Ibn Akhi Maymi
- Died
- 390 AH
- Born in
- Baghdad
Ibn Akhi Maymi (304–390 AH / 916–1000 CE) was a Baghdad-based hadith scholar and transmitter known for his elevated chains of narration and his hadith compilation Fawa'id Ibn Akhi Maymi al-Daqqaq (The Hadith Benefits of Ibn Akhi Maymi al-Daqqaq) .
Lineage and Early Life
His full name was Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Husayn ibn Abd Allah ibn Harun, with the kunya Abu al-Husayn and the professional nisba al-Daqqaq, though he was widely known as Ibn Akhi Maymi . He was born on Tuesday, 10 Safar 304 AH . He resided on the outskirts of Baghdad in the quarter of Qati'at al-Raqiq (also vocalized in some transmissions as Qati'at al-Daqiq) .
Hadith Transmission and Scholarship
Ibn Akhi Maymi began hearing hadith in his youth from prominent authorities, most notably Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Baghawi . He continued writing and documenting hadith throughout his life, including narrating from later scholars such as Ibn Isma'il al-Warraq . His contemporary Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Utayqi noted his diligence, remarking that whenever he arrived early to hear hadith from Abu Umar ibn Hayyawayh in the Qati'at al-Rabi' quarter, he consistently found that Ibn Akhi Maymi had arrived ahead of him despite living on the far edge of the city .
Because he transmitted from al-Baghawi, later scholars noted that in certain traditions—such as those narrated from Dawud ibn Rushayd—Ibn Akhi Maymi possessed exceptionally elevated chains (uluww), placing him at the same generational step of transmission as al-Bukhari relative to the source .
A number of scholars narrated from him, including al-Qadi al-Tanukhi, Abu al-Qasim al-Azhari, Abu Khazim ibn al-Farra', Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Mukhallad, and Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Fath .
Personal Characteristics, Standing, and Death
Abu al-Husayn Ahmad ibn Umar al-Qadi described Ibn Akhi Maymi as having an exceptionally cheerful disposition, noting that he had never seen an elder more agreeable in countenance or ever encountered him frowning . It was also reported that for forty years he never slept on a rooftop, spending every night inside his house in both winter and summer .
He was regarded as reliable in hadith; al-Utayqi characterized him as trustworthy and reliable (thiqa ma'mun), and Ibn Abi al-Fawaris similarly evaluated him as trustworthy, dependable, pious, and virtuous (thiqa ma'mun din fadil) .
Sources differ slightly regarding the exact date of his death in 390 AH (1000 CE): al-Utayqi reported that he died on the eve of Thursday at the very end of Rajab, whereas Ibn Abi al-Fawaris recorded his death on the eve of Friday, 28 Sha'ban .
Answer updated
List of Works
Fawaid Ibn Akhi Maymi al-Daqqaq (The Hadith Benefits of Ibn Akhi Maymi al-Daqqaq) is a compilation of hadith narrations gathering rare and elevated reports received from trustworthy teachers. Unlike collections that include non-prophetic historical reports and poetry, its contents consist entirely of hadith traditions organized into numbered parts (ajza').