Imam Ibn Hibban
Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Hibban ibn Ahmad ibn Hibban ibn Mu’adh ibn Ma’bad ibn Suhaid ibn Hadiyyah, a member of the Tamimi al-Darmi family, was born in 273 AH, though some sources suggest 270 AH, in the city of Bust, located in the region of Sijistan. He is recognized as one of the prominent traveling scholars and esteemed authors in Islamic history.
The esteemed historian, Al-Dhahabi, described him in “Siyar A’lam al-Nubala” as “the eminent scholar, the memorizer, and the proficient one.” Ibn Hibban began his quest for knowledge at an early age and traveled to numerous countries to learn Hadith, studying under many of the greatest scholars and imams from various parts of the Islamic world. His journeys took him through Khurasan, Levant, Egypt, Iraq, the Jazirah, Nishapur, and Basra. Among his notable teachers were Abu Khalifah al-Jumahi in Basra and Imam al-Nasai, the author of the Sunan, in Egypt.
In Mosul, he learned from Abu Ya’la Ahmad ibn Ali and Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Sufi in Baghdad, as well as from Ja’far ibn Ahmad in Damascus, alongside many other eminent scholars. Ibn Hibban’s scholarly travels lasted approximately 40 years, during which he also served as a judge in Samarkand for a period. He passed away in Sijistan in 354 AH.
Notable Works of Ibn Hibban
Ibn Hibban was a scholar of vast knowledge, distinguished in jurisprudence, and well-versed in various sciences such as Arabic linguistics, medicine, and astronomy. He was prolific in his writing and authored numerous works. Yaqut al-Hamawi remarked, “Anyone who examines his writings with fairness will know that this man was an ocean of knowledge.” Some of his prominent works include:
- Al-Musnad Al-Sahih: A compilation of authentic Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reputed to be more accurate than the Sunan of Ibn Majah.
- Rawdat al-Aqla.
- Al-Anwa’ wa al-Taqasim: Contains Hadiths from the six authentic books with omitted chains of transmission.
- Ma’rifat al-Majruhīn from the narrators.
- The Book of Al-Thiqat.
- The Book of the Errors and Misjudgments of Historical Scholars, spanning ten volumes.
- The Book of the Companions, comprising five volumes.
- The Book of the Followers, consisting of twelve volumes.
- The Books of the Followers’ Followers and the Successors of the Followers, totaling fifteen volumes.
- The Book of Strange Reports, which includes twenty volumes.
- The Book of Names Known by Kunyas, spanning three volumes.
- The Book of Al-Mu’jam, on towns, consisting of ten volumes.
- The Book of Description of Sciences and Their Types, consisting of thirty volumes.
- The Book of Famous Scholars of the Cities.
Sahih Ibn Hibban
Ibn Hibban named his work “Al-Musnad Al-Sahih on Classifications and Types, without any breaks in its chain of narration or any confirmed defects in its narrators.” He composed this book in response to people turning away from authentic Sunnah and adhering to weak and questionable Hadiths. His intention was to encourage the preservation of Sunnah out of his zeal for the Prophet’s traditions and guide people back to the correct method of the scholars and Hadith narrators in receiving the sayings of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
Furthermore, Ibn Hibban set five essential conditions that must be met by anyone narrating Hadith from his compilation:
- Upholding justice in faith.
- Being known for honesty in narration.
- Having the capacity to comprehend and understand what they narrate.
- Knowledge of the meanings they are relating.
- Ensuring there is no deception in their reporting.