213H-276H: Imaam Abu Muhammad Ibn Qutaybah Ad-Dinawaree
| AUTHOR: | Muhammad ‘Abdur-Raheem |
| SOURCE: | His Checking of the Imaam’s book "Ta’weel Mukhtalif-ul-Hadeeth" (pg. 6-8) |
| PRODUCED BY: | Al-Ibaanah.com |
His Name and Birth:
He was the profound and great scholar, master of many disciplines, Abu Muhammad ‘Abdullaah bin Muslim Ibn Qutaybah Ad-Dinawaree. He was one of the exemplary Imaams and one of the prolific writers.
Imaam ‘Abdullaah bin Muslim was born in Baghdad in 213H (828 CE). He resided in Koofah (Iraq) and was then given a judicial position in Dinawar for some time. So he ascribed himself to this land and his fame became widespread.
His Teachers and Students:
Ibn Qutaybah narrated from great scholars like: Ishaaq bin Raahawaih, Muhammad bin Ziyaad bin ‘Ubaydillaah Az-Ziyaadee, Ziyaad bin Yahyaa Al-Hasaanee, Abu Haatim As-Sijistaanee and many more.
Those who reported from him include:
1. His son, Ahmad bin ‘Abdillaah, a Judge in the lands of Egypt
2. ‘Ubaydullaah As-Sukree
3. ‘Ubaydullaah bin Ahmad bin Bakr
4. ‘Abdullaah bin Ja’far bin Durustawayh An-Nahawee, and others.
Abu Bakr Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadee said: “He was trustworthy, religious and a noble.” [1]
His son, Ahmad, was strong in memorizing. He memorized the books of his father and narrated from them while in Egypt, where he served in the position of a judge. He would narrate from his memory and scores of people would gather to listen to them. This was around the 320’s. And he would say that his father had dictated these books to him.
Some Sayings of Imaam Ibn Qutaybah:
Ibn Qutaybah said: "The People of Hadeeth unanimously agree that whatever Allaah wills happens and whatever He does not will does not happen. And (they agree) that He is the Creator of good and evil. And (they agree) that the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allaah – it is not created. And they agree that Allaah will be seen on the Day of Judgement. They agree on giving precedence to Abu Bakr and 'Umar (over ‘Alee). They unanimously agree on having Faith about the punishment in the Grave. They do not differ in these fundamental issues. So whoever opposes them in any of these matters, then they reject and hate him, and declare him to be an innovator, cutting themselves off from him" [Ta’weel Mukhtalif al-Hadeeth: pg.18]
And he said: “Whoever likens Allaah to His creation, then he has committed disbelief. And whoever denies what Allaah has described Himself with, then he has committed disbelief. And what Allaah has described Himself with and what His Messenger has described Him with is not considered tashbeeh(likening to the creation).”
Imaam Adh-Dhahabee said:
”He means by this that the Attributes belong to the One being described. So if Allaah is such that“There is nothing equal to Him in comparison” [2] in His Divine Essence, then the same applies for His Attributes - there is no comparison to them. So therefore, there is no difference between talking about the Essence (of Allaah) and between talking about His Attributes. And this is the belief of the Salaf.” [3]
Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah praised him, saying:
“Ibn Qutaybah was from those who ascribed themselves to Ahmad (Ibn Hanbal) and Ishaaq (Ibn Raahawaih) and from those who aided the Sunnah. And he has authored many books with that regard. The author of the book Tahdeeth fee Manaaqib Ahl-il-Hadeeth said in it: ‘He was one of the noble Imaams and eminent Scholars, the best of them in authoring and compiling. He has authored about three hundred books. He used to incline towards the doctrines of Ahmad (Ibn Hanbal) and Ishaaq (Ibn Raahawaih), and he was a contemporary of Ibraaheem Al-Harbee and Muhammad Ibn Nasr Al-Marwazee. The people of Maghrib (western Muslim Empire) would revere him highly and they would say: Whoever deems it permissible to attack Ibn Qutaybah, he will be accused of heresy. And they would say: Every house that does not have any of his books, then there is no goodness in that house.’ [4] I (Ibn Taimiyyah) say: He is to Ahlus-Sunnah like Al-Jaahidh is to the Mu’tazilah, for he is the spokesman for the Sunnah, just as Al-Jaahidh is the spokesman for the Mu’tazilah.” [5]
And Ibn Taimiyyah described him in his Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa (25/232) as being:
“…From the Imaams of the Salaf, the Sunnah and the Hadeeth, from those who would learn according to the views of Ahmad and Ishaaq.”
His Books:
Imaam Ibn Qutaybah has authored tremendous books, some of which have reached us in this time. The most important of these books are:
1. Al-Ibil [The Camels]
2. Adab al-Kaatib [Etiquettes of Writing]
3. Al-Ashribah [Book of Drinks]
4. I’raab al-Qur’aan [Pronunciation of the Qur’aan]
5. Alfaadh al-muqarribah bil-Alqaab al-Mu’arrabah [Arabized Terms]
6. Al-Anwaa [Book on Tempests]
7. At-Tasweeyah baina al-‘Arab wal-‘Ajam [Similarities between the Arabs and the Non-Arabs]
8. Ar-Ru’yaa [Book on Dreams}
9. Ar-Radd ‘alaa ash-Shu’oobiyyah [A Refutation against the Shu’oobi Group]
10. Adab al-Qaadee [Etiquettes of a Judge]
11. Al-Ishtiqaaq [Book on Etymology]
12. Islaah al-Ghalat [Correcting Errors]
13. A’alaam an-Nubuwah [Signs of Prophethood]
14. Al-Imaamah was-Siyaasah [Concerning Imamate and Politics]
15. Ta’weel Mukhtalif al-Hadeeth [Finding an Interpretation for Hadeeths that seem to Contradict each Other]
16. Jaami’ an-Nahu [Book on Arabic Grammar]
17. Ar-Rajul wal-Manzil [The Man and his Household]
18. Ar-Radd ‘alaa man yaqool bi-Khalq al-Qur’aan [A Refutation against those who say the Qur’aan is Created {i.e. the Jahmiyyah)]
19. Ash-Shi’ar wash-Shu’araa [Poetry and Poets]
20. Tabaqaat ash-Shu’araa [An Index of Famous Poets]
21. ‘Uyoon al-Akhbaar
22. Ghareeb al-Qur’aan
23. Fadl-ul-‘Arab ‘alal-‘Ajam [Virtue of the Arab over the Non-Arab]
24. Al-Qiraa’aat [Recitations of Qur’aan]
25. Al-Mushtabih min al-Hadeeth wal-Qur’aan
26. Mushkil al-Qur’aan
27. Ma’aanee ash-Shi’ar [Meanings of Some Poetry]
28. An-Niyaat [Book on Intentions]
29. Al-Wahash
30. As-Siyaam [Book on Fasting]
31. Al-‘Arab wa ‘Uloomihaa
32. Ghareeb al-Hadeeth
33. Al-Furs [Persia]
34. Al-Fiqh [Book on Fiqh]
35. Al-Masaa’il wal-Ajwibah [Questions and Answers]
36. Mushkil al-Hadeeth
37. Al-Ma’aarif [His Monumental Book on History]
38. Al-Maysir wal-Qadaah [The Ruling on an Arabian Game]
39. Al-Haju [Book on Scoffing]
His Death:
Abul-Hasan Ahmad bin Ja’far bin an-Naadee said:
“Abu Muhammad Ibn Qutaybah died suddenly. There was a loud cry that was heard from afar and then he fell unconscious. He was eating an Arab dish (of meat with bulgur) and was stricken with a fever. So he fell to the floor and moved around for an hour, then remained still. He constantly repeated the Shahaadah to himself until dawn (daybreak) and then passed away. This was in the month of Rajab in 276H (889 CE).
[1] Taareekh Baghdad (10/170)
[2] Surah Ash-Shooraa: 11
[3] Siyar A’alaam an-Nubalaa (13/299)
[4] Translator’s Note: Shaikh ‘Alee Al-Halabee said: “This is only from the aspect of showing emphatic respect for the state and high position of his books. And if this is not so, then can this statement be said about a house in which there is found the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger?” [At-Ta’reef wat-Tanbi’ah: pg. 29]
[5] Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa (17/391-392)
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