Insights into Abu Bakr Al-Ayash
Abu Bakr Al-Ayash, formally known as Shu’bah ibn Ayyash ibn Salim Al-Asadi Al-Kufi, is a prominent figure in Islamic scholarship. He was born in 95 AH (After Hijrah) and is recognized as one of the seven primary reciters of the Quran. As an esteemed imam and a distinguished scholar, he is revered among the major scholars of Sunni Islam for his vast knowledge and dedication to his faith, characterized by his ascetic lifestyle and piety.
Abu Bakr Al-Ayash learned the Quran directly from Aasim, stating, “I learned the Quran from Aasim five verses at a time and did not learn from anyone else or read with anyone but him.” He embodied qualities of piety and acceptance of God’s will, as well as a commitment to truth and guidance for others. Yahya ibn Sa’id Al-Amwi noted, “I traveled with Abu Bakr Al-Ayash to Mecca, and he was one of the most pious individuals I have ever seen. When given ripe dates from the garden of Khalid ibn Salamah, he inquired about their origins, and upon learning, he sought their lawful ownership and subsequently gave their value in charity.”
Perspectives of Scholars on Abu Bakr Al-Ayash
Scholars have expressed their admiration for Abu Bakr Al-Ayash; below are some accolades:
- Ahmad ibn Hanbal described him as a man of the Quran and a symbol of goodness.
- Al-Idris ibn Mubarak stated, “I have not seen anyone quicker to embrace the Sunnah than Abu Bakr Al-Ayash.”
- The historian Yaqub ibn Shiabah remarked, “Abu Bakr was well-known for his outstanding piety and possessed significant jurisprudential knowledge.”
- Yazid ibn Harun noted, “Abu Bakr was virtuous and noble, not having laid on the ground for rest for forty years.”
- Yahya ibn Ma’in stated, “For fifty years, no bedding was laid for Abu Bakr.”
Passing of Abu Bakr Al-Ayash
Abu Bakr Al-Ayash passed away in 193 AH. His son Ibrahim recounted a poignant moment during his father’s final hours, stating, “I cried by my father’s side as death approached him. He asked, ‘What makes you weep? Do you think God would neglect my father, who has completed the Quran nightly for forty years?’ My sister also wept, to which he replied, ‘Do not cry; look at that storage area in the house, where your brother completed eighteen thousand recitations of the Quran.'”
Works of Abu Bakr Al-Ayash
Imam Abu Bakr Al-Ayash authored numerous foundational texts that are invaluable to researchers in Quranic studies and scholars of Islamic sciences. His works are categorized among critical texts concerning Quranic studies, embracing various dimensions, including the interpretation of the Quran in its various forms.
- The book “Silsilat Taysir Al-Qira’at Al-Qur’aniyyah” from the path of Tayeebah, authored after Imam Aasim ibn Abu Al-Najood.
- The narration of Al-Duri from Abu Amr Al-Basri’s Hafs ibn Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, based on Al-Shatibiyyah.
- The reading of Ibn Aamer Al-Dimashqi, transmitted by his narrators, Hisham ibn Ammar Al-Dimashqi and Abdullah ibn Dhakwan Al-Fihri Al-Dimashqi, published through Tayeebah with reading clarifications.
- The narration of Hafs ibn Sulayman from Imam Aasim ibn Abu Al-Najood, with elaborations on the narration.
- The reading of Abu Ja’far Al-Madani narrated by Ibn Wardaan and Ibn Jammaz, with clarifications on the reading based on Tayeebah.