Biography: Hafiz Ahmed al-Bayhaqi

Imam Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi (384-458 AH / 994-1066 CE) Imm, fi, Scholar, Jurist, Shaykh al-Islm Ab Bakr Amed ibn al-usayn ibn l ibn Ms al-Khusrawjirdi, al-Khursn was born in Shbn 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 Abul asan Muammad ibn al-usayn al-law, the student of Ab mid ibn ash-Sharq since he was fifteen. He also reports extensively from Al-kim Ab bdullh, the famous fi. He was a very intelligent, knowledgeable, wise, pious and a prolific author. He was a major Shfi jurist and a prominent Ashr theologian. His prominent teachers: 1. Ab hir ibn Mamish az-Ziyd, the jurist 2. bdullh ibn Ysuf al-Abahn 3. Ab l ar-Rdhbr 4. Ab bd ar-Ramn as-Sullam 5. Ab Bakr ibn al-Frak, the Theologian [al-mutakallim] 6. amzah ibn bd al-zz al-Muhallab 7. Ab Bakr al-Hayyiri, the Q 8. Yay ibn Ibrhm al-Muzakk 9. Ab Sad as-ayraf 10. l ibn Muammad ibn as-Saqq 11. Ab Sad Amed ibn Muammad al-Mln, the Sufi 12. Abut ayyib as-lk 13. Hill al-affr 14. Abul usayn ibn Bishrn and scholars from abaran, Nawqn, Baghdd, Makkah, Kfah; and also among the companions of [tim] Al-Aamm, the famous Sufi. As-Subki writes that he studied under more than hundred teachers. His 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. Mrifatu's Sunan wal thr [The Science of Hadith] in four volumes, which is a must read for every Shfi jurist. Taqiyuddin Al-Subki says that Bayhaqi meant to demonstrate the expanse of Imm Shfis knowledge of adth with this book.
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3. Al-Asma was ift [Divine Names and Attributes] in two volumes; Taj as-Subki says: I havent seen anything like it. [It was published by Imam al-Kawthari, with his foreword and notes] 4. Kitb al-Mtaqad [or Kitb al-Itiqd] [Handbook of Creed] 5. Al-Bath [wan Nushr] [Resurrection and Judgement Day ] 6. At-Targhb wat Tarhb [Encouragement to do good and Warning to abstain from evil] 7. Ad-Dwt al-Kabr, a prayer book. [The Bigger Prayer Book 8. Ad-Dwt as-aghr [The Smaller Prayer Book] 9. Az-Zuhd [Asceticism] 10. Al-Khilfiyyt [The Differences] in three volumes on the differences of opinion among jurists. As-Subki 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 Al-Shafiyi] in two volumes, the proofs of Shfi madhhab the first book of its kind. 12. Dalyil an-Nubuwwah [Proofs of Prophethood] in four volumes 13. As-Sunan as-aghr [The Smaller Collection of Sunnah] as one big tome 14. Shub al-man [Branches of Faith] in two volumes 15. Al-Madkhal ilas Sunan [An Introduction to the Sunnah] 16. Al-db [The book of Etiquette] 17. Faayil al-Awqt [The excellence of certain specific times] in two slim volumes 18. Al-Arban al-Kubr [The Greater Quadraginta] in two slim volumes 19. Al-Arban as-ughr [The Smaller Quadraginta] 20. Ar-Ruyah [The Book of Dreams]21. Al-Asra [The Book of Ascension] 22. Manqib ash-Shfi [Al-Shafiyi's Hagiography] 23. Manqib Amed [Hagiography of Ahmed ibn Hanbal] 24. Fayil as-abah [The Superiority of the Companions] --2

fi bd al-Ghfir ibn Isml says in his Trkh: Bayhaqi was an exemplary scholar content with little and adorned with austerity and scruplousness. He was a jurist, a fi, a master of principles [ul], pious, scruplous in his religion, peerless and unequaled in his time, outstanding in his proficiency and rigorousness [in the sciences.] Though he was among the prominent students of Alkim, he surpassed even his teacher [Al-akim] by mastering various other sciences. He copied adth and memorized it from a very young age; he took to fiqh and mastered it. He traveled to raq, 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 [lal] and reconciliation of conflicting reports. Many scholars requested him to relocate to Nishapur from Bayhaq in order to benefit from his books; he therefore shifted to Nishapur in the year 441 AH and began reciting his book Al-Mrifah; many imms attended the gathering. --Three Dreams When Bayhaqi was writing his book Al-Mrifah fis Sunan wal thr, a pious scholar Muammad ibn Amed saw a dream in which Imm Shfi was holding the book and he said: Today, I have written seven folios from the jurist Ameds 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 [Amed] book. Another jurist Muammad ibn bd al-zz 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 Amed Al-Bayhaqi. All these three dreams are reported by Imm Bayhaqis son, Isml ibn al-Bayhaqi. Imm Dhahab comments: 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. Abl Ml Imm Al-aramayn al-Juwayn said: There is no Shfi jurist who is not beholden to Imm Shfi except Ab Bakr al-Bayhaqi; he has done a favor to Shfi instead by writing books in support and verification of his madhhab. Dhahabi comments: Abl Ml 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. He passed away in Nishpur 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 tl have mercy on him and be well
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pleased with him. --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 Amed al-Bayhaq 3. his own grandson baydullh ibn Muammad ibn Amed al-Bayhaq 4. fi Ab Zakariyyah Yay ibn Mandah 5. Ab bdullh Muammad ibn al-Fal Al-Furw 6. Zhir ibn hir ash-Shamiyy 7. Abul Ml Muammad ibn Isml al-Fris 8. Abdul Jabbr ibn Abdul Wahhb ad-Dahhn 9. Abdul Jabbr ibn Muammad al-Khuwr and his brother 10. Abdul amd ibn Muammad al-Khuwr 11. Ab Bakr Abdur Ramn ibn bdullh ibn Abdur Ramn al-Buayr anNsbr ---Dhahab mentions a report through Imm Al-Bayhaq: Amed ibn Hibatullh told us:- that Zayn al-Umana Al-asan ibn Muammad, Muammad ibn Abdul Wahhb ash-Shirj and Ibn Ghassn said:- fi l ibn alasan told us:- Abul Qsim al-Mustaml told us:- Amed ibn al-usayn al-Bayhaq told us:- bdullh ibn Ysuf told us:- Ibn al-Arbi told us:- Ibn Abid Duny narrated to us:- Ab l al-Madyiniyy narrated to us:- Fir ibn ammd ibn Wqid narrated to us that my father narrated to me that: I heard Mlik ibn Dnr say: People say that Mlik is an ascetic! What kind of ascetic is he when he has a cloak and cloth? mar ibn bd al-zz is a true ascetic, rather. Worldly wealth, pleasure and comfort came to him with a wide open mouth, and he turned away from it. [atathud duny fghiratan fhan fa araa nh] --Sources: Dhahab, Siyar Alm an-Nubala Entry:4318 [Vol.11, pg.457] Ibn Kathr, Al-Bidyah wan Nihyah Year:458 AH. [Vol.8/pg.222] As-Subk, abaqt ash-Shfaiyyah, The Fourth Generation, Entry: 251