Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Khallal
- Died
- 439 AH
- Born in
- Baghdad
Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Khallal (352–439 AH / 963–1047 CE) was a Baghdadi Hanbali hadith scholar and master (hafiz), recognized for his extensive compilations and transmissions of prophetic traditions .
Life and education
Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Khallal—also referred to as al-Hasan ibn Abi Talib after his father's kunya—was born in Baghdad on a Saturday morning in Safar 352 AH (963 CE) . He resided initially in the neighborhood of Nahr al-Qalla'in before relocating later in life to Bab al-Basrah .
Al-Khallal studied hadith under numerous leading authorities of Iraq, hearing traditions from Ahmad ibn Ja'far ibn Hamdan al-Qati'i, Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Warraq, Abu Umar Muhammad ibn al-Abbas ibn Hayyuwayh, Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Askari, Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn al-Muzaffar, and Abu Bakr ibn Shadhan . His students included al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, who recorded hadith directly from him, and Abu Sa'd Ahmad ibn al-Tuyuri, who was the last surviving transmitter to relate traditions from him .
Scholarly standing
Al-Khallal was widely praised by biographers for his reliability and expertise in hadith transmission. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi evaluated him as trustworthy (thiqah), alert, and knowledgeable, observing that he extracted transmissions from the Musnad literature aligned with the criteria of Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, in addition to compiling thematic chapters and extensive biographical records . Al-Sam'ani characterized him as an eminent and venerable master of broad transmission, prolific narration, and acute discernment . Beyond his technical hadith tracts, he also authored Akhbar al-Thuqala (Reports Concerning Tedious Companions), an anecdotal collection detailing social encounters with overbearing company .
Death
Al-Khallal died on the night of Tuesday, 25 Jumada al-Ula 439 AH (November 1047 CE), at the age of eighty-seven . His funeral prayer was performed at the Jami' al-Madinah mosque, and he was buried later that day in the Bab Harb cemetery in Baghdad .
Answer updated
List of Works
Fada'il Shahr Rajab (The Merits of the Month of Rajab) is a specialized hadith tract (juzʾ) dedicated to narrations concerning the sacred month of Rajab and the practices associated with it. The work comprises twenty narrations recorded with their full chains of transmission, gathering prophetic hadiths alongside statements and traditions attributed to the Companions and Successors regarding the merits of Rajab, the sacred months, voluntary fasting, night prayer, and performing Umrah during Rajab.
Karamat al-Awliya (The Miracles of the Saints) is a specialized biographical and hadith compilation dedicated to narrating the spiritual virtues, exceptional gifts, and miraculous wonders (karamat) of early Muslim ascetics and righteous figures. The work compiles prophetic traditions and biographical reports transmitted with chains of narration concerning the righteous allies of God, including accounts of the substitute saints (abdal) and early ascetic figures.
Akhbar al-Thuqala (Reports Concerning Tedious Companions) is a short monograph recording anecdotes, witty remarks, and transmitted traditions about tiresome and burdensome company. Composed according to the method of hadith scholars, it gathers narrations with full chains of transmission documenting the experiences, quips, and coping strategies of early figures when confronted with overbearing or tiresome individuals.
Fadail Surat al-Ikhlas (The Virtues of Surat al-Ikhlas) is a specialized hadith treatise devoted to narrations regarding the merits and rewards of reciting Surat al-Ikhlas. Belonging to the monographic hadith genre focusing on the virtues of specific Qur'anic chapters, it compiles reports with complete transmission chains concerning the spiritual benefits of reciting the surah, including repeated recitations, protection from the Fire, and the attainment of forgiveness.
Dhikr man lam yakun ‘indahu illa hadith wahid (Mention of Those Who Possessed Only One Hadith) is a specialized hadith monograph (juz’) belonging to the genre of hadith nomenclature and transmitter evaluation. The work documents narrators who either possessed or transmitted only a single hadith in their entire repertory, as well as transmitters who related only a single hadith from a specific teacher, providing complete chains of transmission and scholarly assessments for each entry.
al-Majalis al-Ashara al-Amali (The Ten Dictation Sessions) is a hadith work consisting of Prophetic traditions and transmitted reports recorded during dictation assemblies. Belonging to the amali genre of hadith literature, it is structured into ten distinct sessions that deliver a variety of traditions and narrations across different thematic areas, complete with their chains of transmission.
Majlisan min Amali al-Khallal (Two Dictation Sessions from the Dictations of al-Khallal) is a short hadith tract (juzʾ) containing twenty prophetic and historical reports transmitted across two distinct dictation sessions, complete with their chains of transmission.