Imam Ibn Khuzaymah: Guardian of Hadith and Islamic Creed

✿ Original Author: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah)
✿ Edited with Headings and Structure for Clarity

❀ The Role of Hadith Scholars in Preserving Islam​

Allah Almighty chose specific servants to preserve the religion of truth, who are known as Muhaddithin (Hadith scholars). About their immense virtue, Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله (d. 354 AH) stated:

Arabic text retained
(al-Majroohin, 1/25)

This group of Hadith scholars preserved the Prophetic Sunnah with utmost dedication, preventing any alteration, much like the Quran. Without them, anyone would have been able to say whatever they pleased about religion.

❀ Imam Ibn Khuzaymah: A Brief Biography​

◈ Name and Lineage:
Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Khuzaymah bin Mughīrah bin Sālih bin Bakr al-Naysaburi

◈ Birth:
Born in 223 AH.

❀ Scholarly Journey​

Imam Ibn Khuzaymah was a prominent critic of Hadith and a respected jurist. He traveled extensively to seek knowledge: Rayy, Baghdad, Basrah, Kufah, Shaam, Jazīrah, Egypt, and Awsaṭ.

❀ Praise and Validation from Scholars​

✔ Imam Abu Ali al-Naysaburi:
"I have not seen anyone in Khurasan like or superior to Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Ishaq after Abu Na'im al-Jurjani."
(Tarikh Baghdad, 12/182 — Authentic Chain)

✔ Imam al-Dhahabi:
"This statement comes from one who saw Imam al-Nasa'i as well."
(Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', 14/272)

✔ Imam Ibn Hibban:
"I have not seen anyone on the face of the earth better at Hadith mastery than Ibn Khuzaymah."
(al-Majroohin, 1/93)

✔ Imam Abdul Rahman bin Abi Hatim:
"Trustworthy, truthful."
(al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil, 7/196)

✔ Imam Abu Nadr al-Tusi:
"Imam of the Muslims in his era."
(al-Mustadrak, 1/425)

✔ Imam Abu Ishaq al-Naysaburi:
"Imam of the Muslims, Abu Bakr Ibn Khuzaymah."
(al-Mustadrak, 4/219)

✔ Imam Abu Ya'la al-Khalili:
"All scholars of the East agreed that he was the Imam of Imams."
(al-Irshad fi Ma'rifah al-Hadith, 3/831-832)

✔ Hafiz al-Dhahabi:
"An exemplary scholar in knowledge and precision."
(Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', 14/365, 373)

✔ Hafiz Ibn Kathir:
"He was a Mujtahid in Islam."
(al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 11/170)

✔ Imam Abu al-‘Abbas ibn Suraij:
"He would extract fine points from Hadith like one extracts with tweezers."
(Ma’rifat ‘Ulum al-Hadith, p. 83)

❀ Scholarly Recognition​

His narrations were also quoted by:

• Imam Ibn Jarud
• Imam Ibn Hibban
• Imam al-Daraqutni
• Imam al-Hakim
  

❀ Renowned Works​

◈ Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah
A masterpiece of Islamic jurisprudence, containing only those Hadiths with an uninterrupted, trustworthy chain.
(al-Jami' li Akhlaq al-Rawi, 2/185)

◈ Kitab al-Tawheed
A comprehensive and reasoned exposition on the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah.

❀ Prominent Teachers​

Among thousands of his teachers, notable names include:

➤ Ahmad bin Sinan al-Wasiti
➤ Abu Zur’ah al-Razi
➤ Abu Hatim al-Razi
➤ Yaqub bin Sufyan
➤ Ali bin Khushram
➤ Muhammad bin Bashar (Bundar)

❀ Notable Students​

➤ Abu Hatim Ibn Hibban al-Tamimi
➤ Abu Ahmad al-Jurjani
➤ Muslim bin Hajjaj al-Qushayri
➤ Abu al-Hasan al-Abrī
➤ Abu Abdullah al-Bukhari (from among the younger contemporaries)

❀ Golden Sayings​

➊ "When a Hadith from the Prophet ﷺ is proven authentic, no one has the right to oppose it with their opinion."
(Ma'rifah 'Uloom al-Hadith, p. 84)

➋ "I am a slave of the reports of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
(al-Faqih wa al-Mutafaqqih, 1/289)

❀ Creed of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors)​

✔ Belief in Allah’s Istiwa (Rising over the Throne)
Denying Allah’s Istiwa is kufr (disbelief), and such a person must be dealt with as per the Islamic judicial system.
(Ma’rifat ‘Ulum al-Hadith, p. 84)

Commentary by al-Dhahabi:
Such views are correct in essence but difficult for later scholars to digest. Those who affirm them with submission are true followers of the Sunnah.
(Siyar A'lam al-Nubala', 14/373-374)

✔ Attributes of Allah
We affirm what Allah has affirmed for Himself in His Book and through His Prophet ﷺ, without likening His attributes to those of creation or denying them like the Jahmiyyah.
(Kitab al-Tawheed wa Ithbat Sifat al-Rabb, 1/26)

❀ Demise​

This great scholar of Hadith and jurisprudence passed away in 311 AH.
May Allah reward him abundantly for his service to Islam.

❀ Summary​

Imam Ibn Khuzaymah رحمه الله stands among the distinguished scholars of Islam who played a critical role in safeguarding the religion. Through his deep understanding of Hadith and jurisprudence, he authored monumental works such as Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah and Kitab al-Tawheed. He remained steadfast on the creed of the Salaf, particularly in affirming Allah’s attributes and His Istiwa over the Throne. His legacy continues to illuminate the path for students of knowledge across the Muslim world.