05-26-2004, 08:17 PM
Imaam Abu Bakr ‘Abdullaah Ibn Az-Zubayr Al-Humaydee
Mish’al Al-Hadaadee
Checking of Imaam Al-Humaydee’s treatise Usool as-Sunnah
<b>His Name and Lineage: </b>
He was ‘Abdullaah Ibn Az-Zubayr Ibn ‘Eesaa Ibn ‘Abdillaah Ibn Usaamah, Abu Bakr Al-Qurashee, Al-Asadee, Al-Humaydee, Al-Makkee. He was the Shaikh of Al-Haram (in Makkah) and the Author of “al-Musnad. ”
His Teachers:
He narrated from Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyyaad, Sufyaan Ibn ‘Uyainah – whom he quoted much from –Wakee’, Yahyaa Ibn ‘Ubayd, Waleed Ibn Muslim, Ash-Shaafi’ee and others. He heard many ahaadeeth from Sufyaan Ibn ‘Uyainah, such that Ash-Shaafi’ee said of him: “He memorized ten-thousand ahaadeth from Sufyaan Ibn ‘Uyainah.” Imaam Al-Humaydee said: “I sat with Sufyaan Ibn ‘Uyainah for nineteen years or so.” He is considered one of the greater companions of Ash-Shaafi’ee.
<b>His Students: </b>
His students were many. One of them, Imaam Al-Bukhaaree, narrated from him, as is seen in the very first hadeeth he reports in his Saheeh: “Verily, actions are by intentions….”. Adh-Dhuhlee, the two Raazee’s Abu Zur’ah and Abu Haatim also narrated from him, as did Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Idrees Al-Makkee
<b>The Scholars’ Praise for him: </b>
Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal said: “In our opinion, Al-Humaydee is an Imaam.”
Abu Haatim Ar-Raazee said: “The most authentic of persons reporting from Ibn ‘Uyainah is Al-Humaydee, and he was at the head of the companions of Ibn ‘Uyainah. He was the reliable one, the Imaam.”
Al-Fasawee said of him: “Al-Humaydee narrated to us, and I did not come across someone more sincere to Islaam and its adherents than him.”
Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdur-Raheem Al-Harawee said: “I came to Makkah in the year 198H, and Sufyaan Ibn ‘Uyainah had died at the beginning of the year, seven months before we arrived. So I asked who was the best of Ibn ‘Uyainah’s companions. Al-Humaydee was mentioned to me, so I wrote the ahaadeeth of Ibn ‘Uyainah narrated from him.”
Ishaaq Ibn Raahawaih said: “The Imaams of our time are: Ash-Shaafi’ee, Al-Humaydee and Abu ‘Ubayd.”
‘Alee Ibn Khalf said: “I heard Al-Humaydee say: ‘As long as I am in the Hijaaz area, and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal is in ‘Iraq and Ishaaq in Khurasaan, no one will surpass us (here).’”
Al-Haakim said: “When Al-Bukhaaree would find a hadeeth of Al-Humaydee, he would not pass over his narration for someone else’s narration (of the hadeeth).”
Ibn Hibbaan said of him: “He was a person of the Sunnah, possessing nobility and Religion.”
And Ibn ‘Adiyy said: “He traveled to Egypt with Ash-Shaafi’ee and was one of the best of people.”
Imaam Al-Humaydee said: “By Allaah, that I fight against those who reject the hadeeth of Allaah’s Messenger (saws) is more beloved to me than fighting against the disbelievers.”
Furthermore, Abu Muhammad Harb Al-Karmaanee, Al-Laalikaa’ee, Ibn Taimiyyah and others would describe him as being an “Imaam of the Sunnah.”
<b>His Books: </b>
The sources for his biography do not state many of the names of his books, as they should, but I found the following mentioned in them:
<b>1. Al-Musnad (which contains his famous treatise on ‘Aqeedah)</b>
2. Ar-Radd ‘alaa Nu’maan
3. At-Tafseer
4. Ad-Dalaa’il
<b>His Death: </b>
Ibn Sa’ad said; “He died in Makkah in 219H, and he was reliable and narrated many hadeeth.” May Allaah have mercy on him.
Sources of His Biography:
His biography can be found in Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa (10/616-621) and Tadhkirat-ul-Huffaadh (2/413-414), both from Imaam Adh-Dhahabee, as well as at-Tahdheeb of al-Mizzee (14/512).