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Imam Muslim (R.A.)
NAME AND BIRTH:
His name was Abul-Hussain Muslim-bin-Habaj al Nishapuri. He was born in a
distinguished family of Arab Muslims in Khorasan which. was a famous town of
Russia. Imaam Muslim was born in 817 A.D. corresponding to the Islamic year 204
A.H. His forefathers occupied prominent positions during the time of the four
Caliphs. He travelled to many places with the object of learning Hadith, and
after completing his studies in the various centers of learning, he settled at
Nishapur. He spend the rest of his life teaching Hadith.
EDUCATION:
Imaam Muslim started his studies at the very early age of fourteen years. In the
year 218 A.H. the atmosphere in Nishapur, his birthplace, was of a religious and
knowledge type. Nishapur had great personalities in this period such as lmaam
Rahiwe and lmaam Zohri. After traveling widely in search of Hadith, he settled
in Nishapur as mentioned above. Imaam Muslim was much impressed by the vast
knowledge of Imaam Bukhari (R.A.), in the field of Hadith and the deep insight
he possessed on this subject. He therefore attached himself to Imaam Bukhari
(R.A.) up to the end of his life. Imaam Muslim was also an admirer of another
great teacher of Hadith, Muhammed bin Yahya al Dhuli. He attended his lectures
regularly. He visited Baghdad several times and had the opportunity of
delivering lessons there. His last visit to Baghdad was two years before his
death.
IMAAM MUSLIM'S TEACHERS:
Imaam Muslim (R.A.) apart from attending the lessons of Imaam Bukhari regularly,
also attended the lectures of lmaam Ahmad bin Hambal, Abdullah al Qarri, Qutaiba
bin Said, Abdullah bin Maslama and other great Muhaditheen.
IMAAM MUSLIM'S STUDENTS:
Imaam Muslim (R.A.'s) most noted students are Hatim Razi, Ahrnad bin Salmah, Abu
Isa Tirmizi, Abu Bakr bin Khuzayma and other great scholars.
CHARACTER AND KNOWLEDGE:
Imaam Muslim R.A. adhered strictly to the path of righteousness. He was in fact
a great saint of a very high caliber. His excellent character can be well judged
from the simple fact that he never ever indulged in backbiting, a very common
human failing. He had a remarkable memory. Ishaq bin Rahwi said of Imaam Muslim;
" I wonder what this person is going to be?" This was said in his youth. Ishaq
Kausar once addressed lmaam Muslim (R.A.) and said; "Your presence in the Muslim
community will always keep it in the good. " Abu Saimah who was a colleague of
lmaam Muslim was so attached to him that while lmaam Sahib was busy compiling
the Sahih Muslim, he remained in lmaam Sahib's company for fifteen years. He
never told a lie nor did he ever use vulgar words.
MASLAK:
Sheikh Abdul Latief says Imaam Tirmidhi and Imaam Muslim were followers of the
Shafee school of thought, although they were both Mujtahids. Moulana
Abdur-Rashid says that Imaam Muslim was a Maliki. The fact is what was said by
Sheikh Tahir Jazari that Imaam Muslim is not a Maliki nor a Hanafi nor a Shafi,
but his compilation of the Sahih Muslim shows that he was more inclined towards
the Shafee school of thought.
SAHIH MUSLIM:
Allamah Nabawi (R.A.) says that the Ummat have accepted the Bukhari Shareef and
Muslim Shareef as the Kitabs, which follow the Qur`an, in authenticity although
the Bukhari is regarded as holding a higher position than the Sahih Muslim for
specific reasons, the sequence applied in the Muslim is much better than that of
Bukhari. It is known as Al-Jamah as Sahih because it contains the eight
different subjects on Hadis.
AL-JAMAH AS SAHIH MUSLIM:
Imaam Bukhari (R.A.) concentrated his efforts on compilation of authentic hadith
as well as deduction of Laws from Hadith. This is the most difficult part to
understand in the Bukhari. How he deduced Laws from the Hadis, Imam Muslim
concentrated his efforts only on compilation of authentic Hadith.
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