many of his books though he is cold-hearted with Sufis.

His compilation of Hanafi biographies is an excellent masterwork entitled: al-Fawa’id al-Bahiyyah fi Tarajim al-Hanafiyyah. His Tarb al-Amathil fi Tarajim al-Afadhil is another outstanding collection of biographies.

Imam Abd al-Hayy wrote one hundred and ten books and passed away at the age of thirty nine. This amount and the quality of his minutiae illustrate his skills and breadth of knowledge. If you divide his books to the number of days he lived, Abd al-Hayy’s writings equal to the amounts of what Imam Ibn Jareer, Ibn al-Jawzi, Fakhr al-Razi and others composed, declares Ustadh Abu Ghuddah.

Ustadh Abu Ghuddah has excellent biographical notes on Imam Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhnawi in the introductions of al-Rafa’ wa al-Takmeel and al-Ajwibah, both of which are a must read.

96. The Shaykh of our Masha’ikh, the hadith master Ahmad Dhiya al-Deen bin Mustafa al-Kamishkhanawi (d.1311h). He authored Raamuwz Ahadeeth al-Rasul in a voluminous book. He also commentated on Lawami’ al-Uqul in five volumes and he has around fifty other books.

And there are large numbers of hadith specialists in the subcontinent yet there is no opportunity to record all of their names. I have documented the names of some chosen scholars from the Hanafi hadith masters so that the little number may illustrate the greater numbers of specialists in this domain. May Allah have mercy on them and increase their examples, ameen.

Additions


97. The unrivalled hadith specialist in the subcontinent, Shah Waliyullah Ahmad bin Abd al-Raheem al-Umri al-Dehlvi (1176h). He is the major hadith link in the subcontinent through whom all channels pass. He took hadith from Al-Shaykh Muhammad Afdhal al-Saiyalkuti who took it from Al-Shaykh Abdullah bin Salim al-Basri al-Makki. His foremost teacher in Hadith was Abu Tahir al-Kurdi al-Madani whom he accompanied for several years. He recited Yahya bin Yahya’s narration of Muwatta Imam Malik to Al-Shaykh Wafdullah al-Makki ibn al-Shaykh Muhammad Sulayman al-Maghribi. He studied hadith under Al-Shaykh Taj al-Deen al-Qal’i al-Makki too. He authored around fifty books most of which are published. He wrote an excellent commentary on Muwatta Imam Malik both in Arabic and Persian, both of which have been published several times. His books al-Insaf, Hujjatullah al-Balighah, al-Irshad ila Muhimmat Ilm al-Isnad and his Tarajim Abwab al-Bukhari illustrate his matchless knowledge in Hadith and differences of madhabs. See al-Sayyid al-Shareef Abd al-Hayy al-Hasani’s compilation of biographies of the subcontinent scholars entitled: Nuzhat al-Khawatir wa Bahjat a-Masami’ wa al-Nawazir and also al-I’lam bi man fi Tareekhi Hind min al-A’lam.

98. Al-Imam Ahmad Ridha Khan al-Kandahari al-Brelvi (d.1921), called ‘‘the absolute Shaykh of all teachers’’ by Al-Shaykh Isma’il al-Makki, ‘‘the leader of Hadith masters’’ by Al-Shaykh Yaseen Ahmad al-Khiyari al-Madani, ‘‘the encyclopaedia of all sciences’’ by Al-Shaykh Ali bin Hassan al-Maliki, ‘‘the commander of believers in hadith (ameer al-mu’mineen) of our era’’ by the pillar of hadith masters Al-Shaykh Wasi Ahmad al-Surti, ‘‘a giant Imam and well learned man who is an expert in the sciences’’ by Al-Shaykh Yusuf al-Nibhani, ‘‘the erudite and absolute imam’’ by the Shafi’i Mufti of Makkah Muhammad Sa’eed bin Muhammad Babusayl, ‘‘the well learned erudite, perceptive and gallant pillar’’ by the Hanafi Mufti of Makkah Abdullah bin Abd al-Rahman al-Siraj, ‘‘the scrupulous and conscientious Alim’’ by the Hanbali Mufti of Makkah Abdullah bin Hameed, ‘‘the giant teacher and skilled Imam’’ by Hanafi Mufti of Makkah also teaching Imam of Masjid al-Haram Muhammad bin Salih, ‘‘The fourteenth night moon of glowing sciences…author of many dazzling and shimmering books that light the faces of the deluding ambiguities, and writer of numerous works which illustrate his all-embracing knowledge, breadth of understanding of materials and depth in knowledge-acquaintance. The Imam who left no closed door save he unlocked its padlock and neither any vague issue save he exposed its hidden meanings. Honourable teacher, the well learned, gallant and absolute; my Shaykh and my pillar, the most learned of his era, father of cognitions, exponent of the solid proof, my master and my teacher, Ahmad Ridha Khan’’ by Abdullah bin al-Imam al-Muhaddith Zaiyni Duhlan al-Makki and he was praised lavishly by his contemporaries from Makkah, Madinah, Egypt, Shaam, Morocco and other countries.
[1]

He took hadith from his father Mufti Naqiyy Ali Khan, his major hadith teacher al-Sayyid Aal al-Rasul, the Shafi’i jurist of Makkah Al-Shaykh Zaiyni Duhlan al-Shafi’i, Hanafi Mufti of Makkah Abd al-Rahman al-Siraj and Imam of al-Haram al-Makki al-Shaykh Hussain Jamal al-Layl.

Large crowds of scholars from Makkah and Madinah took hadith from him in 1905. These authorizations (ijazaat) are documented in two major hadith-transmission collections of Imam Ahmad Ridha, al-Ijazaat al-Mateenah and al-Ijazat al-Ridhwiyyah. The first among the scholars to take ijazaha from Imam Ahmad Ridha in hadith all hadiths, successively corroborated chains [musalsalat] and the Sufi pathways [salasil al-Awliya] was the Muhadith of Morocco, famous hadith master and teacher, author of sixty books in hadith sciences and textual corpus, al-Sayyid Abd al-Hayy al-Kitani al-Fasi, may Allah have mercy on him.

Imam Ahmad Ridha combined between all; fiqh and hadith with all of their sub-topics, tasawwuf, aqeedah and liberal arts in his extensively large twelve volume fatawa entitled: al-Ataaya al-Nabawiyyah fi al-Fataawa al-Ridhwiyyah.

His works such as Madarij Tabaqat al-Hadeeth, Muneer al-Ayn and al-Nujuwm al-Thawaqib show his mastery in hadith. He commentated on twenty two hadith books which yet remain as manuscripts. See my all-inclusive article on ‘Imam Ahmad Ridha’s Mastery in Hadith Sciences’ for a detailed answer to the following comment in Nuzhat al-Khawatir
[2] added by Mauwlana Ali Miyah al-Nadawi ‘he i.e. Imam Ahmad Ridha, had no expertise in hadith and tafseer’. May Allah destroy their injustice, and He Most High alone gives guidance.

Among his major hadith students was Al-Shaykh Al-Muhaddith Dhiya al-Din Ahmad al-Madani.

Dhiya al-Din Ahmad al-Madani was of Indian origin and studied under Imam Ahmad Ridha for numerous years. Upon receiving absolute permission [ijazah] to teach hadith and other sciences, Imam Ahmad ordered him to settle in the holy sanctuary of Madinah where he dwelled for over twenty five years [confirm or 40?]. Many scholars took hadith from him from among all was the prominent Sayyid from the Idrisi sharifs, teacher of the Mekkan Haram, Sayyid Alawi son of Sayyid Abbas al-Maliki, May Allah have mercy on them all. See GF Haddad.

The late Sayyid, Muhammad son of Alawi Maliki, student of Sayyid Muhammad Amin Qutbi and Sayyid Hassan Fad’aq, had strong connections with Shaykh Dhiya al-Din Ahmad al-Madani. Sayyid Muhammad visited Dhiy al-Din’s abode many times and Shaykh Dhiya was his mentor in compiling a book on the Sunni doctrine and beliefs to preserve the beliefs of the people of Haramain. Dhiya al-Din Ahmad once told Sayyid Muhammad that he saw Sayyiduna Ameer Hamzah, the Prophet’s uncle, behind him with two swords to defend him and support him, hence he must write a book in which he brings together the beliefs of the earlier scholars of the Haramain and those before the Wahabi heresy in the Hijaz. Whereupon, Sayyid Muhammad wrote his first book ‘al-Dhakah’ir al-Muhammadiyyah’ [The Muhammadan Treasures] which received great popularity and was the beginning point of a new era between the Saudi government and the Maliki family.
[3]

Suffice to mention his connections with the students of Imam Ahmad Ridha and high esteem for him, Sayyid Muhammad al-Maliki narrates hadith from al-Shaykh Mustafa son of Imam Ahmad Ridha, the Hanafi jurist, and mentions him among his teachers in his teachers and hadith chains compilation entitled: ‘al-Iqd al-Fareed al-Mukhtasar min al-Athbat wa al-Asaneed’ [The Peerless Necklace, epitome of transmission collections and hadith pathways].
[4]

Sayyidi Fakhruddin Owaisi told me that Sayyid Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki studied Imam Ahmad Ridha’s legendary book on the vastness of the Muhammadan Knowledge entitled: ‘al-Dawlah al-Makkiyah bi al-Maadah al-Ghabiyyah’ under Shaykh Mustafa during his visit in the Hijaz.

99. Al-Imam Basheer al-Mairthi, He is referred to as ‘‘the Imam of Nahw’’ in the subcontinent and has authored the famous commentary on Imam Bukhari’s Al-Saheeh, entitled: Basheer al-Qari. Unfortunately he passed away before its completion and if he had completed it, it would have surpassed the commentary of Anwar Shah Kashmeeri in its minutiae and meticulousness by agreement of subcontinent scholars. Numerous scholars have written articles on its peerless brilliance.

100. Hafiz al-Bukhari Wasi Ahmad Surti.

Muhaddith of Kachaouwchah Abu al-Mahamdid al-Sayyid Muhammad was a student of both Wasi Surti and Imam Ahmad Rida.
Incomplete work.

[1] See al-Dawlah al-Makkiyah.

[2] Nuzhat al-Khawatir is an excellent biographies collection of the Indian scholars by Sayyid Abd al-Hayy al-Lakhnawi al-Hasani. It is acclaimed in the Arab world and held with high esteem among Arab sages. Suffice to say it is among major references in universities and colleges yet consists of interpolations and false statements. These are additions by Mawlana Ali Miyah al-Nadawi and not the views of Sayyid Abd al-Hayy, May Allah have mercy on him, so beware of this.


[3] This is what Sayyidi Fakhruddin Owaisi told me, a student of Sayyid Alawi Maliki who accompanied him for seven years and resided in the company of many Medinian Shuyukh for eighteen years. May Allah preserve him.

[4] Al-Iqd al-Fareed, p16, 1st Ed. Matba’ah Kulliyat al-Da’wah al-Islamiyah, Beirut