CLARIFICATION

ON

EARLY HADITH COMPILATION

http://www.al-miftah.com/2013/01/28/clarification-on-early-hadith-compilation/ Imam Ibn Shihab Zuhri (rahimahullah) Demise 125- features quite prominently in the discussion of Hadith compilation. It is commonly stated that he was the first to compile the Noble Traditions of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). However, this is not entirely correct as it pushes the date of hadith compilation much further and opens the door for hadith rejectors to object. Shaykh Muhammad Awwamahs research My Honourable teacher, Al-Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad Awwamah (may Allah protect him) writes: The claim of Ibn Shihab Zuhri being the first to compile hadith is based on two things; 1.The statement of Imam Malik (rahimahullah):

The first person to compile knowledge was Ibn Shihab

(Al-Hilyah, vol.3 pg.363 & Jamiu bayanil ilm, vol.1 pg.320) 1.Ibn Shihabs statement:

Umar ibn Abdil Azeez commanded us to gather hadith

(Jamiu bayanil ilm) Shaykhs response The statement of Imam Malik is reported via a person by the name of Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Zabalah (not Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan ash-shaybani) This ibn Zabalah is considered very unreliable. In fact Imam Abu Dawud (rahimahullah) declared him a liar. However, Imam Yaqub ibn Sufyan (rahimahullah) reports from Ibrahim ibn Sad : Ibn Shihab was the first person to collect ahadith (Al-Marifah wat-tareekh, vol.1 pg.633) Ibrahim ibn Sad is much better than ibn Zabalah, but this report of his is considered broken ( )as he was born after the demise of Umar ibn Abdil AzeezBe that as it may, this statement would be interperated to mean that Ibn Shihab Zuhri was the first in Madinah to do so. The second basis for this claim was the statement of ibn Shihab himself. This statement is self explanatory, as he says (Umar instructed us) which means the directive was given to many people, not just Ibn Shihab (rahimahullah) New Discovery The following narration is the reason for my response above: Ibn Sad (rahimahullah) reports that Umar ibn Abdil Azeezs father; Abdul Azeez ibn Marwan (Demise: 85 A.H.) wrote to Kathir ibn Murrah Al-Hadrami, Al-Himsy (rahimahullah) instructing him to send the ahadith of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam which he heard

from various sahabah (radiyallahu anhum) exept for the ahadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) He said: For indeed I already have his ahadith with me (Tabaqat ibn Sad, vol.7 pg.448) Kathir ibn Murrah was a senior ranked Tabie who met seventy badri sahabah (radiyallahu anhum) He passed away between the years 70 & 80 A.H, and in one view between 80 & 90 A.H. Based on this, it was the father; Abdul Azeez (rahimahullah) who initiated the project of Hadith compilation between 20 to 30 years before Umar the son of Abdul Azeez (rahimahullah) continued with his fathers initiative. This is the earliest period to which I could trace the commencement of hadith compilation. Bear in mind that hadith Compilation () is different from ( ) the writing of hadith. Writing had commenced in the era of Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Further Support Later on, I came across the following from my teacher, Shaykh Abdullah Al-Ghumari (rahimahullah): I have seen a narration that proves that hadith compilation had commenced before Zuhri After quoting the same narration from Ibn Sad he commented: This narration shows that the ahadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) were already collected and kept by Abdul Azeez. It is clearly possible that he may have acquired it from his father; Marwan ibnul Hakam (Demise: 65 A.H.) who had shared the governorship of Madinah Munawwarah with Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu). It is also obvious that (the father) Abdul Azeez had ordered the hadith to be compiled before his son; Umars instruction. Translators note: If Abdul Azeez (rahimahullah) truly did acquire the ahadith of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) from his father, Marwan (Demise: 65 A.H.) like Shaykh Al-Ghumari has asserted- this would move the date of hadith compilation even earlier to before the year 65 A.H. i.e, before the demise of Marwan. And Allah knows best.