By : Abul-Hussain Muslim-bin-Hajjaj al qushairi al Nishapuri (rahmatullahi alaih), he was known as Hujjatul Islam and Asaakirud deen.
Background:
He was born in a distinguished family of Arab Muslims in
Khorasan which was a famous town of Russia. Imaam Muslim was born in 817 A.D.
corresponding to the Islamic year 204 A.H. His forefathers occupied prominent
positions during the time of the four Caliphs. He travelled to many places with
the object of learning Hadith, and after completing his studies in the various
centres of learning, he settled at Nishapur. He spent the rest of his life
teaching Hadith.
Education:
Imaam Muslim started his studies at the very early age of fourteen years. In the
year 218 A.H. the atmosphere in Nishapur, his birthplace, was of a religious and
knowledge type. Nishapur had great personalities in this period such as lmaam
Rahiwe and lmaam Zohri. After travelling widely in search of Hadith, he settled
in Nishapur as mentioned above. Imaam Muslim was much impressed by the vast
knowledge of Imaam Bukhari (R.A.), in the field of Hadith and the deep insight
he possessed on this subject. He therefore attached himself to Imaam Bukhari (R.A.)
up to the end of his life. Imaam Muslim was also an admirer of another great
teacher of Hadith, Muhammed bin Yahya al Dhuli. He attended his lectures
regularly. He visited Baghdad several times and had the opportunity of
delivering lessons there. His last visit to Baghdad was two years before his
death.
Imam Muslim teachers:
Imaam Muslim (R.A.) apart from attending the lessons of Imaam Bukhari regularly,
also attended the lectures of lmaam Ahmad bin Hambal, Abdullah al Qarri, Qutaiba
bin Said, Abdullah bin Maslama and other great Muhadith.
His Students:
Imam Muslim had a very wide circle of students, who learnt Hadith from him. Some of them occupy a very prominent position in Islamic history, e.g. Abu Hatim Razi, Musa b. Harun, Ahmad b. Salama, Abu 'Isa Tirmidhi, Abu Bakr b. Khusaima, Abu ‘Awana and Hafiz Dhahabi.
Maslak:
Sheikh Abdul Latief says Imaam Tirmidhi and Imaam Muslim were followers of the
Shafee school of thought, although they were both Mujtahids. Moulana Abdur-Rashid
says that Imaam Muslim was a Maliki. Ibn Abi ya’ala says that he was a Hanbali (tabqaatul
hanabilah). Nawab Siddique hasan sahib declares that Imam Muslim was a Shafi (abjadul
uloom).
The fact is what was said by Sheikh Tahir Jazari that Imaam Muslim is not a Maliki nor a Hanifi nor a Shafi, but his compilation of the sahih Muslim shows that he was more inclined towards the Shafee school of thought.
Death:
Imam Muslim lived for fifty-five years in this world. Of this short span of his life he spent most of his time in learning Hadith, in Its compilation, in its teaching and transmission. He always remained absorbed in this single pursuit and nothing could distract his attention from this pious task. He died in 261/875, and was buried in the suburbs of Nishapur.
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