Allah Almighty selected some special servants for the protection of the true religion, who are called Muhaddithin (Hadith scholars). Regarding their greatness and virtue, Imam Ibn Hibban Rahimahullah (d. 354 AH) states:
“وَلَوْ لَمْ یَکُنِ الْإِسْنَادُ وَطَلَبُ ہٰذِہِ الطَّائِفَۃِ لَہ،؛ لَظَہَرَ فِي ہٰذِہِ الْـأُمَّۃِ مِنْ تَبْدِیلِ الدِّینِ مَا ظَہَرَ فِي سَائِرِ الْـأُمَمِ، وَذَاکَ أَنَّہ، لَمْ یَکُنْ أُمَّۃٌ لِّنَبِيٍّ قَطُّ حَفِظَتْ عَلَیْہِ الدِّینَ عَنِ التَّبْدِیلِ مَا حَفِظَتْ ہٰذِہِ الْـأُمَّۃُ، حَتّٰی لَا یَتَہَیَّأَ أَنْ یُزَادَ فِي سُنَّۃٍ مِّنْ سُنَنِ رَسُولِ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ أَلِفٌ وَّلَا وَاوٌ، کَمَا لَا یَتَہَیَّأُ زِیَادَۃُ مِثْلِہٖ فِي الْقُرْآنِ، فَحَفِظَتْ ہٰذِہِ الطَّائِفَۃُ السُّنَنَ عَلَی الْمُسْلِمِینَ، وَکَثُرَتْ عِنَایَتُہُمْ بِأَمْرِ الدِّینِ، وَلَوْلَاہُمْ لَقَالَ مِنْ شَاءَ بِمَا شَاءَ.”
“If it were not for the system of isnad (chain of narration) and this group of Muhaddithin preserving the isnad, distortion would have occurred in this Ummah as it did in other nations. No prophet’s nation has preserved its religion from distortion as much as this Ummah has, to the extent that even a small change like an alif or waw in the sayings of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was not possible, just as no addition could be made to the Qur’an. Thus, this group of Muhaddithin preserved the Prophetic traditions and paid special attention to matters of religion. If these Muhaddithin had not existed, everyone would have said whatever they wished.”
Among this group, the most distinguished personality is Imam al-A’immah Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him. A brief biography of him is mentioned below.
Name, Lineage, and Kunya:
Kunya: Abu Bakr
Name: Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah ibn Mughirah ibn Salih ibn Bakr, Nishapuri
Birth:
He was born in 223 AH.
Scholarly Journey:
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, who was a great critic of Hadith and a venerable jurist, traveled in search of knowledge to Rayy, Baghdad, Basra, Kufa, Sham, Jazira, Egypt, and Awsat, and benefited from the great Imams of Hadith.
Description and Authentication:
Imam Abu Ali Husayn ibn Ali ibn Yazid Nishapuri (349-277 AH) says:
“کَانَ أَبُو نُعَیْمٍ الْجُرْجَانِيُّ أَحَدُ الْـأَئِمَّۃِ، مَا رَأَیْتُ بِخُرَاسَانَ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَکْرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، یَعْنِي ابْنَ خُزَیْمَۃَ، مِثْلَہ، أَوْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْہُ.”
“Abu Nu’aym al-Jurjani was an Imam. After Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah in Khorasan, I have not seen any Muhaddith like him or better than him.”
Hafiz Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Uthman al-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him (748-673 AH), says:
“This (Abu Ali Nishapuri) is saying this, who had also seen Imam al-Nasa’i, may Allah have mercy on him.”
Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 354 AH), who was a student of Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, says:
“وَمَا رَأَیْتُ عَلٰی أَدِیمِ الْـأَرْضِ مَنْ کَانَ یُحْسِنُ صَنَاعَۃَ السُّنَنِ، وَیَحْفَظُ الصِّحَاحَ بَأَلْفَاظِہَا، وَیَقُومُ بِزِیَادَۃِ کُلِّ لَفْظَۃٍ تُزَادُ فِي الْخَبَرِ ثِقَۃً، حَتّٰی کَأَنَّ السُّنَنَ کُلَّہَا نَصَبَ عَیْنَیْہِ إِلَّا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ خُزَیْمَۃَ رَحْمَۃُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیْہِ فَقَطْ.”
“I have not seen anyone on the face of the earth except Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, who was so skilled in the science of Hadith, who memorized all the authentic hadiths word for word and took care to investigate every additional word. It is as if he made memorizing all the hadiths the purpose of his life.”
Imam Abdul Rahman ibn Abu Hatim, may Allah have mercy on him (240-327 AH), while endorsing him, says:
“ثِقَۃٌ، صَدُوقٌ.”
“He was a trustworthy and truthful Imam.”
Imam Abu Nadr Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Yusuf Tusi, a jurist (d. 344 AH), says:
“إِمَامُ الْمُسْلِمِینَ فِي عَصْرِہٖ.”
“He was the Imam of the Muslims in his time.”
Imam Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya Nishapuri, may Allah have mercy on him (d. 352 AH), says:
“إِمَامُ الْمُسْلِمِینَ أَبُو بَکْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ خُزَیْمَۃَ.”
“The Imam of the Muslims Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Khuzaymah.”
Hafiz Abu Ya’la, Khalil bin Abdullah bin Ahmad Khalili, may Allah have mercy on him (446-367 AH), says:
“اِتَّفَقَ فِي وَقْتِہٖ أَہْلُ الشَّرْقِ أَنَّہ، إِمَامُ الْـأَئِمَّۃِ، ۔۔۔، وَلَہ، مِنَ التَّصَانِیفِ مَا لَا یُعَدُّ فِي الْحَدِیثِ وَالْفِقْہِ.”
“In your era, the scholars unanimously recognized him as Imam al-A’immah… and he has many works in Hadith and Fiqh.”
Hafiz Zahabi, may Allah have mercy on him (748-673 AH), says:
“اَلْحَافِظُ، الْحُجَّۃُ، الْفَقِیہُ، شَیْخُ الْإِسْلَامِ، إِمَامُ الْـأَئِمَّۃِ، ۔۔۔، وَعَنٰی فِي حَدَاثَتِہٖ بِالْحَدِیثِ وَالْفِقْہِ، حَتّٰی صَارَ یُضْرَبُ بِہِ الْمَثَلُ فِي سِعَۃِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْإِتْقَانِ.”
“Hafiz, Hujjah, Faqih, Shaykh al-Islam, Imam al-A’immah… He had mastered Hadith and Fiqh in his youth, to the extent that his knowledge and precision were exemplary.”
He further says:
“وَقَدْ کَانَ ہٰذَا الْإِمَامُ جِہْبِذًا، بَصِیْراً بِالرِّجَالِ.”
“Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, was a great scholar and had deep insight into the narrators of Hadith.”
The famous mufassir and historian, Hafiz Abu Fida Ismail bin Umar Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him (774-700 AH), says:
“اَلْإِمَامُ أَبُو بَکْرِ بْنُ خُزَیْمَۃَ، الْمُلَقَّبُ بِإِمَامِ الْـأَئِمَّۃِ، ۔۔۔، وَہُوَ مِنَ الْمُجْتَہِدِینَ فِي دِینِ الْإِسْلَامِ.”
“Imam Abu Bakr bin Khuzaymah, who was given the title Imam al-A’immah. He was a Mujtahid of the religion of Islam.”
Imam Abu al-Abbas ibn Surayj, when mentioning Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, said:
“یُخْرِجُ النُّکَتَ مِنْ حَدِیثِ رَسُولِ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمِنْقَاشِ.”
“Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, used to diligently extract points from the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.”
Imam Ibn Jarud, Imam Ibn Hibban, Imam Darqutni, may Allah have mercy on them, and Imam Hakim have also mentioned his narrations.
Imam adh-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned him in his book “Dhikr Man Yu’tamad Qawluhu fi al-Jarh wa at-Ta’dil.”
Allah Almighty granted him extraordinary expertise in Ijtihad and Fiqh. He also had deep insight into the authenticity and weakness of Hadith, was an expert in the defects of Hadith and narrators of Hadith, and his understanding and contemplation were unparalleled.
Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him (321-405 AH), states:
“فَضَائِلُ ہٰذَا الْإِمَامِ مَجْمُوعَۃٌ عِنْدِي فِي أَوْرَاقٍ کَثِیرَۃٍ.”
“The virtues of Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, are preserved with me in countless pages.”
Allama adh-Dhahabi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
“وَلِابْنِ خُزَیْمَۃَ عَظَمَۃٌ فِي النُّفُوسِ، وَجَلَالَۃٌ فِي الْقُلُوبِ، لِعِلْمِہٖ، وَدِینِہٖ، وَاتِّبَاعِہِ السُّنَّۃَ.”
“Due to the knowledge, piety, and adherence to the Sunnah of Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, there is greatness and respect for him in the hearts of people.”
Scholarly Legacy:
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, authored several important books, among which two prominent books are “Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah” and “Kitab al-Tawhid,” both of which are published. The full title of the first book is:
اَلْمُسْنَدُ الصَّحِیحُ الْمُتَّصِلُ بِنَقْلِ الْعَدْلِ عَنِ الْعَدْلِ مِنْ غَیْرِ قَطْعٍ فِي السَّنَدِ وَلَا جَرْحٍ فِي النَّقَلَۃِ
Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah is a magnificent masterpiece of Islamic jurisprudence. Imam Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him (463-392 AH), says about it:
شَرَطَ فِیہِ عَلٰی نَفْسِہٖ إِخْرَاجَ مَا اتَّصَلَ سَنَدُہ، بِنَقْلِ الْعَدْلِ عَنِ الْعَدْلِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ.
“The Imam made it obligatory upon himself that in this book he would only transmit those hadiths whose chains consist of just and reliable narrators and which are connected to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.”
“Kitab al-Tawhid” is also a reasoned and comprehensive book based on the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Great Sheikhs:
The number of teachers of Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, runs into thousands. Some of the famous teachers among them are listed as follows:
◈ Ahmad bin Sinan Wasiṭi
◈ Abbas bin Abdul Azim Anbari
◈ Abu Zar’ah Ubaidullah bin Abdul Karim Razi
◈ Amr bin Filaas
◈ Abu Hatim Muhammad bin Idris Razi
◈ Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Ishaq Saghani
◈ Musa bin Khakan Baghdadi
◈ Ya’qub bin Sufyan Farsi
◈ Ya’qub bin Ibrahim Dawriqi
◈ Ali bin Khashram Marwazi
◈ Ali bin Saeed Nasawi
◈ Ali bin Muslim Tusi
◈ Ali bin Sahl Ramli
◈ Ali bin Abdul Rahman bin Mughirah Misri
◈ Muhammad bin Bashar Bandar, etc.
Honorable Students:
Countless students acquired knowledge from Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him. Among them, some famous students are:
◈ Abu Walid Hassan bin Muhammad Faqih
◈ Abu Ahmad Hussain bin Ali bin Muhammad Taymi, known as Husainak Nishapuri
◈ Abu Ali Hussain bin Muhammad Nishapuri
◈ Abu Ahmad Abdullah bin Ahmad Jurjani
◈ Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ismail Bukhari
◈ Abu Al-Hasan Muhammad bin Hussain Abri
◈ Abu Hatim Muhammad bin Hibban Tamimi Sajistani
◈ Abu Ahmad Muhammad bin Muhammad Hakim Karabisi Nishapuri
◈ Muslim bin Hajjaj Qushayri Nishapuri
◈ Abu Hamid bin Sharqi, etc.
Golden Sayings:
Some sayings of Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, are as follows:
➊ لَیْسَ لِأَحَدٍ مَّعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ قَوْلٌ إِذَا صَحَّ الْخَبَرُ عَنْہُ.
“When a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is established, it is not permissible for anyone to say anything against it.”
➋ أَنَا عَبْدٌ لِّأَخْبَارِ رَسُولِ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ.
“I am a servant of the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.”
Belief of the Pious Predecessors:
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, adhered to the belief of the pious predecessors. Here are some aspects of his belief:
Istawa ‘ala al-Arsh (Settling on the Throne):
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
مَنْ لَّمْ یُقِرَّ بِأَنَّ اللّٰہَ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی عَرْشِہٖ، قَدِ اسْتَوٰی فَوْقَ سَبْعِ سَمَاوَاتِہٖ، فَہُوَ کَافِرٌ بِرَبِّہٖ، یُسْتَتَابُ، فَإِنْ تَابَ، وَإِلَّا ضُرِبَتْ عُنُقُہ،، وَأُلْقِيَ عَلٰی بَعْضِ الْمَزَابِلِ، حَیْثُ لَا یَتَأَذَّی الْمُسْلِمُونَ، وَالْمُعَاہَدُونَ بِنَتَنِ رِیحِ جِیفَتِہٖ، وَکَانَ مَالُہ، فَیْئًا لَّا یَرِثُہ، أَحَدٌ مِّنَ الْمُسْلِمِینَ، إِذِ الْمُسْلِمُ لَا یَرِثُ الْکَافِرَ، کَمَا قَالَ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ.
“Whoever does not affirm that Allah Almighty is established above the Throne over the seven heavens, he commits disbelief against his Lord. He will be called to repent; if he repents, it is better, otherwise (by the Islamic government) he should be killed and his corpse thrown in a place where its smell does not harm Muslims and Dhimmis. His wealth will become fay’ (public property), and no Muslim can inherit from him, because according to the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) statement, a Muslim cannot inherit from a disbeliever.”
Hafiz Zahbi, may Allah have mercy on him, commenting on this statement writes:
مَنْ أَقَرَّ بِذٰلِکَ تَصْدِیْقاً لِّکِتَابِ اللّٰہِ، وَلِأَحَادِیْثِ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰہِ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَآمَنَ بِہٖ مُفَوِّضًا مَّعْنَاہُ إِلَی اللّٰہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ، وَلَمْ یَخُضْ فِي التَّأْوِیْلِ وَلاَ عَمَّقَ، فَہُوَ الْمُسْلِمُ الْمُتَّبِعُ، وَمَنْ أَنْکَرَ ذٰلِکَ، فَلَمْ یَدْرِ بِثُبُوْتِ ذٰلِکَ فِي الْکِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّۃِ، فَہُوَ مُقَصِّرٌ، وَاللّٰہُ یَعْفُو عَنْہُ، إِذْ لَمْ یُوجِبِ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی کُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ حِفظَ مَا وَرَدَ فِي ذٰلِکَ، وَمَنْ أَنکَرَ ذٰلِکَ بَعْدَ الْعِلْمِ، وَقَفَا غَیْرَ سَبِیْلِ السَّلَفِ الصَّالِحِ، وَتَمَعْقَلَ عَلَی النَّصِّ، فَأَمْرُہ، إِلَی اللّٰہِ، نَعُوذُ بِاللّٰہِ مِنَ الضَّلاَلِ وَالْہَوٰی، وَکَلاَمُ ابْنِ خُزَیْمَۃَ ہٰذَا – وَإِنْ کَانَ حَقّاً- فَہُوَ فَجٌّ، لاَ تَحْتَمِلُہ، نُفُوْسُ کَثِیْرٍ مِّنْ مُتَأَخِّرِي الْعُلَمَاءِ.
“The person who affirms the belief of istiwa’ (establishment) on the Throne while confirming the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger, entrusts the meaning (how it is) to Allah and His Messenger and does not delve deeply into its interpretation, is the true Muslim. Whoever denies this belief and is unaware of the evidences present in the Book and Sunnah, is sinful, but Allah will forgive him, because Allah has not made it obligatory for every Muslim to memorize these evidences. However, whoever denies it after acquiring knowledge, deviates from the path of the pious predecessors and subjects the text to reason, his matter is left to Allah. We seek refuge in Allah from misguidance and self-will. The statement of Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, is correct, but it is difficult for many later scholars to understand it.”
Attributes of the Creator:
Regarding the attributes of Allah Almighty, Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
فَنَحْنُ وَجَمِیعُ عُلَمَائِنَا مِنْ أَہْلِ الْحِجَازِ، وَتِہَامَۃَ، وَالْیَمَنِ، وَالْعِرَاقِ، وَالشَّامِ، وَمِصْرَ، مَذْہَبُنَا أَنَّا نُثْبِتُ لِلّٰہِ جَلَّ وَعَلَا مَا أَثْبَتَہ، لِنَفْسِہٖ، نُقِرُّ بِذٰلِکَ بِأَلْسِنَتِنَا وَنُطَبِّقُ بِذٰلِکَ بِقُلُوبِنَا، مِنْ غَیْرِ أَنْ نُّشَبِّہَ وَجْہَ خَالِقِنَا بِوَجْہِ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْمَخْلُوقِینَ، وَعَزَّ رَبُّنَا عَنْ أَنْ نُّشَبِہَہ، بِالْمَخْلُوقِینَ، وَجَلَّ رَبُّنَا عَنْ مَّقَالَۃِ الْمُعَطِّلِینَ، وَعَزَّ أَنْ یَّکُونَ عَدَمًا کَمَا قَالَہُ الْمُبْطِلُونَ، لِأَنَّ مَا لَا صِفَۃَ لَہ، عَدَمٌ، تَعَالَی اللّٰہُ عَمَّا یَقُولُ الْجَہْمِیُّونَ الَّذِینَ یُنْکِرُونَ صِفَاتِ خَالِقِنَا، الَّذِي وَصَفَ بِہَا نَفْسَہ، فِي مُحْکَمِ تَنْزِیلِہٖ، وَعَلٰی لِسَانِ نَبِیِّہٖ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ.
“Our belief, along with all the scholars of Hijaz, Tihamah, Yemen, Iraq, Sham, and Egypt, is that we affirm for Allah Almighty all the attributes that He Himself has affirmed for Himself. We verbally acknowledge these attributes and confirm them in our hearts, and we do not liken the face of Allah to the face of any creation. Our Lord is exalted above being compared to any creation. He is also free from suspended statements, because that which is devoid of attributes is nonexistent. Allah is above the statements of the Jahmiyyah who deny the attributes of our Creator, attributes which Allah has described in His firm Book and through the words of His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.”
Date of Passing of Hasrat Ayat:
This great personality of knowledge, jurisprudence, piety, and following the Sunnah passed away from this mortal world in 311 AH.
فجزاہ اللّٰہ عن الإسلام خیرًا.
Summary:
Imam Ibn Khuzaymah, may Allah have mercy on him, is counted among the distinguished scholars and jurists of Islam, who played an important role in the protection of the religion. Through deep study and research in Hadith and Fiqh, he authored numerous books, including “Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah” and “Kitab al-Tawheed.” His books contain rigorous research on the authenticity of hadiths and detailed explanations of Islamic beliefs. Imam Ibn Khuzaymah followed the creed of the pious predecessors regarding the attributes of Allah Almighty and defended the belief in Istawa ‘ala al-Arsh (Allah’s establishment over the Throne). Many students benefited from his teachings and scholarly efforts, who carried forward the light of his knowledge. Imam Ibn Khuzaymah passed away in 311 AH, but his scholarly legacy remains a guiding light for the Muslim Ummah today.
