al-Darimi

Abu Muhammad al-Darimi (181–255 AH / 797–869 CE) was a hadith scholar, jurist, and Quran commentator from Samarqand, best known for his hadith collection al-Musnad (also known as Sunan al-Darimi) Tabaqat Ulama al-Hadith+1.

Lineage and early life

He was Abu Muhammad Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Fadl ibn Bahram ibn Abd al-Samad al-Tamimi al-Darimi al-Samarqandi Sharh al-Ilmam bi-Ahadith…+1. His nisba derives from Darim ibn Malik ibn Hanzalah ibn Zayd Manat ibn Tamim, a major branch of the Banu Tamim tribe al-Asas fi al-Sunna wa Fi…+1. He was born in 181 AH Tabaqat Ulama al-Hadith.

Travels, teachers, and students

Al-Darimi travelled extensively across the Islamic world in pursuit of prophetic traditions, studying in Khorasan, the two Iraqs (Basra and Kufa), Egypt, the Hijaz, and al-Sham Sharh al-Ilmam bi-Ahadith…+1. Among his notable teachers in Khorasan were 'Abdan ibn 'Uthman and Muhammad ibn Sallam; in Iraq, Abu Nu'aym al-Fadl ibn Dukayn, Ubayd Allah ibn Musa, and Yazid ibn Harun; in Egypt, Sa'id ibn Abi Maryam; in the Hijaz, al-Humaydi and Ibn Abi Uways; and in the Levant, Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Firyabi and Abu Mushir Sharh al-Ilmam bi-Ahadith…+1.

A prominent circle of hadith authorities transmitted from him, including Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj—who narrated seventy-three hadiths from him in his Sahih—as well as Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i (outside his Sunan), Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Ja'far al-Firyabi Tabaqat Ulama al-Hadith+1.

Judicial appointment and scholarship

In Samarqand, al-Darimi was appointed to the post of judge (qadi) Tarikh al-Islam+1. He had initially refused the office, but accepted after persistent pressure from the authorities; after adjudicating a single case, he requested to be relieved and was excused Tarikh al-Islam+1.

Al-Darimi disseminated the study of hadith and narrations in Samarqand, defending the discipline against fabrications Tarikh Dimashq li-Ibn Asa…. In addition to his Musnad, he authored a Quranic commentary titled al-Tafsir and another collection titled al-Jami' Tarikh al-Islam+1.

Standing and reception

Contemporary scholars praised al-Darimi for his memorization, precision, and asceticism Tarikh al-Islam+1. Ahmad ibn Hanbal referred to him as "that master" (ذاك السيد) and remarked: "He was offered worldly riches and did not accept" Tarikh al-Islam+1. Ahmad also abandoned narrating from Yahya al-Himmani based on al-Darimi's assessment, citing his authority as an imam Tarikh al-Islam+1.

Raja' ibn Murajja placed him above contemporary masters, stating that he had seen Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, al-Shadhakuni, and Ali ibn al-Madini, yet had seen no one with greater memorization than al-Darimi, nor anyone more knowledgeable of prophetic hadith Tarikh al-Islam+1. Abu Hatim al-Razi characterized him as trustworthy and truthful (thiqah saduq) and called him the leader of the people of his era Tarikh al-Islam+1. Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Numayr similarly stated that al-Darimi surpassed them in both retention and scrupulous piety Tarikh al-Islam.

Death

Al-Darimi died in 255 AH on the Day of Tarwiyah (8 Dhu al-Hijjah) after the afternoon prayer and was buried on the Day of Arafah (9 Dhu al-Hijjah), which fell on a Friday Tarikh Dimashq li-Ibn Asa…+1. Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Asad ibn Sulayman led the funeral prayer over him Ikmal Tahdhib al-Kamal. Other reports place his death in 254 AH, with the prayer led after Friday prayer by Yahya ibn Badr al-Samarqandi, while al-Hakim al-Naysaburi mentioned his death under the year 250 AH Ikmal Tahdhib al-Kamal.