Ibn Amshaliq

Abu al-Tayyib Ahmad ibn Ali al-Ja'fari (d. c. 350 AH / 961 CE or 5th century AH), commonly known as Ibn Amshaliq, was a Kufan hadith transmitter of noble Alid lineage, best known for his compilation Juz' Ibn Amshaliq (Part of Ibn Amshaliq) Diwan al-Sunna - Qism al-…+1.

Lineage and Background

His full name is Abu al-Tayyib Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Salih al-Ja'fari al-Talibi al-Kufi Diwan al-Sunna - Qism al-…. Belonging to the family of the Prophet's descendants (ashraf), his lineage traces back to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib Diwan al-Sunna - Qism al-…+1. Both his father and his grandfather were men of scholarly learning Ithaf al-Murtaqi bi-Taraj…. Although early biographical compendia did not devote an independent biographical entry to him, modern researchers date his activity between the fourth and fifth centuries of the Hijri calendar, with some sources placing his death around 450 AH (1058 CE) or earlier al-Ima ila Zawaid al-Amal…+1.

Scholarship and Transmission

Ibn Amshaliq traveled and received narrations from several notable scholars, including Abu al-Haytham Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Awn al-Awni, Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Allaf al-Wa'iz, Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Ja'far al-Qati'i, and Abu Ahmad ibn Abi Salih al-Hamadhani in Hamadhan al-Ima ila Zawaid al-Amal…+2.

In hadith evaluation and transmitter criticism, he was consulted by fellow scholars; al-Khatib al-Baghdadi recorded that Muhammad ibn Ali al-Suri inquired of him regarding the identity of specific narrators, such as Abu al-Mufaddal al-Shaybani Ithaf al-Murtaqi bi-Taraj…. Among those who transmitted from him was Abu al-Baqa' al-Mu'ammar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Habbal Anshab al-Kuthub fi Ansab…+1. His eponymous collection, Juz' Ibn Amshaliq, preserves his narrated traditions with connected chains of transmission covering virtues, moral conduct, and familial merits Diwan al-Sunna - Qism al-…+1.