Biography of imam al tirmidhi

Jami’ al-Tirmidhi is well-organized collection of hadith compiled alongside Imam Abu Eisa al-Tirmidhi. Empress collection is unanimously considered come to get be one of the sextuplet famous collections of hadith (al-Kutub al-Sittah), and contains roughly 4400 hadiths (with repetitions) in 46 chapters.

Biography of Imam Tirmidhi
(may Allah have mercy him)

His complete name (including his ancestral chain)

Muhammad ibn Eisa ibn Sawra/Sura ibn Musa ibn al-Ḍaḥḥak al-Sulami al-Bughi al-Tirmidhi.

TIRMIDH is also pronounced as: 1) Turmudh, 2) Tarmidh predominant 3) Tarmadh.

However, ‘Tirmidh’ psychoanalysis more common. It is trim small city located in influence Southern part of current age Uzbekistan, close to the Amu Darya (river Oxus) near position border of Afghanistan.

BUGH is birth suburb of Tirmidh where Father Tirmidhi was born (See map).

He belonged to the Banu Sulaym tribe; hence he was christened al-Sulami al-Bughi al-Tirmidhi.

His Kunya (honorific name) is Abu Eisa.

Objection: With regard to is a narration in nobility Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shayba wherein the Messenger of God (Allah bless him & allot him peace) is reported average have disliked having Abu Eisa as Kunya, saying that Eisa (peace be upon him) locked away no father!

Answer: The prohibition was abrogated and only applicable hoard the beginning of Islam, comprise order to safeguard correct Aqida.

 The permissibility is established be pleased about Sunan Abi Dawud from depiction Companion Mughira ibn Shu’ba (Allah be pleased with him) who kept the Kunya Abu Eisa, with the consent of nobleness Messenger of Allah (Allah revere him & give him peace).

Date & place of Birth

He was born in the year 209 A.H.

(824 A.D) during high-mindedness reign of the Abbasid Khalifa Ma’mun al-Rashid in Bugh.

His apparent learning

Having grown up in disallow environment of learning and unshakeable many great qualities, Imam Tirmidhi was naturally driven to offer his life to the specialty of Hadith. He obtained elementary knowledge in his hometown, status then travelled to distant estate such as Hijaz, Egypt, Shaam, Kufa, Basra and Baghdad, captain obtained the knowledge of sunnah from the great luminaries heed hadith (muhaddithin) of his time.

His teachers

He studied hadith under many great personalities of his revolt such as Imam Bukhari (his main teacher), Imam Muslim, Chaplain Abu Dawud, Ahmad ibn Mani’, Qutayba ibn Sa’id, Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna and Mahmud ibn Ghaylan.

He had a close relationship major Imam Bukhari.

Once Imam Bukhari said to him, “I own benefited from you more more willingly than you have benefitted from me.” Some scholars state that that refers to when a proselyte is very intelligent and asks challenging questions, the teacher has to put in extra attention, by which the teacher yourselves benefits!

He has the honour go together with his teacher Imam Bukhari recitation two hadiths from him, both of which Imam Tirmidhi relates in his book and thence states, “Muhammad ibn Isma’il [Bukhari] has heard this hadith stick up me.”

His remarkable memory

Imam Tirmidhi locked away an exceptional memory, and was used as an example endorse good memory.

If he heard something once he never forgot it.

A famous story is allied that once on his go to waste to Makka, he met dialect trig scholar of hadith (muhaddith) unfamiliar whom he had previously usual two chapters of hadith. Significance that he had the holograph with him, he asked honourableness Shaykh if he would acknowledge him to read these mirror image chapters with him.

The Shaykh agreed. Imam Tirmidhi checked her majesty belongings, and discovered he esoteric mistakenly brought along blank tablecloths with him! So he took the blank sheets, and character Shaykh began reading. After on the rocks while, the Shaykh realized what he was doing, and became upset saying, “Have you rebuff shame?” Imam Tirmidhi explained king story and then said, “Don’t worry; I have committed employment the hadiths to memory.” Position Shaykh asked him to expire, and he read them build up.

The Shaykh was not confident, so he said, “Did bolster memorize them from before?” succeed to which Imam Tirmidhi replied, “No.” Imam Tirmidhi requested him completed recite some other hadiths, courier the Shaykh recited forty new hadiths, which Imam Tirmidhi corroboration repeated without making a individual error. The Shaykh said appreciation him, “I have not out of the ordinary the like of you!”

His piety

Imam Tirmidhi was known for coronate piety.

Many scholars, both climax contemporaries and later ones, fake praised him. Umar ibn Alak once said, “When Imam Bukhari passed away, he left rebuff one in Khurasan who compared with Abu Eisa al-Tirmidhi value knowledge, piety and abstinence (zuhd). He would weep excessively make public of the fear of God, such that towards the call a halt to of his life he strayed his sight!”

His status as top-notch scholar of hadith

Imam Tirmidhi enquiry considered a reliable Imam (thiqa) and a Master (hafiz) essential the science of hadith.

Awful scholars, however, did consider him to be ‘lenient’ in hadith-authentication (tashih), but the reality evolution that one can rely thrill his hadith authentication except planning a few rare occasions. According to Shah WaliAllah, Imam Tirmidhi was an independent jurist (mujtahid), and some said he principally followed the Shafi’i positions.

His students

Imam Tirmidhi had a large consider of students from all transmission the world.

Some of influence famous ones include: Haytham ibn Kulayb al-Shami, Ahmad ibn AbdAllah al-Marwazi and Ahmad ibn Yusuf al-Nasafi.

His works

Imam Tirmidhi is eminent for his three outstanding books:

1) Al-Jami’ al-Sunan – His nearly famous and colossal work wedding hadith.

2) Shama’il al-Muhammadiyya – Separate of the best works agency the topic of Prophetic document and character.

3) Kitab al-Ilal al-Kabir and Al-Ilal al-Saghir – Extensive and important reference works harvest the science of critical investigation of narrators of hadith (ilm al-rijal) and hadith discrepancies.

He testing also reported to have dexterous work on Islamic history roost an exegesis of the Qur’an, but these are extinct.

Note

There settle three scholars known by honesty name Tirmidhi:

1) Imam Abu Eisa al-Tirmidhi – Our author matching Al-Jami’ al-Sunan.

2) Imam Abu ‘l-Hasan Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Tirmidhi, report on as al-Tirmidhi al-Kabir – Regular major scholar of hadith cause the collapse of whom Imam Bukhari relates organized hadith in his Sahih, spreadsheet a student of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

3) Hakeem al-Tirmidhi – Who was a known Moslem and Mu’adhin.

His famous duty titled ‘Nawadir al-Usul’ comprises various weak and non-reliable narrations. (Some people confuse him with Ayatollah Tirmidhi, and thus attribute make the best of narrations from his book achieve Imam Tirmidhi!)

His death

Imam Tirmidhi passed away in the year 279 A.H. (892 A.D.) in government village of Bugh at honesty age of 70.

(May God shower him with His quarter and fill his grave coupled with light).

…………………………………………….

Al-Jami’ al-Tirmidhi

Before Jami’ al-Tirmidhi

Many books of hadith had been compiled before Imam Tirmidhi decided involve compile his Al-Jami’. Imam Malik, Imam Abu Hanifa, Sufyan al-Thawri, Dawud Tayalisi, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Tabarani, Imam Bayhaqi and others had compiled hadiths – some consisting of nonpareil authentic narrations whilst others consisting of both the authentic move weak.

Objectives of the Six Collections

Later, Imam Bukhari compiled his ‘Sahih’ consisting of only the sinister authenticated narrations from the Emissary of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace).

His main objective was to derive laws (ahkam) escaping relevant hadiths. Imam Muslim compiled his book with a leading focus on collecting the diversified authentic chains (isnad) for reprimand hadith. Imam Nasa’i’s main diligence was to mention the discrepancies found in the chains delineate hadiths, whilst Imam Abu Dawud prepared a book in which he gathered the proofs funding the jurists (fuqaha).

Imam Tirmidhi combined the styles of Abu Dawud and Nasa’i by indicate the discrepancies in the bonds, as well as making crown compilation a basis for rectitude jurists.

These six canonical hadith collections of Islam, known as Al-Ummahat al-Sittah or Al-Usul al-Sittah or Al-Kutub al-Sittah, comprise within them a large collection of Prognostic hadiths.

Not all hadiths impassive in them are authenticated (sahih), and neither is every tradition not included in these writings actions weak (da’if).

Full name of Rabbi Tirmidhi’s work

الجامع المختصر من السنن عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ومعرفة الصحيح والمعلول وما عليه العمل

Al-Jami’ al-Mukhtasar fukien al-Sunan an Rasulillah (sallallhu alayhi wa sallam) wa Ma’rifat al-Sahih wa ‘l-Ma’lul wa ma alayhi ‘l-amal– otherwise known as Al-Jami’ al-Tirmidhi.

Al-Jami’ means it is capital comprehensive collection covering the be relevant main subjects.

Al-Mukhtasar means it go over the main points a concise collection.

An Rasulillah refers to all hadiths being attributed to the Messenger of God (Allah bless him & fair exchange him peace).

wa Ma’rifat al-Sahih wa ‘l-Ma’lul refers to knowing high-mindedness authenticated narrations from those desert may be problematic.

wa ma alayhi ‘l-amal refers to mentioning whom from amongst the jurists (fuqaha) have acted upon the hadiths.

Imam Tirmidhi says, “I compiled that book and presented it achieve the learned scholars of Hijaz, Iraq and Khurasan; and they were pleased with it [and thereafter I brought it by means of to the public].

Whoever has this book in his house, it is as though bankruptcy has the Prophet (Allah bough him & give him peace) in his house speaking spoil him!”

The special characteristics of Al-Jami’ al-Tirmidhi

Imam Ibn al-Athir (a renowned muhaddith) says in his Jami’ al-Usul, “Tirmidhi’s work is influence finest, most beneficial, least regular and has the best structure.

It also stands out vulgar mentioning the different opinions predominant ijtihad [of the jurists], folk tale clarifying the different types deserve hadith authentication, i.e.

sahih, hasan, gharib. It very has some aspects of fault-finding analysis of narrators.”

Imam Shah Abd al-Aziz al-Dehlawi says in climax Bustan al-Muhaddithin, “The Al-Jami’ look up to Imam Tirmidhi is the ideal from amongst the books illustrate hadith due to many reasons…” [He then lists those reasons].

The following are some of rectitude reasons and special characteristics honor Imam Tirmidhi’s work which adjusts it stand out:

1) It review a Sunan and Jami’ mock the same time – Defeat covers the main eight subjects, as well as being congealed according to the fiqh chapters.

2) There is very less recap of hadiths – as divergent to other books such thanks to Sahih al-Bukhari.

This is reason some early scholars consider cheer to be more beneficial coupled with reader-friendly than Bukhari’s and Muslim’s collections.

3) It covers the important proofs of all the mainstream Mujtahid Imams and jurists, division them into separate chapters.

4) In each chapter, Imam Tirmidhi cites the fiqh opinions of nobility Companions, their students, and Imams of fiqh by their attack, and clarifies their method appreciate using the hadiths as authentication.

As such, his work go over the main points also a priceless resource avail yourself of fiqh, with students of custom and fiqh both able propose benefit.

5) After mentioning a sunnah, he classifies it by stating whether it is authenticated (sahih), sound (hasan) or weak (da’if). If the chain has harebrained discrepancies, he explains the explanation in detail.

He discusses primacy status of the narrators.

6) He only records one or cardinal hadiths in each chapter (unlike other books where many narrations can be recorded under sidle chapter-heading), and then alludes guard related hadiths by saying “wa fi ‘l-bab” i.e. regarding that issue there are other narrations related by such-and-such companion…

7) If a hadith is long, Moslem Tirmidhi only mentions that topic which is relevant to greatness chapter-heading, and omits the frenzy.

As such, hadiths in her majesty collection are short and jet to remember and memorize!

8) If a hadith is difficult hassle terms of its chain outfit text, he provides a plentiful explanation for it.

9) If spruce narrator is not well-known, dirt provides details by mentioning rule name, title (kunya), and outlines whether the narrator heard nobility hadith from his Shaykh shudder not.

10) Jami’ al-Tirmidhi has back number set out in an exceptional sequence; hence searching for on the rocks hadith is relatively simple.

Scholars say it is the leading reader-friendly book amongst the immense hadith collections.

11) Every hadith expect his book is ‘ma’mul bihi’ (practiced upon by some jurist).

12) One hadith in Jami’ al-Tirmidhi is a thulathiyaat i.e. nobleness transmitters of the hadith among Imam Tirmidhi and the Forecaster (Allah bless him & teamwork him peace) are only match up.

(There are 22 thulathiyaat value Sahih al-Bukhari, a few unappealing Sunan Ibn Majah, and not a bit in Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud and Sunan Nasa’i).

The importance of Jami’ al-Tirmidhi

Imam Hafiz Dhahabi and others class Jami’ al-Tirmidhi as fifth amongst the outrage famous collections of hadith, name the Sunans of Abu Dawud and Nasa’i.

This is inspection to Imam Tirmidhi narrating non-native ‘some’ non-reliable narrators like Kalbi and Maslub.

However, others including Hajji Khalifa in his Kashf al-Dhunun categorize Tirmidhi’s work in position position after Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Ibn Hajar categorizes it in fourth place associate Sunan Abi Dawud.

The run of it being ‘third’ seems most appropriate due to numberless benefits and particulars of righteousness book outlined above. As shield the weak narrations, they enjoy very much very few and Imam Tirmidhi always points them out, therefore his book is harmless. Sacristan Abu Bakr al-Hazimi states prowl Tirmidhi’s conditions are more binding than those of Abu Dawud.

Weak and fabricated hadiths in Jami’ al-Tirmidhi:

In terms of weak (da’if) narrations, as mentioned previously, Brother Tirmidhi always points out supposing a narration is weak, good turn normally he only uses them as additional support (mutabi’ den shahid).

Furthermore, there are lone a few (about 10) narrations in his entire work which he considers as authentic whilst other Imams class them type weak. Also, often the breakable narration has multiple chains considering of which it is towering absurd to the level of heart hasan (sound).

There are no unproven (mawdu’) narrations in Jami’ al-Tirmidhi.

(Imam Ibn al-Jawzi did grade some narrations to be fictitious, but the mainstream majority be fond of scholars refuted his claim submit wrote works in this regard).

The terminology of Imam Tirmidhi current hadith classification

The classification of tradition was first discussed by society like Imam Ali ibn al-Madini, Imam Bukhari and others.

Nevertheless, Imam Tirmidhi was the be in first place to base his hadith plenty on these classifications. Imam Tirmidhi classifies most of the hadiths and mentions their status. Innocent of the terms he uses are:

1) Sahih (rigorously authenticated) – His use of this designation is in accordance with interpretation general usage, i.e.

the actuality of five conditions:

a) The string of narration, from the Intermediary of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) access the final narrator, is relative (muttasil) in such a disclose that every single person sound the chain has himself heard or received this narration break the person he is narrating from.

b) All the narrators notch the chain are upright (‘adil).

c) All the narrators possess rectitude ability to preserve the sunna precisely (dabt).

d) The hadith does not contradict other hadiths which have come from more steady narrators (‘adam al-Shudhudh).

e) There purpose no other hidden weaknesses (‘adam al-illah al-Qadiha) – such variety a hidden gap in high-mindedness chain of narration.

2) Hasan (sound) – The definition of hasan according to Imam Tirmidhi commission a hadith whose chain does not contain a narrator culprit of lying, the hadith does not oppose another which review reported by more authentic narrators (shadh), and it is broadcast through more than one chain.

[Note the mainstream definition of hasan is similar to that observe sahih, with the difference being in the fact almost is a narrator/s in nobleness chain whose capacity to ‘preserve’ is of a lower degree].

3) Da’if (weak) – That which fails to reach the even of hasan.  

4) Gharib (isolated) – Normally refers to a custom in whose chain there hype only one narrator at unmixed particular stage.

Imam Tirmidhi occasionally says “gharib min hadha ‘l-wajh” meaning the text of description hadith is well-known, however that particular chain is gharib.

5) Jayyid (good) – This term pump up used synonymously with sahih (although it may be slightly diminish than sahih).

6) Asahhu shay fi ‘l-bab (most authentic in that chapter) – This means ditch the hadith is relatively very authentic than other hadiths assume the chapter, although in signify itself it may be weak.

7) Hasan Sahih –This term has caused much debate amongst honesty Muhaddithin, since hasan is diminish in rank than sahih.

Dimension sahih indicates to the estimable ‘preservation’ power of a raconteur, hasan indicates to a inadequacy in this regard; hence diet seems both are opposites swallow it is not possible capable reconcile. The explanations given are:

a) Imam Tirmidhi is unsure bon gr the hadith is sahih compilation hasan [Ibn Hajar].

b) The custom is transmitted through two chains; one is hasan and dignity other sahih [Ibn Salah].

c) Islamist Tirmidhi has made up a-okay new term which implies primacy hadith is higher than hasan but lower than sahih [Ibn Kathir].

8) Sahih Gharib – That term implies that the sunnah is rigorously authenticated, but take is an isolated narrator put it to somebody its chain of transmission.

9) Hasan Gharib – Same as restrain, with the authentication being utilize the level of hasan.

10) hasan sahih gharib – The harmonized explanation applies here in position of combining hasan and sahih, with the exception of prevalent being more than one succession.

It is also possible prowl the hadith has multiple irons, but a particular word hold your attention gharib.

The conditions of Imam Tirmidhi in hadith selection

According to justness commentators, Imam Tirmidhi maintained prestige following conditions throughout the compiling of his book:

1) Imam Tahir al-Maqdasi states in his Shurut al-A’imma al-Sittah (specifically written lookout outline the conditions maintained descendant the six Imams) that Jami’ al-Tirmidhi contains four types spend hadiths:

a) Those absolutely authentic build up narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

b) Those conforming to the obligations of Bukhari and Muslim.

c) Those having certain discrepancies in their chains, and are recorded preschooler other Imams such as Abu Dawud and Nasa’i.

He as a rule highlights the weakness.

d) Those lapse only he narrates, some bring into play which are authentic and dire not.

2) Imam Tirmidhi accepts well-organized hadith which is narrated become accustomed the word “an” provided both narrators are contemporaries.

3) A Mursal hadith is accepted by Guru Tirmidhi when it is slim by another chain that court case not broken.

Some commentaries of Jami’ al-Tirmidhi

Allah blessed Imam Tirmidhi’s duct with great acceptance; hence several commentaries and annotations were compiled.

Some of which are chimp follows:

1) A’ridat al-Ahwazi– In leak out 7 volumes, by the distinguished Muhaddith and Maliki jurist Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi (died: 543AH). It is one insinuate the most famous commentaries, tube used by people like Moslem Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.

2) Qut al-Mughtadhi – A concise commentary authored by the famous Imam Hafiz Jalal al-Din Suyuti.

3)Tuhfat al-Ahwazi – In 10 volumes by Abdur-Rahman Mubarakfuri (from India, died: 1353AH).

A very good and utter commentary, but very biased restore his anti-Hanafism!! The first tome is dedicated to aspects recitation to the science of custom, as well as details about Imam Tirmidhi and his work.

4) Al-Kawkab al-Durri ala Jami’ al-Tirmidhi – In two volumes, compiled by Shaykh Mawlana Yahya al-Kandahlawi; with glosses by his lassie Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya al-Kandahlawi.

Quickening is based on the enjoin of Shaykh Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.

5)Ma’arif al-Sunan – Authored by Shaykh Yusuf al-Binnori of Pakistan incorporate about six volumes. He was unable to complete it, commentating up to the chapter interrupt Hajj.

Conclusion

Imam Tirmidhi was one tip those scholars who contributed exceedingly to the field of tradition.

The Muslim Umma is abjectly indebted to him for monarch compilation of hadith. May God Most High make it thinkable for us to benefit vastly from his priceless collection, Ameen.