Ibn Bakkar
- Died
- 222 AH
- Born in
- Basra
Abu al-Walid al-Abbas ibn Bakkar al-Dabbi (129–222 AH / 746–837 CE), commonly known as Ibn Bakkar, was an early Arab historian and transmitter from Basra known for compiling historical dialogues and court encounters, including Akhbar al-Wafidat min al-Nisa ala Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan and Akhbar al-Wafidin min al-Rijal .
Lineage and Background
His full name was al-Abbas ibn Bakkar al-Dabbi al-Basri, and he was also referenced in biographical literature as al-Abbas ibn al-Walid ibn Bakkar, being attributed at times to his grandfather . He was born in Basra in 129 AH (746 CE) and bore the kunya Abu al-Walid . He was the nephew of the traditionalist Abu Bakr al-Hudhali .
Education and Transmission
Ibn Bakkar transmitted historical reports and traditions from several senior scholars of his era, foremost among them his maternal uncle Abu Bakr al-Hudhali, alongside Khalid ibn Abd Allah al-Wasiti, Hammad ibn Salama, and Abd Allah ibn al-Muthanna . Among those who transmitted from him were the Basran historian Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Ghalabi, Ibrahim ibn Abd Allah al-Absi, and Qatan ibn Ibrahim .
Reception and Critical Standing
Biographical authorities across the Sunni tradition extensively evaluated Ibn Bakkar's reliability as a narrator. Abu Hatim al-Razi characterized him mildly as an elder (shaykh) . In contrast, Al-Daraqutni denounced him as a fabricator, declaring him a liar (kadhdhab) . Ibn Adi considered him a transmitter of uncorroborated reports (munkar al-hadith) whether narrating from trustworthy authorities or others . Al-Uqayli similarly judged that his narrations were predominantly marred by error and rejected material . Abu Nu'aym al-Isbahani dismissed his hadith transmissions, noting that he related rejected reports and was of no account .
Ibn Hibban gave conflicting assessments: under the entry for al-Abbas ibn Bakkar in al-Thiqat, he noted that he related rare traditions but that his reports from trustworthy authorities were acceptable; however, under the entry for al-Abbas ibn al-Walid ibn Bakkar in al-Majruhin, he stated that he transmitted astonishing anomalies and could not be relied upon as proof .
Death
Ibn Bakkar died in Basra in 222 AH (837 CE) at the age of ninety-three .
Answer updated
List of Works
Akhbar al-Wafidat min al-Nisa ala Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan is an early Arabic historical and literary treatise. It records dialogues, confrontations, and rhetorical exchanges between the Umayyad caliph Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan and prominent Arab women who visited his court or were summoned before him.
Akhbar al-Wafidin min al-Rijal ala Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan is an early historical treatise. The work records dialogues, encounters, and political exchanges between the first Umayyad caliph, Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, and prominent men who visited his court from Kufa and Basra.