Abbas al-Tarqafi

Abbas al-Tarqafi (d. 267 AH / 880–881 CE) was an Iraqi hadith scholar and traveler who resided in Baghdad, known for his transmissions and his hadith collection Hadith al-Tarqafi (also referred to as Juz' al-Tarqafi) Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Identity and studies

His full name was Abbas ibn Abd Allah ibn Abi Isa—whose name was Azdadhbandadh—al-Wasiti al-Baksani, bearing the kunya Abu Muhammad and, according to another report, Abu al-Fadl Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. His nisba al-Baksani (or al-Baksaniyy) relates to Baksaya, a locality in the vicinity of Baghdad, while al-Tarqafi traces to Tarqaf, a settlement in the district of Wasit Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. He traveled extensively in pursuit of prophetic traditions, including journeys across the Levant where he heard hadith in Damascus and other cities before taking up residence and teaching in Baghdad Talkhis al-Mutashabih fi …+1.

Al-Tarqafi studied under numerous prominent transmitters, including Abu Asim al-Nabil, Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Firyabi, Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Muqri', Rawwad ibn al-Jarrah, Abu Mushir Abd al-A'la ibn Mushir al-Ghassani, Marwan ibn Muhammad al-Tatari, and Zayd ibn Yahya al-Dimashqi Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Transmission and standing

A wide circle of scholars transmitted from al-Tarqafi. Ibn Majah recorded a single tradition from him, and other prominent students included Ibn Abi al-Dunya, the jurist Abu al-Abbas ibn Surayj, the Quran reciter Abu Bakr ibn Mujahid, Abu Awanah al-Isfarayini, al-Qadi al-Mahamili, Ismail ibn Muhammad al-Saffar, and Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Sarraj Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

He was widely evaluated as a reliable transmitter. Al-Daraqutni declared him trustworthy (thiqah), and Ibn Hibban listed him in al-Thiqat and included his hadith in his Sahih Mawsuat Aqwal Abi al-Hasa…+1. Al-Sarraj described him as truthful and trustworthy, and Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi noted that he was trustworthy, devout, righteous, and dedicated to worship Tarikh Baghdad+1. One of his students, Muhammad ibn Makhlad al-Duri, remarked on his grave demeanor, stating that he never saw him laugh or smile Tarikh Baghdad+1.

Death

Al-Tarqafi died toward the end of 267 AH (881 CE) at the age of around eighty Siyar Aalam al-Nubala. The year 267 AH was corroborated by Ibn al-Munadi and Ibn Kamil, while Ibn Qani' noted an alternate report assigning his death to al-Muharram 268 AH Tahdhib al-Tahdhib. A conflicting report by Abu al-Qasim al-Baghawi placing his death in 257 AH was rejected by al-Khatib al-Baghdadi as an unmistakable error Tahdhib al-Tahdhib.