06-08-2004, 01:50 PM
Imaam Abul-Hasan, ‘Alee Ibn Al-Madeenee
<b>His Name and Lineage: </b>
He was ‘Alee bin ‘Abdillaah bin Ja’far bin Najeeh as-Sa’adee, Abul-Hasan Ibn al-Madeenee, the reliable authority, the Haafidh, author of books, the expert, the Imaam of Ahlul-Hadeeth, the Leader in the Science of Narrators and Defects, and the foremost of scholars of Hadeeth during his time.
He was born in 161H in the era of the eminent scholars of Hadeeth, such as Ibn Hanbal, Ibn Mahdee, Ibn ‘Uyainah, Al-Qattaan and others.
<b>His Teachers:</b>
He learned and took knowledge from the Imaams of Hadeeth of his time like Hamaad bin Zayd, Sufyaan bin ‘Uyainah, Yahyaa bin Sa’eed al-Qattaan, Hushaim bin Basheer, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Mahdee and others.
<b>His Students: </b>
Many people learned under and benefited from ‘Alee Ibn al-Madeenee, such as: his son, ‘Abdullaah, Ahmad bin Mansoor ar-Ramaadee, Saalih Juzrah, Abu Haatim ar-Raazee and others.
<b>The Scholars’ Praise for Him:</b>
Abu Haatim ar-Raazee said about him: “He was a symbol amongst the people in knowledge of the Hadeeth and its Defects. Imaam Ahmad would not call him by his name, but rather by his kunyah out of respect for him.”
Yahyaa al-Qattaan said: “They blame me for my love for ‘Alee Ibn al-Madeenee, but I learn from him.”
<b>His Search for Knowledge:</b>
As for his search for knowledge, he sought knowledge of Hadeeth and memorized them and became so proficient in that field that he surpassed the people of his time and the Hadeeth scholars of his era, amongst whom were the senior Muhadditheen. So he reached a level in Hadeeth that no one else reached, such that the people would write about how he stood, how he sat and what he wore, as well as everything he said or did.
<b>His Books:</b>
Among the books that he authored were: Al-Asaamee wal-Kunaa (Names and Kunyahs of Narrators), the book ad-Du’afaa (Weak Narrators), at-Tabaqaat (Biographies of Narrators), Al-Waham wal-Khata’ (Defects and Errors in Hadeeth), ‘Ilal-ul-Hadeeth wa Ma’rifat-ir-Rijaal (Defects of Hadeeth and Knowledge of the Narrators), and others.
<b>His Death:</b>
Imaam Ibn al-Madeenee died in the year 234H.