Marifat al-Sahaba li-Ibn Manda

Ma'rifat al-Sahaba ("Knowledge of the Companions") is a biographical reference work on the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad by the hadith scholar Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Mandah (310–395 AH / 922–1005 CE) al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Transmission and Reception

The author's son, Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman ibn Mandah, transmitted hadiths through his father's chains from Ma'rifat al-Sahaba and relied directly on the work while adding further material in his own compilation, al-Mustakhraj min kutub al-nas al-Mustakhraj min Kutub a…+1. The book served as an early source for subsequent biographical literature on the Companions and was cited by later hadith authorities and biographers, including Ala al-Din Mughultay Najah al-Qari Sharh Sahih…+1.

The work also received critical scrutiny from contemporary and later hadith critics. Al-Daraqutni stated that Ibn Mandah fell into numerous delusions and errors (awham) in his compilation on the Companions al-Muqaffa al-Kabir. Similarly, Ibn Asakir remarked that the book contains many mistakes Tarikh al-Turath al-Arabi….

Preservation and Editions

The text has not survived in full, with portions remaining lost al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. The surviving manuscript portion was edited by Amir Hasan Sabri and published in two volumes by the United Arab Emirates University in 1426 AH (2005 CE) al-Jami lima fi al-Musann…+1.