Min Hadith Abi Muhammad Ibn al-Akfani
- Author died
- 524 AH
- Editions
- Min Hadith Abi Muhammad Ibn al-Akfani
Min Hadith Abi Muhammad Ibn al-Akfani (من حديث أبي محمد ابن الأكفاني) is a Hadith tract (juzʾ) transmitted from the Damascene traditionist Abu Muhammad Hibat Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Ansari, known as Ibn al-Akfani (d. 524 AH / 1129–1130 CE), preserving twenty-seven narrations from his Syrian teachers .
Transmission and Manuscript History
The tract represents an authorized transmission (riwāyah) from Ibn al-Akfani through the Damascene traditionist Abu Tahir Barakat ibn Ibrahim ibn Tahir al-Qurashi al-Khashu'i, who received authorization (ijāzah)—if not direct audition (samāʿ)—from him in 510 AH . The text also bears a record of audition by Isma'il ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Ansari al-Anmati .
Later collation notes on the surviving manuscript show that the Hanbali scholar Yusuf ibn Abd al-Hadi transmitted and read the part to members of his family and household—including his wife Khadija bint Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Warraq, his son Abd al-Hadi, and his freedwoman Balil bint Abd Allah al-Rumiyya—relying on authorizations received from Ibn al-Muhibb, Ibn al-Khabbaz, and other scholars .
Content and Structure
The work comprises twenty-seven numbered reports and traditions spanning theological, legal, historical, and ethical matters . Ibn al-Akfani narrates these reports through several prominent Damascene authorities:
- Via Abu al-Fadl ʿUqayl ibn Muhammad ibn Rafiʿ al-Shafiʿi (from Abu Muhammad Abd al-Rahman ibn Uthman ibn Abi Nasr): The collection opens with a Hadith Qudsi from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri concerning God's address to the people of Paradise promising them His eternal pleasure, followed by an exegesis attributed to al-Awza'i on the verse فِي رَوْضَةٍ يُحْبَرُونَ ("In a meadow they will be delighted") .
- Via Abu Nasr al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Tullab al-Khatib: An anecdotal narration regarding Abu Alqama al-Numayri and his mule .
- Via Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Sasra (from the traditionist Tammam al-Razi): This forms the bulk of the compilation, transmitting largely from Abu al-Hasan Khaythama ibn Sulayman al-Atrabulusi, alongside al-Hasan ibn Habib al-Hasa'iri, Abu Ali ibn Faddala, and Abu Bakr ibn Zibriq al-Himsiy .
The topics treated in this major section include:
- Legal and ritual matters: Hadiths treating the impermissibility of adultery, theft, and drinking alcohol during faith; the merit of regular twelve-unit voluntary prayers; the ruling of pledges; marriage with modest dowries; Friday purificatory baths; making up missed fasts; oaths; and catching a single rakʿah of prayer .
- Merits and virtues: Narrations in praise of Ali ibn Abi Talib, as well as reports highlighting the character of the Prophet ﷺ and early companions .
- Historical and apocalyptic narratives: A lengthy report describing the expedition of Nadhla ibn Mu'awiya al-Ansari to Hulwan in Iraq during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, his recitation of the call to prayer, and his ensuing dialogue with Dhurayb ibn Barthama, identified as a disciple of Jesus .
- Ethical counsel: Warnings against interpersonal discord and quarreling ( إياكم ومشارة الناس ), concluding with the prophetic tradition: نضر الله امرأ سمع قولي ثم لم يزد فيه ("May God brighten a person who hears my speech and does not add to it") .
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