al-Tusi, Abu al-Hasan

Abu al-Hasan al-Mu'ayyad ibn Muhammad al-Tusi (c. 524–617 AH / c. 1130–1220 CE) was a Khurasani hadith transmitter and Quran reciter based in Nishapur, known for possessing the highest transmission chains of his era and compiling a forty-hadith collection Wafayat al-Ayan+1.

Lineage and Education

His full lineage was Radi al-Din Abu al-Hasan al-Mu'ayyad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Salih al-Tusi, originally from Tus and residing in Nishapur Wafayat al-Ayan+1. He was born around 524 AH, with one report suggesting 525 AH Wafayat al-Ayan+1. In his early childhood, he began attending hadith sessions across Nishapur; he heard Sahih Muslim in 530 AH from Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn al-Fadl al-Farawi, surviving as the last direct transmitter from al-Farawi Wafayat al-Ayan+1. He studied Sahih al-Bukhari under Wajih ibn Tahir al-Shahhami, Abu al-Futuh 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn Shah, and Abu al-Ma'ali Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Farisi Wafayat al-Ayan+1.

Among his other instructors were Abu Muhammad Hibat Allah ibn Sahl al-Sidi, from whom he received the Muwatta' of Abu Mus'ab al-Zuhri, as well as 'Abd al-Jabbar ibn Muhammad al-Khuwari, Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Tusi (known as 'Abbasah), and Fatimah bint 'Ali ibn al-Muzaffar ibn Za'bal Wafayat al-Ayan+1. He also received written authorizations to transmit from prominent elders, including Abu Bakr al-Ansari and Abu Mansur 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad al-Qazzaz Tarikh al-Islam.

Transmission and Standing

Due to his long life and the demise of earlier generations of scholars, al-Tusi became the preeminent traditionist of Khurasan (musnid Khurasan), and students traveled from diverse regions to hear hadith from him Wafayat al-Ayan+1. He authored Kitab al-Arba'in 'an al-mashayikh al-arba'in wa-al-arba'in sahabiyyan wa-sahabiyyah, structured to compile forty narrations received from forty distinct teachers that trace back to forty Companions al-Arbaun lil-Muayyad ibn…. Traditionists praised his reliability (thiqah), sound audition (sahih al-sama'), and noble demeanor al-Taqyid li-Marifat Ruwa…+1.

A large number of scholars narrated from him, including Ibn al-Salah, Ibn Nuqtah, Ibn al-Najjar, al-Diya' al-Maqdisi, Mahmud ibn Ahmad al-Hasiri, and al-Qadi Ahmad ibn al-Khalil al-Khuwayyi Tarh al-Tathrib fi Sharh …+1. His last surviving direct audition student was al-Qasim ibn Abi Bakr al-Irbili, and Ibn Khallakan held a general license issued by him from Khurasan in Jumada al-Akhirah 610 AH Wafayat al-Ayan+1.

Death

Al-Tusi died in Nishapur on the night of Friday, 20 Shawwal 617 AH (December 1220 CE)—with another report mentioning Saturday—and was buried the next day Wafayat al-Ayan+1. Biographers noted that his death occurred shortly before the Mongol armies arrived to conquer and devastate Nishapur Tarikh al-Islam+1.