Asma' al-Rijal
(Biographies of Hadith Narrators)
And Its related Books
As a student of the Holy Quran is very well aware of the fact that there are many verses
in the Holy Quran which cannot be interpreted as their meanings are not clear to
understand; that is why, we need the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad – May Allah’s
peace and blessing be upon him) to comprehend the exact meanings and purposes of
such verses of the Holy Quran.
Keeping in mind the above, it became as clear as crystal that the Hadith is the second
source of Islamic Shariah after the Holy Quran. That was the reason the companions of
Prophet Mohammad – May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him) used to memorize
the Hadith and the Hadith books were compiled at later time by the great Islamic
scholars.
But at the same time, a gang of fabricators of Hadith emerged with the intention to mix
up the reliable Hadith with fabricated Hadith.
So, the Islamic scholars unanimously decided that no Hadith would be accepted without
its chain of transmission.
What is Asma' al-Rijal?
Knowing about the whole life of transmitters of Hadith, their mastering over the Hadith,
their level of expertise in the area of Hadith and their date of birth and death is called
the science of Asma' al-Rijal.
It is worth mentioning here that knowing about the transmitters of Hadith is of vital
importance for students of Hadith.
Books which fall under the category of Asma' al-Rijal
There are three types of books which fall under the category of Asma' al-Rijal and they
are listed as below:
1) Books that provide knowledge about the companions.
2) Books that provide knowledge about the companions and their successors as
well as their teachers.
3) Books that provided knowledge about the status and rank of transmitters of
Hadith in terms of their weakness or strength using technical terms known to
Islamic scholars.
Books that provide knowledge about the companions
First book on the lives of companions of prophet Mohammed (May llah’s peace
and blessing be upon him) was compiled by Abu Ubaidah Moammar bin Al-
Musanna (died in 208 H) and then other Islamic scholars followed his footstep.
“Kitab-ul-Marafa wal-taareekh” by Yaqoob bin Sufiyan (died in 277 H).
“Maarifta-us-Sahaba” by Abul Qasim Al-Baghwi (died in 317 H).
Mojam –us-Sahaba” by Imam Ibne Qaane (died in 351 H)
“Maarifta-us-Sahaba” by Imam Ibne Mandaa (died in 395 H)
“Maarifta-us-Sahaba” by Abu Noaim Al-Asbahani (died in 430 H)
Al-Isteeab fi Maarifta-us-Sahaba” by Ibne Abdul Barr (died in 463 H)
“Asad-ul-Gaba fi Maarifta-us-Sahaba” by Ibne Aseer Al-Jazri (died in 630 H)
“Al-Isaba fi Maarifta-us-Sahaba” by Hajar Al-Asqalani (died in 852 H)
It is worth mentioning here that last four books from the above list are very important,
specially, the last one.
Books that provide knowledge about the companions and their followers as well
as their teachers
“Kutub Al-Tabqaat” by Mohammad bin Umar Al-Waaqdi (died in 207 H).
“Al-Tabqaat al Kubrah” by Mohammad bin Saad (died in 230)
“Kitab al Tabqaat” by Ali Al-Madini (died in 233 H)
“Kitab al- Taareekh Fi Tabqaat-e- Ahl Ilm” by Sulaiman bin Dawood (died in
234).
“Kitab al Tabqaat” by Ibrahim Ibn-ul-Munzir (died in 236 H)
“Kitab al Tabqaat” by Khalifa bin Khayyat (died in 240 H)
“Kitab al Tabqaat” by Imam Muslim (died in 261 H)
“Tabqaat al Muhaddiseen” by Abul Qasim Al-Undulusi (died in 353 H)
“Kitab Tabqaat al Muhaddiseen” by Abu Shaikh Al-Ansari (died in 369 H).
The most important book which is necessary for our discussion is “Al-Tabqaat al
Kubrah” by Mohammad bin Saad as he mentioned with detail about the life of
companions, their followers and followers of their followers. In addition to that, he used
the words related to …such as siqah, hujjah, zaeef etc. which helps a lot to understand
about a narrator or transmitter. The Islamic scholars trusted Ibne Saad but he was
accused to be narrating from weak people in Hadith.
Books related to the Sciences of Invalidation And Rectification
It is very important to know about the science of invalidation and rectification which is
called “Ilmul Jarh wal-tadeel” as it provides knowledge about the status and rank of
transmitters of Hadith in terms of their weakness or strength using technical terms
known to Islamic scholars. There are three types of books in this area:
1. The books that deal with weak transmitters/narrators only.
2. The books that deal with reliable transmitters only.
3. The books that deal with both reliable and weak transmitters.
The authors who compiled books on weak transmitters are Yahya bin Saeed Qattan,
Yahya bin Moeen and Ali Al-Madeeni among many others. Following are names of
books which were written on weak transmitters:
1) Kitab-el-Zuafa by Imam Al-Oqaili (died in 322 H)
2) Marifat-ul-Majrooheen Lil-Muhaddiseen by Ibne Hibban (died in 354 H)
3) Al-Kaaml Lezuafaaerrijaal by Imam Ibne Adi (died in 365 H)
4) Kitab-el-Zuafa by Abu Ahmad Al-Khakim Al-Kabeer (died in 378 H)
5) Kitab-el-Zuafa Wal Matrookeen by Imam Dar-ul-Qutni (died in 385 H)
6) Kitab-el-Zuafa by Ibne Shaheen Al-Bagdadi (died385 H)
7) Al-Madkhal Ilassaheeh by Abu Hakim Nisapuri
8) Kitab-el-Zuafa by Imam Abu Nuaim Al-Asfahani (died in 430 H)
The books which were written on reliable transmitters only are:
1) Al-Seqaat wal Mutasabbetoon by Imam Ali ibn Abdullah Al-Madini (died in
234 H)
2) Kitab-ul-Siqaat By Imam Ijli (died in 261)
3) Seqaat by Ibne Hibban (which is very famous)
4) Kitabo Mashahere Ulamaae Al-Amsaar by Ibne Hibban
5) Kitab-ul-Siqaat By Ibne Shaheen Al-Waai (died in 261)
The books which were written on both weak and reliable transmitters are:
1) by Imam Lais bin Saad
2) by Abdullah ibne Mobarak
3) Zamra ibne Rabiaa
4) Abu Naeem Fazl
Their books are known as “Taareekh”.
Now we describe very briefly about the books which include both reliable and weak
transmitters:
Marefa-ul-Rijaal, Wal-Tareekh, Wal-Ilal by Yahya Ibne Mueen (died in 233)
Kitab-ul-Elal wal-Rijaal by Imam Ahmad (died in 241 H)
Kitab Fi Ilal Hadit wa Marefat-al-Shuyookh by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-
Ammar Almawsali (died in 242)
Al-Tareekh Al Kabeer by Imam Al-Bukhari (died in 256 H)
KItabul Jarh Wal-Tadeel by Ibne Abi Hatim Al-Raazi (died in 327 H)
Tahzeebul Kamaal Fi Asmaaerrijaal by Imam Al-Mizzi
Meezaanul Itedaal Fi Naqzirrejaal by Imam Al-Zahabi
Tahzeeb Al-Tahzeeb by Imam Ibne Hajar Al-Asqalaani
