Ibn Mardawayh, Ahmad ibn Muhammad
- Died
- 498 AH
- Born in
- Isfahan
Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Mardawayh (409–498 AH / 1018–1105 CE) was an Isfahan hadith scholar and transmitter, renowned for his broad narrations and preserved transmissions, including Juz' fihi Ahadith Ibn Hayyan.
Biography and scholarly career
Ahmad ibn Muhammad belonged to an established scholarly family in Isfahan; he was the grandson of the traditionist and historian Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Musa ibn Mardawayh (d. 410 AH). He documented observations regarding his grandfather's piety, scruples, and rigorous precision in hadith transmission. He was born in 409 AH (1018/1019 CE) according to the historian Yahya ibn Abd al-Wahhab ibn Mandah, who characterized him as having heard extensively and possessing wide transmission.
He received hadith from several leading authorities of Isfahan, foremost among them Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani, Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Burji, Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahim, Abu Sahl al-Saffar, Abu Zur'ah Rawh ibn Muhammad al-Sunni, as well as students of Abd Allah ibn Ja'far. Among his preserved transmissions is Juz' fihi Ahadith Ibn Hayyan, a specialized hadith compilation recording narrations through the chain of the Isfahani traditionist Abu al-Shaykh Ibn Hayyan.
A notable group of later scholars heard and transmitted traditions from him, including Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Mansur al-Sam'ani, Abu Tahir al-Silafi, Abu Nu'aym al-Haddad, and Isma'il ibn Muhammad al-Isfahani (Qawam al-Sunna). His scholarly lineage continued through his descendants, including his grandson Abu al-Mahasin Ali ibn Abd al-Samad ibn Ahmad ibn Mardawayh.
Ibn Mardawayh died on 12 Dhu al-Hijjah 498 AH (late August 1105 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
Juz fihi Ahadith Ibn Hayan is a specialized hadith booklet (juz') belonging to the ajza' genre of hadith literature. It consists of a focused compilation of narrations transmitted through the chain of the Isfahani traditionist Abu Muhammad ibn Hayyan (Abu al-Shaykh al-Asbahani), selected and arranged by Ibn Mardawayh.