Hajib ibn Ahmad al-Tusi
- Died
- 336 AH
- Born in
- -
Hajib ibn Ahmad al-Tusi (d. 336 AH / 947–948 CE) was a hadith transmitter from Tus who was sought out for narrations in Khurasan in his centenarian years.
Transmission and Lifespan
Abu Muhammad Hajib ibn Ahmad ibn Yarhum ibn Sufyan al-Tusi claimed to be 108 years old while visiting Nishapur in 335 AH. He narrated from early authorities of the region, including Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Dhuhli, Muhammad ibn Rafi', Muhammad ibn Hammad al-Abyawardi, Abd Allah ibn Hashim, Abd al-Rahim ibn Munib, and Ishaq ibn Mansur al-Kawsaj.
A number of scholars narrated traditions from him, among them Ibn Mandah, al-Qadi Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Hiri, Mansur ibn Abd Allah al-Khalidi, Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Muzakki, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Jurjani, Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Mihmish, and Abu Tahir al-Ziyadi.
Scholarly Standing and Audition Controversy
Scholars differed over the validity of Hajib's direct audition of traditions. During his visit to Nishapur in 335 AH, he was brought to the Dar al-Sunnah after Abu al-Abbas concluded dictation; there, he was seated on a platform while the copyist Abu Ahmad al-Warraq read out three of five assembled parts containing his transmissions, and Hajib confirmed the reading with a nod.
Al-Hakim al-Naysaburi reported that Abu Muhammad al-Baladhuri had attested to Hajib having met those early teachers. However, al-Hakim stated that Hajib had never directly heard hadith himself; rather, he had an uncle who heard traditions, and when al-Baladhuri asked Hajib if he had attended the sessions alongside his uncle, Hajib answered affirmatively, leading al-Baladhuri to select those five parts from his uncle's manuscripts. Al-Hakim and others accordingly weakened his status regarding his direct meetings with his authorities. In contrast, when Abu Nasr ibn Mashadhah questioned Ibn Mandah regarding Hajib ibn Ahmad, Ibn Mandah declared him to be trustworthy (thiqah).
Death
Hajib ibn Ahmad died suddenly in his village in 336 AH (947–948 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
al-Juz al-Thani min Hadith Abi Muhammad Hajib ibn Ahmad al-Tusi is a traditional hadith tract (juz') that preserves prophetic traditions and narrations transmitted from various early authorities.