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Im Imm al-Bayhaq Bayhaq

(384-458 AH / 994-1066 CE) By Abu Hasan1
Released by www.marifah.net 1429 H

Imm, fi, Scholar, Jurist, Shaykh al-Islm Ab Bakr Amad ibn al-usayn ibn Al ibn Ms al-Khusrawjirdi, al-Khursn was born in Shabn in the year 384 AH. Bayhaq is among the precincts of Nshapr at a distance of about 12 km [from Nshpr] hence he is famous as Al-Bayhaq. He attended the class of Abu al-asan Muammad ibn al-usayn al-Alaw, the student of Ab mid ibn al-Sharq from the age of fifteen. He reported extensively from Al-kim Ab Abdullh, the famous fi. He was very intelligent, knowledgeable, wise, pious and a prolific author. He was a major Shfi jurist and a prominent Ashar theologian. fi Abd al-Ghfir ibn Isml says in his Trkh: Bayhaq was an exemplary scholar content with little and adorned with austerity and scrupulousness. He was a jurist, a fi, a master of principles [ul], pious, scrupulous in his religion, peerless and unequalled in his time,
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Sources: Dhahab, Siyr Alm al-Nubala Entry:4318 [Vol.11, pg.457] Ibn Kathr, Al-Bidyah wa al-Nihyah Year:458 AH. [Vol.8/pg.222] Al-Subk, abaqt al-Shfaiyyah, The Fourth Generation, Entry: 251

outstanding in his proficiency and rigorousness [in the sciences.] Though he was among the prominent students of Al-kim, he surpassed even his teacher [Al-kim] by mastering various other sciences. He copied adth and memorized it from a very young age; he took to fiqh and mastered it. He travelled to Iraq, Al-Jibl and Al-ijz and then took to writing. He wrote close to a thousand folios among which are pioneering works and many of them first of their kind. He was a master of both adth and Fiqh; of justifications of adth [ilal] and reconciliation of conflicting reports. Many scholars requested him to relocate to Nshpr from Bayhaq in order to benefit from his books; he therefore shifted to Nshpr in the year 441 AH and began reciting his book Al-Marifah; many imms attended the gatherings. Abu al-Mal Imm Al-aramayn al-Juwayn said: There is no Shfi jurist who is not indebted to Imm Shfi except Ab Bakr al-Bayhaq; he has instead done a favour to al-Shfi by writing books in support and in verification of his madhhab. Dhahabi commented on his statement: Abu al-Mal is right in making such a claim. And the truth is just as he has said it. Because, if Al-Bayhaq wished to form his own madhhab, he had the necessary qualities and mastery of the sciences; including a comprehensive knowledge of differing opinions. Three Dreams: Dreams: When Bayhaq was writing his book Al-Marifah fi al-Sunan wa al-thr, a pious scholar Muammad ibn Amad saw a dream in which Imm Shfi was holding the book and he said: Today, I have written seven folios from the jurist Amads book.

Another scholar saw Imm Shfi in his dream sitting in the mosque and he said: Today, I have availed from such and such adth mentioned in the jurists [Amad] book. Another jurist Muammad ibn Abd al-Azz al-Marwaziy says: I saw a chest suspended in the sky and light emanating from it. I asked: What is this? I heard someone say: These are the books of Amad Al-Bayhaqi. All three dreams were reported by Imm Bayhaqis son, Isml ibn al-Bayhaqi. Imm Dhahab commented: These are true dreams. Indeed, fi al-Bayhaqs books are of immense value and of great stature. Few can match the class or clarity of his writing. It is necessary for every scholar to acquaint himself with his books, mainly his Sunan Al-Kabr.

His prominent teachers: 1. Ab hir ibn Mamish al-Ziyd, the jurist 2. Abdullh ibn Ysuf al-Abahn 3. Ab Al al-Rdhbr 4. Ab Abd al-Ramn al-Sullam 5. Ab Bakr ibn al-Frak, the Theologian [al-mutakallim] 6. amzah ibn Abd al-Azz al-Muhallab 7. Ab Bakr al-Hayyiri, the Q 8. Yay ibn Ibrhm al-Muzakk 9. Ab Sad al-ayraf 10. Al ibn Muammad ibn al-Saqq 11. Ab Sad Amad ibn Muammad al-Mln, the Sufi 12. Abu al-ayyib al-alk 13. Hill al-affr 14. Abu al-usayn ibn Bishrn and scholars from abaran, Nawqn, Baghdd, Makkah, Kfah; and also among the companions of [tim] Al-Aamm, the famous Sufi. Al-Subk writes that he studied under more than a hundred teachers.

His Works: Works: He was granted munificence in his knowledge and he has written very beneficial books among which are: 1. Sunan al-Kabr [The Greater Collection of Sunnah] in ten volumes which is his masterpiece. It is outstanding because nobody has compiled a book of adth like it in organization, classification and excellence. 2. Marifa al-Sunan wa al-thr [The Knowledge of Sunnas and Reports] in four volumes, which is a must read for every Shfi jurist. Taqiyuddin AlSubk says that Bayhaq meant to demonstrate the expanse of Imm Shfis knowledge of adth with this book. 3. Al-Asma wa al-ift [The Divine Names and Attributes] in two volumes; Tj al-Subk says: I havent seen anything like it. [It was published by Imam al-Kawthar, with his foreword and notes] 4. Kitb al-Mutaqad [or Kitb al-Itiqd] [Handbook of Creed] 5. Al-Baath [wa al-Nushr] [Resurrection and Judgement Day ] 6. Al-Targhb wa al-Tarhb [Encouragement to do good and Warning to abstain from evil] 7. Al-Dawt al-Kabr, a prayer book. [The Bigger Prayer Book] 8. Al-Dawt al-aghr [The Smaller Prayer Book] 9. Al-Zuhd [Asceticism] 10. Al-Khilfiyyt [The Differences] in three volumes on the differences of

opinion among jurists. Al-Subk writes that none except a master of both fiqh and adth can grasp it. 11. Al-Mabsu f Nu al-Shfi [The Extensive: Documents used by AlShafi] in two volumes, the proofs of Shfi madhhab the first book of its kind. 12. Dalil al-Nubuwwah [Proofs of Prophethood] in four volumes 13. Al-Sunan al-aghr [The Smaller Collection of Sunnah] as one big tome 14. Shuab al-man [Branches of Faith] in two volumes 15. Al-Madkhal ila al-Sunan [An Introduction to the Sunnah] 16. Al-db [The book of Etiquette] 17. Faail al-Awqt [The excellence of certain specific times (for worship)] in two slim volumes 18. Al-Arban al-Kubr [The Greater Quadraginta] in two slim volumes 19. Al-Arban al-ughr [The Smaller Quadraginta] 20. Al-Ruyah [The Book of Dreams] 21. Al-Asra [The Book of Ascension] 22. Manqib al-Shfi [The Immense Merits of al-Shafi] 23. Manqib Amad [The Immense Merits of Amad ibn anbal] 24. Fail al-abah [The Superiority of the Companions]

Among his prominent students and those who narrate from him are: 1. Shaykh al-Islm Ab Isml al-Anr 2. his own son, Isml ibn Amad al-Bayhaq 3. his own grandson Ubaydullh ibn Muammad ibn Amad al-Bayhaq 4. fi Ab Zakariyyah Yay ibn Mandah 5. Ab Abdullh Muammad ibn al-Fal Al-Furw 6. Zhir ibn hir al-Shamiy 7. Abu al-Mal Muammad ibn Isml al-Fris 8. Abd al-Jabbr ibn Abd al-Wahhb al-Dahhn 9. Abd al-Jabbr ibn Muammad al-Khuwr and his brother 10. Abd al-amd ibn Muammad al-Khuwr 11. Ab Bakr Abd al-Ramn ibn Abdullh ibn Abd al-Ramn alBuayr al-Nsbr

He passed away in Nshpr on the 10th of Jumd al-l, 458 AH (1066 CE). He was washed and placed in a casket and carried to Bayhaq [two days journey in that age] where he was buried. He was 74. May Allh have mercy on him and be well pleased with him.