Teachers of Imam al Baqir

December 7, 2020

Narrators who have been severely impugned

December 7, 2020

Students of Imam al Baqir

In the preceding pages we gained a little bit of an insight into the knowledge of Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah and the fountain source of his knowledge and wisdom. It also gave us insight into his piety. It is not surprising then to find students swarming around him in order to benefit from his knowledge and receive Hadith from him. This is why we find many narrators from Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah; however, it is unfortunate that only a few of them are found to be trustworthy after examining their status as narrators. The liars and fabricators, however, are in abundance; who attributed to him many falsehoods and deceptions which any sound mind would reject. In fact, these liars fabricated such statements in his name that expel a person from Islam altogether, let alone deviation. Imam al Baqir rahimahu Llah is free from the lies that have been attributed to him.

In the pages that follow, we will mention the names of a few of these narrators along with the statements of the experts in narrator scrutiny regarding them.

Reliable narrators^[1]

1. Bassam ibn ‘Abdullah al Sayrafi Abu al Hassan al Kufi

Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Salih (acceptable).” On another occasion he said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Salih al Hadith (acceptable in Hadith), there is no problem with him.”^[2]
Al Ajurri reported from Abu Dawood, “Zaid ibn ‘Ali said to him, ‘Teach my son the laws of inheritance.’”
Ahmed said, “There is no problem with him.”
Ibn Hibban said in his al Thiqat, “He makes mistakes.”
Al Hakim said in al Mustadrak, “He is from the reliable Kufans whose narrations were collected but not reported.”^[3]

2. Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 148 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Salamah al Nishaburi narrated from Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, “I said to al Shafi’i, ‘How is Jafar ibn Muhammad according to you,’ and he said, ‘Thiqah (reliable).’”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “He is from the Thiqah (reliable) narrators amongst the people.”
‘Abbas al Duri added, “Relied upon.”
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Hatim said, “I heard Abu Zur’ah saying when he was asked about Jafar ibn Muhammad from his father, Suhayl from his father, and al ‘Ala’ from his father; which is most authentic, ‘Jafar is not equated with these, I heard my father saying, ‘Jafar ibn Muhammad is Thiqah (reliable), the likes of him are not asked about.’”
‘Amr ibn Abi al Miqdam said, “When we would look at Jafar ibn Muhammad then we were convinced that he was from the offspring of the Ambiya’.”
‘Amr ibn Thabit said, “I saw Jafar ibn Muhammad standing at the biggest Jamarah saying, ‘Ask me [about the rites of Hajj], ask me [about the rites of Hajj].”
Abu Nujayh narrated from Hassan ibn Ziyad, “I heard Abu Hanifah saying when asked about the most apt in jurisprudence he has seen, and he replied, ‘I have not seen anyone more apt in jurisprudence than Jafar ibn Muhammad.’”
‘Ali ibn Ja’d narrated from Zuhayr ibn Muawiyah, “My father said to Jafar ibn Muhammad, ‘I have a neighbour who thinks that you dissociate from Abu Bakr and ‘Umar,’ and Jafar replied, ‘May Allah dissociate from your neighbour! I hope that Allah will allow the [familial] relationship I share with Abu Bakr to benefit me. Verily you have raised this complaint to me and I direct you to my maternal uncle, ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Qasim^[4].’”
Salim ibn Abi Hafsah said, “I visited Jafar ibn Muhammad when he was sick and he said, ‘O Allah, I love Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and associate myself with them. O Allah, if there is anything contrary to this concealed in my heart then deprive me of the intercession of Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.’”
Al Azdi narrates from Hafs ibn Ghayyath, “I heard Jafar ibn Muhammad saying, ‘The same hope I have in the intercession of ‘Ali, I have in the intercession of Abu Bakr. My relationship with him [Abu Bakr] is twofold.’” Al Azdi narrates from ‘Abdul Jabbar ibn al ‘Abbas al Hamdani that Jafar ibn Muhammad came to them when they intended to leave from Madinah and said, “You all are, Allah willing, the pious of your town, so inform those who think that I am an Imam who is compulsory to obey that I said I am free of them, and whoever thinks that I dissociated from Abu Bakr and ‘Umar I dissociate from them.’”
Hanan ibn Sudayr said, “I heard Jafar ibn Muhammad say when asked about Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, “You have asked me about two men who have eaten from the fruits of Paradise.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was of the leaders of the Ahlul Bayt in terms of fiqh, knowledge, and virtue. His ahadith other than those from his children can be substantiated from. I have examined the narrations of reliable narrators from him and found that they are strong and do not contradict any of the reliable narrations. It is probable that he would have adhered to those ahadith which he warned others about.”
Al Saji said, “He was truthful, relied upon. If a Thiqah (reliable) narrator reported from him than it is sound.”
Al Nasa’i said in al Jarh wa Ta’dil, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Malik said, “I interacted with him over a period of time and did not see him except in one of three states: performing salah, keeping fast, or reciting the Qur’an. And he never narrated Hadith except that he was in a state of wudu’.”

3. Hajjaj ibn Artah ibn Thawr al Nakha’i Abu Artah al Kufi (d. 145 A.H)

Ibn Hibban mentioned his date of demise in his al Thiqat as 145 A.H.
Al Saji said, “He was truthful, but a Mudallis^[5] with weak memory. He is not an authority in subsidiary matters and religious rulings.”
Ibn Khuzaymah said, “His narrations cannot be substantiated from except where he explicitly indicates having heard it directly (using the words He informed us or I heard).”
Ibn Sa’d said, “He was honourable but Da’if (weak) in Hadith.”
Abu Ahmed al Hakim said, “He was not strong according to them [i.e. the Muhaddithin).” He also said, “He is not substantiated from.”
Al Bazzar said, “He was a Hafiz [of Hadith] but a Mudallis. He also thought very highly of himself. Shu’bah would praise him. I do not know of anyone who did not narrate from him after meeting him except ‘Abdullah ibn Idris.”
Mas’ud al Sijzi said on the authority of al Hakim, “He is not substantiated from.”
Ibn Hibban said, “Ibn Mubarak, Ibn Mahdi, Yahya al Qattan, Yahya ibn Ma’in, and Ahmed ibn Hambal all abandoned him (severely criticised his narrations).
Ismail al Qadi said, “Mudtarib al Hadith (confused in Hadith) on account of his Tadlis.”
Muhammad ibn Nasr said, “The majority of his narrations contain Irsal (disjointedness), Tadlis, and alteration of wording.”^[6]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, errs profusely, and commits Tadlis abundantly. One of the Fuqaha’.”^[7]

4. Harb ibn Surayj ibn al Minqari

Abu Walid al Tayalisi said, “He was our neighbour, there was no problem with him. I did not hear any hadith from him.”
Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “There was no problem with him.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “He was not Qawi (strong), reported contradictory narrations from reliable narrators.”
Abu Ahmed ibn ‘Adi said, “He did not narrate much hadith. It appears that most of his narrations are solitary narrations and rare (reported by him only), and I am optimistic that there is no problem with him.”^[8]
Al Bukhari said, “There is scepticism about him.”
Ibn Hibban said, “He made profuse errors such that his solitary narrations cannot be substantiated from.”
Al Daraqutni said, “Salih (acceptable).”^[9]

5. Al Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah al Kindi (d. 113)

Ibn Sa’d said, “He was Thiqah Thiqah (very reliable), a Faqih, a notable scholar. He narrated many Hadith.”
Ya’qub ibn Sufyan said, “He was a Faqih, thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban said in his al Thiqat, “He would commit Tadlis.”^[10]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable), a Faqih, except that he would often commit Tadlis.”^[11]
Al Dhahabi said, “Thiqah (reliable), a man of the Sunnah.”^[12]

6. Rabi’ah ibn Abi ‘Abdur Rahman (Rabi’at al Ra’yi) (d.136 A.H)

Abu Zur’ah al Dimashqi narrated from Ahmed ibn Hambal, “Thiqah (reliable) and Abu Zinad is more knowledgeable than him.”
Ahmed ibn ‘Abdullah al ‘Ijli, Abu Hatim, and al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ya’qub ibn Shaybah said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable), one of the mufti’s of Madinah.”
Yahya ibn Sa’id said, “I have not seen anyone more intelligent than Rabi’ah ibn Abi ‘Abdur Rahman.”
Al Layth said, “‘Ubaidullah ibn ‘Umar said to me about Rabi’ah, ‘He is our companion in our dilemmas, our scholar and the best of us.”
Ibn Sa’d said, “They [the Muhaddithin] would refrain from him on account of his opinions.”^[13]

7. Sulayman ibn Mihran al Asadi al Kahili, Mawla al A’mash (d. 147 A.H)

‘Asim al Ahwal said, “Al A’mash passed by ‘Qasim ibn ‘Abdur Rahman who then said, ‘This shaykh is the most knowledgeable of all people regarding the narrations of Ibn Mas’ud.”
Ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “Al ‘Amash surpassed all his contemporaries in four traits: He recited more Qur’an than them, he memorised more Hadith than them, he had more knowledge concerning the laws of inheritance than them, and he mentioned a fourth trait.”
Hushaym said, “I did not see anyone in all of Kufah who was a better reciter of the Qur’an than al ‘Amash.”
Zuhayr ibn Zuhayr ibn Muawiyah, “I have not met anyone more intelligent than al ‘Amash and Mughirah.”
Shu’bah said, “No one benefitted me in Hadith as al A’mash has benefited me.”
‘Amr ibn ‘Ali said, “Al ‘Amash would be called al Mushaf on account of his truthfulness.”
‘Abdullah ibn Dawood al Khuraybi said, “I heard Shu’bah saying when discussing al A’mash, ‘The Mushaf, the Mushaf.’”
Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ammar al Mawsili said, “There is no Muhaddith more reliable than al A’mash.”
Ahmed ibn ‘Abdullah al ‘Ijli said, “He was Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable) in Hadith.”
Waki’ said, “Al A’mash never missed the first Takbir for salah (with Jama’ah) for almost 70 years, I remained with him for close on to 60 years in which I never saw him miss a single raka’ah.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Al A’mash is Thiqah (reliable)
Al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable).”^[14]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah (reliable), Hafiz, acquainted with the Qira’ah (recitations), pious, however he commits Tadlis.”^[15]
Al Dhahabi said, “Hafiz, one of the scholars.”^[16]

8. ‘Abdul A’la ibn ‘Amir al Tha’labi al Kufi

Ibn Ma’in said, “He is not that strong.”
Al Saji said, “Truthful, makes mistakes.”
Yahya ibn Sa’id said, “Recognised, narrates contradictory narrations.”
Abu ‘Ali al Karabisi, “Most feeble of people.”
Al ‘Uqayli said, “Ibn Mahdi and al Qattan abandoned him.”
Ya’qub ibn Sufyan said, “Deemed da’if. They say, ‘His narrations from Ibn al Hanafiyyah are distortions.’” He said elsewhere, “There is leniency in his narrations, he (though) is ”
Ibn Sa’d said, “He was da’if in Hadith.”
It is mentioned in al ‘Ilal, “He is not strong according them.”^[17]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, makes mistakes.”^[18]
Al Dhahabi said, “Layyin (lenient), Ahmed considered him da’if.”^[19]

9. ‘Abdul Hamid ibn Jafar ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al Hakam ibn Rafi’ al Ansari al Awsi (d. 153 A.H)

Ibn Hibban said, “Errs from time to time.”
Al Saji said, “Thiqah (reliable), truthful.”
Al Nasa’i said in al Du’afa’, “He is not strong.” ^[20]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, suspected of denying Taqdir, errs from time to time.”^[21]
Al Dhahabi said, “Thiqah (reliable), al Thawri censured him for denying Taqdir.”^[22]

10. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utbah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud al Kufi (d. 160 A.H)

Ya’qub ibn Shaybah said, “He was Thiqah (reliable), truthful, except he changed in the latter part of his life.”
Ibn ‘Ammar said, “He was firm in Hadith before he became confused. Whoever heard from him in Baghdad, his narrations are Da’if.”
Al Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable) except he changed in the latter part of his life.”
Ibn Hibban said, “He became confused in Hadith and was unable to differentiate between them; thus, he deserves to be abandoned.”
Abu Nadr Hashim ibn al Qasim said, “I know the exact day when al Mas’udi became confused. We were with him offering condolences for his son, when a man came and said to him, ‘Your son borrowed 10 000 from Malik and took flight.’ This shook him, so he stood and entered his home. Later he came to us and he was confused (in his narrations).”^[23]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, he became confused before his demise. The principle is that whoever heard from him in Baghdad did so after he became confused.”^[24]
Al Dhahabi said, “From the senior scholars. Ibn Numayr said, ‘Thiqah (reliable), became confused in the latter part of his life.”^[25]

11. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Amr ibn Abi ‘Amr al Awza’i (d. 157 A.H)

Ibn Mubarak said, “If I were to be told to choose [a scholar] for this Ummah, I would choose al Thawri and al Awza’i. Then I would choose al Awza’i between the two because he is the kinder of the two.”
Al Khuraybi said, “Al Awza’i was the best of his generation.”
Baqiyyah ibn Walid said, “We would test the people using al Awza’i: whoever spoke well of him we knew to be a man of the Sunnah.”
Walid ibn Mazid said, “I never saw anyone who was quicker in retracting to the truth than him.”
Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlan said, “I do not know anyone who was a greater well-wisher for the Ummah than him.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “A Shami, Thiqah (reliable), from amongst the best Muslims.”
Al Shafi’i said, “I never saw anyone whose jurisprudence corresponded with his hadith more than al Awza’i.”
Al Fallas said, “Al Awza’i is firm.”
Ibrahim al Harbi said, “I asked Ahmed ibn Hambal about al Awza’i and he said, ‘His Hadith are da’if.” Al Bayhaqi explained, “Ahmed implied by that those of which he substantiated from, as those were the weakest of narrations. Al Awza’i is in reality is an Imam, Thiqah (reliable); however, in some of his jurisprudence rulings he relied on such ahadith the narrators of which could not be traced. Then he would also substantiate from disjointed narrations.”^[26]

12. ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn Hazm al Ansari (d. 135 A.H)

Al ‘Ijli said, “A Madani, Tabi’i, Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.
Ibn ‘Abdul Barr said, “He was of the people of knowledge, Thiqah (reliable), Faqih, Muhaddith, relied upon, Hafiz. He is a proof in what he narrated and what was transmitted from him.”
Malik said, “He was from the people of knowledge and foresight.”^[27]

13. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’ al Ta’ifi al Makki

Al Tirmidhi said, “‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’ is Thiqah (reliable) according to the scholars of Hadith.”
Al Nasa’i said, “Da’if.” On another occasion he stated, “He is not Qawi (strong).
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his al Thiqat.^[28]
Ibn Ma’in said, “‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’, the companion of Ibn Buraydah, is Thiqah (reliable).”^[29]

14. ‘Abdul Malik ibn ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ibn Jurayj al Qurashi al Umawi (d. 150 A.H)

Al Daraqutni said, “Abstain from the Tadlis^[30] of Ibn Jurayj as it is the worst of Tadlis. He does not commit Tadlis except when he has heard from a disparaged narrator.”
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was from the Fuqaha’ of Hijaz, their Qurra’, and pious. He would commit Tadlis.”
Al Dhuhali said, “When Ibn Jurayj says, ‘He narrated to me,’ or ‘I heard,’ then his narrations can be substantiated from.”
Ibn Khirash said, “He was truthful.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “A Makki, Thiqah (reliable).”^[31]

15. ‘Alqamah ibn Marthad al Hadrami Abu al Harith al Kufi

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Firm in Hadith.”
Abu Hatim said, “Acceptable in Hadith.”
Al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[32]

16. ‘Amr ibn Dinar al Makki Abu Muhammad al Athram (d. 126 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Shu’bah would not place anyone above ‘Amr ibn Dinar, not al Hakam or anyone else, that is in firmness.”
Abu Zur’ah, Abu Hatim, and al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).” Al Nasa’i added, “Extremely reliable.”^[33]

17. ‘Amr ibn ‘Abdullah al Hamdani Abu Ishaq al Sabi’i (d. 129 A.H)

‘Abdullah ibn Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “I asked my father, ‘Is Abu Ishaq or al Suddi preferred by you?’ He replied, ‘Abu Ishaq is Thiqah (reliable) but those who have narrated to him are not.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Al Nasa’i said, Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Thiqah (reliable).”^[34]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah (reliable), narrated profusely, ardent worshipper, became confused towards the end of his life.”^[35]
Al Dhahabi said, “One of the scholars, he is similar to al Zuhri in the abundance of his narrations.”^[36]

18. Al Qasim ibn ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud al Hudhali al Mas’udi (d. 120 A.H)

Ibn Khirash said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[37]

19. Al Qasim ibn al Fadl ibn Ma’dan al Huddani al Azdi (d. 167 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Mahdi said, “Al Qasim is from our senior reliable scholars.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).” On another occasion he said, “Acceptable.” And yet on another occasions, “There is no problem with him.”
Muhammad ibn Sa’d, al Tirmidhi, and al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[38]

20. Al Layth ibn Abi Sulaym (d. 148 A.H)

Ibn Sa’d said, “He was a pious worshipper, da’if in Hadith.”
Ibn Hibban said, “He became confused toward the end of his life, he would mix up the isnads, narrating Mursal narrations as Marfu’ and reporting from reliable narrators what they never narrated. Al Qattan, Ibn Mahdi, Ibn Ma’in, and Ahmed all abandoned him.”
Abu Ahmed al Hakim said, “He was not strong according to them.”
Abu ‘Abdullah al Hakim said, “There is consensus upon his weak memory.”
Al Juzajani said, “His narrations are deemed da’if.”
Al Bazzar said, “He was of the worshippers except that he was afflicted with confusion, and he began to mix up his hadith. This is the reason why the scholars criticised him, other than that I do not know of anyone who abandoned [all] his hadith.”
Ya’qub ibn Shaybah said, “He is truthful, da’if in hadith.”
Ibn Shahin said in al Thiqat, “‘Uthman ibn Abi Shaybah said, ‘Layth is truthful; however, he is not a proof.’”
Al Saji said, “Truthful, there is weakness in him. He had a bad memory and committed many errors.”^[39]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, became very confused such that he was unable to differentiate between his hadith, thus he was abandoned.”^[40]
Al Dhahabi said, “He has slight weakness on account of his weak memory. Some relied on him.”^[41]

21. Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar al Madani (d. 150 A.H)

Ibn al Madini said, “Thiqah (reliable), he is not considered da’if according to me except for what he narrates from the Ahlul Kitab.”
Ibn Hibban said, “None in Madinah came close to Ibn Ishaq in his knowledge, and not equalled him in his compiling. He is the best of them in contextualising the reports.”
Al Daraqutni said, “The scholars differ regarding him. He is not a proof, but his narrations can be used for corroboration purposes.”
Ibn al Barqi said, “I did not see the scholars of hadith differing concerning his reliability, they graded his narrations as Hassan. His hadith from Nafi’ have some criticism.”
Abu Hatim al Razi said, “His hadith can be recorded.”
Abu Zur’ah said, “Truthful.”
Muhammad ibn Yahya said, “He is sound in Hassan in hadith, he has some gharib (odd) narrations. He narrated from al Zuhri, and those are excellent narrations.”
Al Hakim said, “It has been reported from al Bushanji that he said, ‘According to us he is Thiqah Thiqah (very reliable).’”^[42]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, commits Tadlis.”^[43]
Al Dhahabi said, “An Imam, he was truthful, from the oceans of knowledge. He has Gharib (odd) narrations most of which are rejected. There is difference of opinion in his proof worthiness. His hadith are Hassan, and a group deemed them Sahih.”^[44]

22. Muhammad ibn Suqah al Ghanawi

Hussain ibn Hafs al Asbahani reported, “Sufyan al Thawri said, ‘I will bring before you a book which is from the best of those in Kufah.’ We said, ‘Will you bring for us the book of Mansur?’ He then took out the book of Muhammad ibn Suqah.”
Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “There were three such people in Kufah that if they were to be told, ‘You are going to die tomorrow,’ they would not be able to increase in their actions [as they were already at the pinnacle of good deeds]: they were Muhammad ibn Suqah, Abu Hayyan al Taymi, ‘Amr ibn Qays al Mula’i.”
Ahmed ibn ‘Abdullah al ‘Ijli said, “A Kufan, Thabat (firm).”
Abu Hatim said, “Salih al hadith (acceptable in hadith).”
Al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (Reliable), pleased with.”^[45]

23. Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn ‘Ubaidullah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Shihab ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al Harith ibn Zuhrah al Qurashi al Zuhri Ab Bakr al Madani (d. 125 A.H)

Abu Bakr ibn Manjuwayh said, “He saw ten of the Sahabah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He was from the best retainers of hadith from his era, and the best of them in contextualising the reports. He was an esteemed Faqih.
Muhammad ibn Sa’d said, “Al Zuhri was Thiqah (reliable), narrated a profuse amount of Hadith, abundant knowledge, and reports. A Faqih in all respects.”^[46]

24. Mukhawwal ibn Rashid Abu Rashid ibn Abi Mujalid (Mawla) al Nahdi al Kufi al Hannat (d. 140 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “I do not know him to be except with goodness.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in and Abu ‘Abdur Rahman al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “His hadith will be recorded.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable) from the elite of Kufah. He did not transmit many hadith.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[47]
Al Daraqutni said, “Mukhawwal ibn Rashid and Mujahid ibn Rashid are both Thiqah (reliable).”
Muhammad ibn ‘Ammar said, “A Kufan, Thiqah (reliable).”
Ya’qub ibn Sufyan said, “Thiqah (reliable).”^[48]

25. Ma’mar ibn Yahya ibn Sam ibn Musa al Dabbi al Kufi

Abu Zur’ah said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his al Thiqat.^[49]
Al Ajurri said, “Abu Dawood commented, ‘It has reached me that there is no problem with him.’ It is as if he was not pleased with him [as a narrator].”^[50]
Ibn Hajar said, “Accepted.”^[51]
Al Dhahabi said, “Verified.”^[52]

26. Musa ibn Salim Abu Jahdam

‘Abdullah ibn Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “My father said, ‘Abu Jahdam Musa ibn Salim, there is no problem with him.’ I asked, ‘Thiqah?’ and he replied, ‘Yes.’”
Yahya ibn Ma’in and Abu Zur’ah said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Acceptable in Hadith, truthful.”^[53]
Ibn ‘Abdul Barr said, “They did not disagree that he was Thiqah (reliable).”^[54]

27. Hisham ibn ‘Urwah ibn al Zubayr ibn al ‘Awwam al Qurashi al Asadi (d. 145 A.H)

Muhammad ibn Sa’d and al ‘Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable).” Ibn Sa’d added, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable), narrated plenty hadith, a proof.”
Abu Hatim said, “Thiqah (reliable), an Imam in hadith.”
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf ibn Khirash said, “Malik was not pleased with him [as a narrator] and Hisham was truthful, his narrations fall under Sahih.”^[55]
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was Godfearing, pious, virtuous, and a Hafiz.”
Abu al Hassan ibn al Qattan said, “He changed before his demise.”^[56]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah (reliable), Faqih, commits Tadlis at times.”^[57]
Al Dhahabi said, “One of the scholars. Abu Hatim said, ‘Thiqah (reliable), an Imam in Hadith.’”^[58]

28. Wasil al Azdi al Basri, Mawla Abi ‘Uyaynah

Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Acceptable in hadith.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[59]

29. Yahya ibn Abi al Kathir (Mawla) al Ta’i Abu Nasr al Yamani (d. 132 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Yahya ibn Abi Kathir is from the most reliable of people.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable), he was considered to be one of the scholars of hadith.”
Abu Hatim said, “An Imam, he would not narrate except from a Thiqah (reliable) narrator.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was from the worshippers. If he attended a funeral, he would not eat that night, and none from his family could speak to him.”
Abu Jafar al ‘Uqayli said, “He has been said to commit Tadlis.”^[60]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable) except he would commit Tadlis and transmit reports omitting narrators.”^[61]
Al Dhahabi said, “An Imam, one of the scholars. He was from the ardent worshippers of the reliable ‘Ulama. Ayyub said, ‘There is none who remain on the face of the earth equal to Yahya ibn Abi Kathir.’”^[62]

NEXT⇒ Narrators who have been severely impugned

[1] Reliable in terms of their character and beliefs, even though there might be some shortfall in their capability of transmission.

[2] Tahdhib al Kamal, 4/59.

[3] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 1/380.

[4] ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Qasim is the maternal uncle of Imam Jafar al Sadiq as his mother was Umm Farwah bint al Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr al Siddiq. Her mother was Asma’ bint ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Bakr al Siddiq.

[5] Mudallis: A transmitter who (sometimes) transmits with obfuscation in his transmission; either intentionally or unintentionally narrating a hadith in manner that obscures or omits transmitters in the isnad. This is referred to as committing Tadlis.

[6] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 2/172.

[7] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/188.

[8] Tahdhib al Kamal, 5/522.

[9] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 2/196.

[10] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 2/372.

[11] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/232.

[12] Al Kashif, 1/345.

[13] Tahdhib al Kamal, 9/124.

[14] Tahdhib al Kamal, 12/76.

[15] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/392.

[16] Al Kashif, 1/464.

[17] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/86.

[18] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/551.

[19] Al Kashif, 1/611.

[20] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/101.

[21] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/554.

[22] Al Kashif, 1/614.

[23] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/190.

[24] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/578.

[25] Al Kashif, 1/633.

[26] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/216.

[27] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 5/144.

[28] Tahdhib al Kamal, 15/312.

[29] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 5/281.

[30] Obfuscation in transmission, whereby a Hadith is either intentionally or unintentionally narrated in manner that obscures or omits transmitters in the isnad.

[31] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/357.

[32] Tahdhib al Kamal, 20/309.

[33] Tahdhib al Kamal, 5/22.

[34] Tahdhib al Kamal, 22/102.

[35] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/739.

[36] Al Kashif, 2/82.

[37] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 8/288.

[38] Tahdhib al Kamal, 23/410.

[39] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 8/417.

[40] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/48.

[41] Al Kashif, 2/151.

[42] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 9/34.

[43] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/54.

[44] Al Kashif, 2/156.

[45] Tahdhib al Kamal, 25/334.

[46] Tahdhib al Kamal, 26/432.

[47] Tahdhib al Kamal, 27/348.

[48] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 10/71.

[49] Tahdhib al Kamal, 28/323.

[50] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 10/223.

[51] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/203.

[52] Al Kashif, 2/283.

[53] Tahdhib al Kamal, 29/64.

[54] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 10/307.

[55] Tahdhib al Kamal, 30/232.

[56] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 11/44.

[57] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/267.

[58] Al Kashif, 2/337.

[59] Tahdhib al Kamal, 30/408.

[60] Tahdhib al Kamal, 31/504.

[61] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/314.

[62] Al Kashif, 2/373.

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents

Students of Imam al Baqir

In the pages that follow, we will mention the names of a few of these narrators along with the statements of the experts in narrator scrutiny regarding them.

Reliable narrators^[1]

1. Bassam ibn ‘Abdullah al Sayrafi Abu al Hassan al Kufi

Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Salih (acceptable).” On another occasion he said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Salih al Hadith (acceptable in Hadith), there is no problem with him.”^[2]
Al Ajurri reported from Abu Dawood, “Zaid ibn ‘Ali said to him, ‘Teach my son the laws of inheritance.’”
Ahmed said, “There is no problem with him.”
Ibn Hibban said in his al Thiqat, “He makes mistakes.”
Al Hakim said in al Mustadrak, “He is from the reliable Kufans whose narrations were collected but not reported.”^[3]

2. Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hussain ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 148 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Salamah al Nishaburi narrated from Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, “I said to al Shafi’i, ‘How is Jafar ibn Muhammad according to you,’ and he said, ‘Thiqah (reliable).’”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “He is from the Thiqah (reliable) narrators amongst the people.”
‘Abbas al Duri added, “Relied upon.”
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Abi Hatim said, “I heard Abu Zur’ah saying when he was asked about Jafar ibn Muhammad from his father, Suhayl from his father, and al ‘Ala’ from his father; which is most authentic, ‘Jafar is not equated with these, I heard my father saying, ‘Jafar ibn Muhammad is Thiqah (reliable), the likes of him are not asked about.’”
‘Amr ibn Abi al Miqdam said, “When we would look at Jafar ibn Muhammad then we were convinced that he was from the offspring of the Ambiya’.”
‘Amr ibn Thabit said, “I saw Jafar ibn Muhammad standing at the biggest Jamarah saying, ‘Ask me [about the rites of Hajj], ask me [about the rites of Hajj].”
Abu Nujayh narrated from Hassan ibn Ziyad, “I heard Abu Hanifah saying when asked about the most apt in jurisprudence he has seen, and he replied, ‘I have not seen anyone more apt in jurisprudence than Jafar ibn Muhammad.’”
‘Ali ibn Ja’d narrated from Zuhayr ibn Muawiyah, “My father said to Jafar ibn Muhammad, ‘I have a neighbour who thinks that you dissociate from Abu Bakr and ‘Umar,’ and Jafar replied, ‘May Allah dissociate from your neighbour! I hope that Allah will allow the [familial] relationship I share with Abu Bakr to benefit me. Verily you have raised this complaint to me and I direct you to my maternal uncle, ‘Abdur Rahman ibn Qasim^[4].’”
Salim ibn Abi Hafsah said, “I visited Jafar ibn Muhammad when he was sick and he said, ‘O Allah, I love Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and associate myself with them. O Allah, if there is anything contrary to this concealed in my heart then deprive me of the intercession of Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.’”
Al Azdi narrates from Hafs ibn Ghayyath, “I heard Jafar ibn Muhammad saying, ‘The same hope I have in the intercession of ‘Ali, I have in the intercession of Abu Bakr. My relationship with him [Abu Bakr] is twofold.’” Al Azdi narrates from ‘Abdul Jabbar ibn al ‘Abbas al Hamdani that Jafar ibn Muhammad came to them when they intended to leave from Madinah and said, “You all are, Allah willing, the pious of your town, so inform those who think that I am an Imam who is compulsory to obey that I said I am free of them, and whoever thinks that I dissociated from Abu Bakr and ‘Umar I dissociate from them.’”
Hanan ibn Sudayr said, “I heard Jafar ibn Muhammad say when asked about Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, “You have asked me about two men who have eaten from the fruits of Paradise.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was of the leaders of the Ahlul Bayt in terms of fiqh, knowledge, and virtue. His ahadith other than those from his children can be substantiated from. I have examined the narrations of reliable narrators from him and found that they are strong and do not contradict any of the reliable narrations. It is probable that he would have adhered to those ahadith which he warned others about.”
Al Saji said, “He was truthful, relied upon. If a Thiqah (reliable) narrator reported from him than it is sound.”
Al Nasa’i said in al Jarh wa Ta’dil, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Malik said, “I interacted with him over a period of time and did not see him except in one of three states: performing salah, keeping fast, or reciting the Qur’an. And he never narrated Hadith except that he was in a state of wudu’.”

3. Hajjaj ibn Artah ibn Thawr al Nakha’i Abu Artah al Kufi (d. 145 A.H)

Ibn Hibban mentioned his date of demise in his al Thiqat as 145 A.H.
Al Saji said, “He was truthful, but a Mudallis^[5] with weak memory. He is not an authority in subsidiary matters and religious rulings.”
Ibn Khuzaymah said, “His narrations cannot be substantiated from except where he explicitly indicates having heard it directly (using the words He informed us or I heard).”
Ibn Sa’d said, “He was honourable but Da’if (weak) in Hadith.”
Abu Ahmed al Hakim said, “He was not strong according to them [i.e. the Muhaddithin).” He also said, “He is not substantiated from.”
Al Bazzar said, “He was a Hafiz [of Hadith] but a Mudallis. He also thought very highly of himself. Shu’bah would praise him. I do not know of anyone who did not narrate from him after meeting him except ‘Abdullah ibn Idris.”
Mas’ud al Sijzi said on the authority of al Hakim, “He is not substantiated from.”
Ibn Hibban said, “Ibn Mubarak, Ibn Mahdi, Yahya al Qattan, Yahya ibn Ma’in, and Ahmed ibn Hambal all abandoned him (severely criticised his narrations).
Ismail al Qadi said, “Mudtarib al Hadith (confused in Hadith) on account of his Tadlis.”
Muhammad ibn Nasr said, “The majority of his narrations contain Irsal (disjointedness), Tadlis, and alteration of wording.”^[6]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, errs profusely, and commits Tadlis abundantly. One of the Fuqaha’.”^[7]

4. Harb ibn Surayj ibn al Minqari

Abu Walid al Tayalisi said, “He was our neighbour, there was no problem with him. I did not hear any hadith from him.”
Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “There was no problem with him.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “He was not Qawi (strong), reported contradictory narrations from reliable narrators.”
Abu Ahmed ibn ‘Adi said, “He did not narrate much hadith. It appears that most of his narrations are solitary narrations and rare (reported by him only), and I am optimistic that there is no problem with him.”^[8]
Al Bukhari said, “There is scepticism about him.”
Ibn Hibban said, “He made profuse errors such that his solitary narrations cannot be substantiated from.”
Al Daraqutni said, “Salih (acceptable).”^[9]

5. Al Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah al Kindi (d. 113)

Ibn Sa’d said, “He was Thiqah Thiqah (very reliable), a Faqih, a notable scholar. He narrated many Hadith.”
Ya’qub ibn Sufyan said, “He was a Faqih, thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban said in his al Thiqat, “He would commit Tadlis.”^[10]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable), a Faqih, except that he would often commit Tadlis.”^[11]
Al Dhahabi said, “Thiqah (reliable), a man of the Sunnah.”^[12]

6. Rabi’ah ibn Abi ‘Abdur Rahman (Rabi’at al Ra’yi) (d.136 A.H)

Abu Zur’ah al Dimashqi narrated from Ahmed ibn Hambal, “Thiqah (reliable) and Abu Zinad is more knowledgeable than him.”
Ahmed ibn ‘Abdullah al ‘Ijli, Abu Hatim, and al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ya’qub ibn Shaybah said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable), one of the mufti’s of Madinah.”
Yahya ibn Sa’id said, “I have not seen anyone more intelligent than Rabi’ah ibn Abi ‘Abdur Rahman.”
Al Layth said, “‘Ubaidullah ibn ‘Umar said to me about Rabi’ah, ‘He is our companion in our dilemmas, our scholar and the best of us.”
Ibn Sa’d said, “They [the Muhaddithin] would refrain from him on account of his opinions.”^[13]

7. Sulayman ibn Mihran al Asadi al Kahili, Mawla al A’mash (d. 147 A.H)

‘Asim al Ahwal said, “Al A’mash passed by ‘Qasim ibn ‘Abdur Rahman who then said, ‘This shaykh is the most knowledgeable of all people regarding the narrations of Ibn Mas’ud.”
Ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “Al ‘Amash surpassed all his contemporaries in four traits: He recited more Qur’an than them, he memorised more Hadith than them, he had more knowledge concerning the laws of inheritance than them, and he mentioned a fourth trait.”
Hushaym said, “I did not see anyone in all of Kufah who was a better reciter of the Qur’an than al ‘Amash.”
Zuhayr ibn Zuhayr ibn Muawiyah, “I have not met anyone more intelligent than al ‘Amash and Mughirah.”
Shu’bah said, “No one benefitted me in Hadith as al A’mash has benefited me.”
‘Amr ibn ‘Ali said, “Al ‘Amash would be called al Mushaf on account of his truthfulness.”
‘Abdullah ibn Dawood al Khuraybi said, “I heard Shu’bah saying when discussing al A’mash, ‘The Mushaf, the Mushaf.’”
Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ammar al Mawsili said, “There is no Muhaddith more reliable than al A’mash.”
Ahmed ibn ‘Abdullah al ‘Ijli said, “He was Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable) in Hadith.”
Waki’ said, “Al A’mash never missed the first Takbir for salah (with Jama’ah) for almost 70 years, I remained with him for close on to 60 years in which I never saw him miss a single raka’ah.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Al A’mash is Thiqah (reliable)
Al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable).”^[14]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah (reliable), Hafiz, acquainted with the Qira’ah (recitations), pious, however he commits Tadlis.”^[15]
Al Dhahabi said, “Hafiz, one of the scholars.”^[16]

8. ‘Abdul A’la ibn ‘Amir al Tha’labi al Kufi

Ibn Ma’in said, “He is not that strong.”
Al Saji said, “Truthful, makes mistakes.”
Yahya ibn Sa’id said, “Recognised, narrates contradictory narrations.”
Abu ‘Ali al Karabisi, “Most feeble of people.”
Al ‘Uqayli said, “Ibn Mahdi and al Qattan abandoned him.”
Ya’qub ibn Sufyan said, “Deemed da’if. They say, ‘His narrations from Ibn al Hanafiyyah are distortions.’” He said elsewhere, “There is leniency in his narrations, he (though) is ”
Ibn Sa’d said, “He was da’if in Hadith.”
It is mentioned in al ‘Ilal, “He is not strong according them.”^[17]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, makes mistakes.”^[18]
Al Dhahabi said, “Layyin (lenient), Ahmed considered him da’if.”^[19]

9. ‘Abdul Hamid ibn Jafar ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al Hakam ibn Rafi’ al Ansari al Awsi (d. 153 A.H)

Ibn Hibban said, “Errs from time to time.”
Al Saji said, “Thiqah (reliable), truthful.”
Al Nasa’i said in al Du’afa’, “He is not strong.” ^[20]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, suspected of denying Taqdir, errs from time to time.”^[21]
Al Dhahabi said, “Thiqah (reliable), al Thawri censured him for denying Taqdir.”^[22]

10. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utbah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud al Kufi (d. 160 A.H)

Ya’qub ibn Shaybah said, “He was Thiqah (reliable), truthful, except he changed in the latter part of his life.”
Ibn ‘Ammar said, “He was firm in Hadith before he became confused. Whoever heard from him in Baghdad, his narrations are Da’if.”
Al Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable) except he changed in the latter part of his life.”
Ibn Hibban said, “He became confused in Hadith and was unable to differentiate between them; thus, he deserves to be abandoned.”
Abu Nadr Hashim ibn al Qasim said, “I know the exact day when al Mas’udi became confused. We were with him offering condolences for his son, when a man came and said to him, ‘Your son borrowed 10 000 from Malik and took flight.’ This shook him, so he stood and entered his home. Later he came to us and he was confused (in his narrations).”^[23]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, he became confused before his demise. The principle is that whoever heard from him in Baghdad did so after he became confused.”^[24]
Al Dhahabi said, “From the senior scholars. Ibn Numayr said, ‘Thiqah (reliable), became confused in the latter part of his life.”^[25]

11. ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Amr ibn Abi ‘Amr al Awza’i (d. 157 A.H)

Ibn Mubarak said, “If I were to be told to choose [a scholar] for this Ummah, I would choose al Thawri and al Awza’i. Then I would choose al Awza’i between the two because he is the kinder of the two.”
Al Khuraybi said, “Al Awza’i was the best of his generation.”
Baqiyyah ibn Walid said, “We would test the people using al Awza’i: whoever spoke well of him we knew to be a man of the Sunnah.”
Walid ibn Mazid said, “I never saw anyone who was quicker in retracting to the truth than him.”
Muhammad ibn ‘Ajlan said, “I do not know anyone who was a greater well-wisher for the Ummah than him.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “A Shami, Thiqah (reliable), from amongst the best Muslims.”
Al Shafi’i said, “I never saw anyone whose jurisprudence corresponded with his hadith more than al Awza’i.”
Al Fallas said, “Al Awza’i is firm.”
Ibrahim al Harbi said, “I asked Ahmed ibn Hambal about al Awza’i and he said, ‘His Hadith are da’if.” Al Bayhaqi explained, “Ahmed implied by that those of which he substantiated from, as those were the weakest of narrations. Al Awza’i is in reality is an Imam, Thiqah (reliable); however, in some of his jurisprudence rulings he relied on such ahadith the narrators of which could not be traced. Then he would also substantiate from disjointed narrations.”^[26]

12. ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn Hazm al Ansari (d. 135 A.H)

Al ‘Ijli said, “A Madani, Tabi’i, Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.
Ibn ‘Abdul Barr said, “He was of the people of knowledge, Thiqah (reliable), Faqih, Muhaddith, relied upon, Hafiz. He is a proof in what he narrated and what was transmitted from him.”
Malik said, “He was from the people of knowledge and foresight.”^[27]

13. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’ al Ta’ifi al Makki

Al Tirmidhi said, “‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’ is Thiqah (reliable) according to the scholars of Hadith.”
Al Nasa’i said, “Da’if.” On another occasion he stated, “He is not Qawi (strong).
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his al Thiqat.^[28]
Ibn Ma’in said, “‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ata’, the companion of Ibn Buraydah, is Thiqah (reliable).”^[29]

14. ‘Abdul Malik ibn ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ibn Jurayj al Qurashi al Umawi (d. 150 A.H)

Al Daraqutni said, “Abstain from the Tadlis^[30] of Ibn Jurayj as it is the worst of Tadlis. He does not commit Tadlis except when he has heard from a disparaged narrator.”
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was from the Fuqaha’ of Hijaz, their Qurra’, and pious. He would commit Tadlis.”
Al Dhuhali said, “When Ibn Jurayj says, ‘He narrated to me,’ or ‘I heard,’ then his narrations can be substantiated from.”
Ibn Khirash said, “He was truthful.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “A Makki, Thiqah (reliable).”^[31]

15. ‘Alqamah ibn Marthad al Hadrami Abu al Harith al Kufi

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Firm in Hadith.”
Abu Hatim said, “Acceptable in Hadith.”
Al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[32]

16. ‘Amr ibn Dinar al Makki Abu Muhammad al Athram (d. 126 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Shu’bah would not place anyone above ‘Amr ibn Dinar, not al Hakam or anyone else, that is in firmness.”
Abu Zur’ah, Abu Hatim, and al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).” Al Nasa’i added, “Extremely reliable.”^[33]

17. ‘Amr ibn ‘Abdullah al Hamdani Abu Ishaq al Sabi’i (d. 129 A.H)

‘Abdullah ibn Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “I asked my father, ‘Is Abu Ishaq or al Suddi preferred by you?’ He replied, ‘Abu Ishaq is Thiqah (reliable) but those who have narrated to him are not.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Al Nasa’i said, Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Thiqah (reliable).”^[34]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah (reliable), narrated profusely, ardent worshipper, became confused towards the end of his life.”^[35]
Al Dhahabi said, “One of the scholars, he is similar to al Zuhri in the abundance of his narrations.”^[36]

18. Al Qasim ibn ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud al Hudhali al Mas’udi (d. 120 A.H)

Ibn Khirash said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[37]

19. Al Qasim ibn al Fadl ibn Ma’dan al Huddani al Azdi (d. 167 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Mahdi said, “Al Qasim is from our senior reliable scholars.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).” On another occasion he said, “Acceptable.” And yet on another occasions, “There is no problem with him.”
Muhammad ibn Sa’d, al Tirmidhi, and al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[38]

20. Al Layth ibn Abi Sulaym (d. 148 A.H)

Ibn Sa’d said, “He was a pious worshipper, da’if in Hadith.”
Ibn Hibban said, “He became confused toward the end of his life, he would mix up the isnads, narrating Mursal narrations as Marfu’ and reporting from reliable narrators what they never narrated. Al Qattan, Ibn Mahdi, Ibn Ma’in, and Ahmed all abandoned him.”
Abu Ahmed al Hakim said, “He was not strong according to them.”
Abu ‘Abdullah al Hakim said, “There is consensus upon his weak memory.”
Al Juzajani said, “His narrations are deemed da’if.”
Al Bazzar said, “He was of the worshippers except that he was afflicted with confusion, and he began to mix up his hadith. This is the reason why the scholars criticised him, other than that I do not know of anyone who abandoned [all] his hadith.”
Ya’qub ibn Shaybah said, “He is truthful, da’if in hadith.”
Ibn Shahin said in al Thiqat, “‘Uthman ibn Abi Shaybah said, ‘Layth is truthful; however, he is not a proof.’”
Al Saji said, “Truthful, there is weakness in him. He had a bad memory and committed many errors.”^[39]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, became very confused such that he was unable to differentiate between his hadith, thus he was abandoned.”^[40]
Al Dhahabi said, “He has slight weakness on account of his weak memory. Some relied on him.”^[41]

21. Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar al Madani (d. 150 A.H)

Ibn al Madini said, “Thiqah (reliable), he is not considered da’if according to me except for what he narrates from the Ahlul Kitab.”
Ibn Hibban said, “None in Madinah came close to Ibn Ishaq in his knowledge, and not equalled him in his compiling. He is the best of them in contextualising the reports.”
Al Daraqutni said, “The scholars differ regarding him. He is not a proof, but his narrations can be used for corroboration purposes.”
Ibn al Barqi said, “I did not see the scholars of hadith differing concerning his reliability, they graded his narrations as Hassan. His hadith from Nafi’ have some criticism.”
Abu Hatim al Razi said, “His hadith can be recorded.”
Abu Zur’ah said, “Truthful.”
Muhammad ibn Yahya said, “He is sound in Hassan in hadith, he has some gharib (odd) narrations. He narrated from al Zuhri, and those are excellent narrations.”
Al Hakim said, “It has been reported from al Bushanji that he said, ‘According to us he is Thiqah Thiqah (very reliable).’”^[42]
Ibn Hajar said, “Truthful, commits Tadlis.”^[43]
Al Dhahabi said, “An Imam, he was truthful, from the oceans of knowledge. He has Gharib (odd) narrations most of which are rejected. There is difference of opinion in his proof worthiness. His hadith are Hassan, and a group deemed them Sahih.”^[44]

22. Muhammad ibn Suqah al Ghanawi

Hussain ibn Hafs al Asbahani reported, “Sufyan al Thawri said, ‘I will bring before you a book which is from the best of those in Kufah.’ We said, ‘Will you bring for us the book of Mansur?’ He then took out the book of Muhammad ibn Suqah.”
Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah said, “There were three such people in Kufah that if they were to be told, ‘You are going to die tomorrow,’ they would not be able to increase in their actions [as they were already at the pinnacle of good deeds]: they were Muhammad ibn Suqah, Abu Hayyan al Taymi, ‘Amr ibn Qays al Mula’i.”
Ahmed ibn ‘Abdullah al ‘Ijli said, “A Kufan, Thabat (firm).”
Abu Hatim said, “Salih al hadith (acceptable in hadith).”
Al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (Reliable), pleased with.”^[45]

23. Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn ‘Ubaidullah ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Shihab ibn ‘Abdullah ibn al Harith ibn Zuhrah al Qurashi al Zuhri Ab Bakr al Madani (d. 125 A.H)

Abu Bakr ibn Manjuwayh said, “He saw ten of the Sahabah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He was from the best retainers of hadith from his era, and the best of them in contextualising the reports. He was an esteemed Faqih.
Muhammad ibn Sa’d said, “Al Zuhri was Thiqah (reliable), narrated a profuse amount of Hadith, abundant knowledge, and reports. A Faqih in all respects.”^[46]

24. Mukhawwal ibn Rashid Abu Rashid ibn Abi Mujalid (Mawla) al Nahdi al Kufi al Hannat (d. 140 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “I do not know him to be except with goodness.”
Yahya ibn Ma’in and Abu ‘Abdur Rahman al Nasa’i said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “His hadith will be recorded.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable) from the elite of Kufah. He did not transmit many hadith.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[47]
Al Daraqutni said, “Mukhawwal ibn Rashid and Mujahid ibn Rashid are both Thiqah (reliable).”
Muhammad ibn ‘Ammar said, “A Kufan, Thiqah (reliable).”
Ya’qub ibn Sufyan said, “Thiqah (reliable).”^[48]

25. Ma’mar ibn Yahya ibn Sam ibn Musa al Dabbi al Kufi

Abu Zur’ah said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Ibn Hibban mentioned him in his al Thiqat.^[49]
Al Ajurri said, “Abu Dawood commented, ‘It has reached me that there is no problem with him.’ It is as if he was not pleased with him [as a narrator].”^[50]
Ibn Hajar said, “Accepted.”^[51]
Al Dhahabi said, “Verified.”^[52]

26. Musa ibn Salim Abu Jahdam

‘Abdullah ibn Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “My father said, ‘Abu Jahdam Musa ibn Salim, there is no problem with him.’ I asked, ‘Thiqah?’ and he replied, ‘Yes.’”
Yahya ibn Ma’in and Abu Zur’ah said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Acceptable in Hadith, truthful.”^[53]
Ibn ‘Abdul Barr said, “They did not disagree that he was Thiqah (reliable).”^[54]

27. Hisham ibn ‘Urwah ibn al Zubayr ibn al ‘Awwam al Qurashi al Asadi (d. 145 A.H)

Muhammad ibn Sa’d and al ‘Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable).” Ibn Sa’d added, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable), narrated plenty hadith, a proof.”
Abu Hatim said, “Thiqah (reliable), an Imam in hadith.”
‘Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf ibn Khirash said, “Malik was not pleased with him [as a narrator] and Hisham was truthful, his narrations fall under Sahih.”^[55]
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was Godfearing, pious, virtuous, and a Hafiz.”
Abu al Hassan ibn al Qattan said, “He changed before his demise.”^[56]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah (reliable), Faqih, commits Tadlis at times.”^[57]
Al Dhahabi said, “One of the scholars. Abu Hatim said, ‘Thiqah (reliable), an Imam in Hadith.’”^[58]

28. Wasil al Azdi al Basri, Mawla Abi ‘Uyaynah

Yahya ibn Ma’in said, “Thiqah (reliable).”
Abu Hatim said, “Acceptable in hadith.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat.^[59]

29. Yahya ibn Abi al Kathir (Mawla) al Ta’i Abu Nasr al Yamani (d. 132 A.H)

Ahmed ibn Hambal said, “Yahya ibn Abi Kathir is from the most reliable of people.”
Al ‘Ijli said, “Thiqah (reliable), he was considered to be one of the scholars of hadith.”
Abu Hatim said, “An Imam, he would not narrate except from a Thiqah (reliable) narrator.”
Ibn Hibban included him in his al Thiqat and said, “He was from the worshippers. If he attended a funeral, he would not eat that night, and none from his family could speak to him.”
Abu Jafar al ‘Uqayli said, “He has been said to commit Tadlis.”^[60]
Ibn Hajar said, “Thiqah Thabat (extremely reliable) except he would commit Tadlis and transmit reports omitting narrators.”^[61]
Al Dhahabi said, “An Imam, one of the scholars. He was from the ardent worshippers of the reliable ‘Ulama. Ayyub said, ‘There is none who remain on the face of the earth equal to Yahya ibn Abi Kathir.’”^[62]

NEXT⇒ Narrators who have been severely impugned

[1] Reliable in terms of their character and beliefs, even though there might be some shortfall in their capability of transmission.

[2] Tahdhib al Kamal, 4/59.

[3] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 1/380.

[6] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 2/172.

[7] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/188.

[8] Tahdhib al Kamal, 5/522.

[9] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 2/196.

[10] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 2/372.

[11] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/232.

[12] Al Kashif, 1/345.

[13] Tahdhib al Kamal, 9/124.

[14] Tahdhib al Kamal, 12/76.

[15] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/392.

[16] Al Kashif, 1/464.

[17] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/86.

[18] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/551.

[19] Al Kashif, 1/611.

[20] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/101.

[21] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/554.

[22] Al Kashif, 1/614.

[23] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/190.

[24] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/578.

[25] Al Kashif, 1/633.

[26] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/216.

[27] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 5/144.

[28] Tahdhib al Kamal, 15/312.

[29] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 5/281.

[30] Obfuscation in transmission, whereby a Hadith is either intentionally or unintentionally narrated in manner that obscures or omits transmitters in the isnad.

[31] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 6/357.

[32] Tahdhib al Kamal, 20/309.

[33] Tahdhib al Kamal, 5/22.

[34] Tahdhib al Kamal, 22/102.

[35] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 1/739.

[36] Al Kashif, 2/82.

[37] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 8/288.

[38] Tahdhib al Kamal, 23/410.

[39] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 8/417.

[40] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/48.

[41] Al Kashif, 2/151.

[42] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 9/34.

[43] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/54.

[44] Al Kashif, 2/156.

[45] Tahdhib al Kamal, 25/334.

[46] Tahdhib al Kamal, 26/432.

[47] Tahdhib al Kamal, 27/348.

[48] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 10/71.

[49] Tahdhib al Kamal, 28/323.

[50] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 10/223.

[51] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/203.

[52] Al Kashif, 2/283.

[53] Tahdhib al Kamal, 29/64.

[54] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 10/307.

[55] Tahdhib al Kamal, 30/232.

[56] Tahdhib al Tahdhib, 11/44.

[57] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/267.

[58] Al Kashif, 2/337.

[59] Tahdhib al Kamal, 30/408.

[60] Tahdhib al Kamal, 31/504.

[61] Taqrib al Tahdhib, 2/314.

[62] Al Kashif, 2/373.

Students of Imam al Baqir

Teachers of Imam al Baqir

Narrators who have been severely impugned

Students of Imam al Baqir

Reliable narrators[1]

Students of Imam al Baqir

Reliable narrators[1]

Reliable narrators^[1]

Reliable narrators^[1]