Biography of Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman
Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman ibn Awf is recognized as one of the esteemed Tabi’in (followers) and narrators of Hadith in Islamic history. He is also regarded as one of the seven jurists of Medina. He served as a judge in Medina and was the son of Abdul-Rahman ibn Awf — a prominent Companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and one of the ten given glad tidings of Paradise.
A Glimpse into the Life of Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman
Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman was born in the year 22 AH. Historians have debated his original name, with some sources suggesting it was the same as his kunya (nickname), while others propose names such as Abdul Allah or Ismail. His full name is Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman ibn Awf ibn Abdul Awf ibn al-Harith, and he hails from the Banu Zuhra clan, which is related to the family of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through his maternal lineage. Additionally, Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, was his foster aunt.
When Sa’id ibn al-As was appointed as the governor of Medina, he appointed Abu Salama as the judge in 48 AH. He served in this capacity until 54 AH when Sa’id was removed from office. Abu Salama had a significant number of children, among them Al-Husayn, Al-Hasan, Abdul-Jabbar, Abu Bakr, and Abdul-Aziz. He passed away in Medina in 94 AH, at the age of approximately 72 years.
Notable Individuals from Whom Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman Narrated
Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated from numerous Companions and Tabi’in. Below are some of the most notable names:
- Aisha bint Abu Bakr
- Usama ibn Zaid
- Abu Huraira
- Abdullah ibn Salam
- Uthman ibn Affan
- Abu Ayyub al-Ansari
- Um Salama and her daughter Zaynab bint Abu Salama
- Al-Hassan ibn Thabit
- Um Sulaim bint Milhan
- Thawban, the freedman of Prophet Muhammad
- Abu Asid al-Sa’idi
- Mu’ayyqib ibn Abu Fatima al-Dusi
- Al-Mughira ibn Shu’ba
- Hamza ibn Amr al-Aslami
- Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab
- Rabi’a ibn Ka’b al-Aslami
- Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As
- Abdullah ibn Abbas
- Naafi’ ibn Abdul Harith al-Khaza’i
- Busr ibn Sa’id
- Anas ibn Malik
- Urwah ibn al-Zubair
- Ata ibn Yasar
- Zayd ibn Thabit
- Abdul-Rahman ibn Abu Sa’id al-Khudri
- Amr ibn Rafi’ al-Mawla of Umar ibn al-Khattab
Individuals Who Narrated from Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman
A substantial number of Tabi’in narrated from Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman. The most prominent among them include:
- Umar ibn Abu Salama ibn Abdul-Rahman
- Sa’d ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdul-Rahman
- Urwah ibn al-Zubair
- Arak ibn Malik al-Ghifari
- Al-Sha’bi
- Saeed al-Maqbari
- Amr ibn Dinar
- Umar ibn Abdul Aziz
- Naafi’ the freedman of Ibn Umar
- Al-Zuhri
- Yahya ibn Abu Kathir
- Salma ibn Kuhail
- Bakir ibn Al-Ashajj
- Saalim, Abu Al-Nadr
- Abu Al-Zinad
- Safwan ibn Sulaym
- Abdullah ibn Al-Fadl Al-Hashimi
- Abdullah ibn Abu Labid
- Shariq ibn Abdullah ibn Abu Nammir
- Abu Hazm al-A’raj
- Salah ibn Muhammad ibn Zaida Al-Laythi
- Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqil ibn Abi Talib
- Hisham ibn Urwah
- Yahya ibn Said Al-Ansari