Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj facts for kids

Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj al-Naysaburi (born around 817-822 CE, died May 875 CE) was a very important Islamic scholar. He came from the city of Nishapur, which is in present-day Iran. He was especially known as a muhaddith, which means someone who studies and collects hadith. Hadith are sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.

His most famous work is a collection of hadith called Sahih Muslim. This book is one of the six most important hadith collections in Sunni Islam. It's considered one of the two most reliable hadith collections, along with Sahih al-Bukhari.

Life Story of Imam Muslim

Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj was born in Nishapur. This town was part of the Abbasid Caliphate at the time. Today, it is in northeastern Iran. Historians are not exactly sure when he was born. It was likely between 817 and 822 CE.

Muslim's full name was Abu al-Husayn Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj ibn Muslim al-Naysaburi. His family was connected to the Banu Qushayr tribe. Some scholars believe he was of Arab origin, while others suggest he might have been of Persian descent.

He passed away in May 875 CE. He was about 55 years old when he died. He was buried in Nasarabad, a suburb of Nishapur.

His Journey to Knowledge

Imam Muslim traveled a lot to gain knowledge. He visited many places like the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria. He learned from many great teachers. Some of his important teachers included Harmala ibn Yahya and al-Bukhari.

After his studies, he settled back in his hometown of Nishapur. There, he became a close friend of Imam al-Bukhari. Imam al-Bukhari was another very famous hadith scholar.

Imam Muslim also had many students who became well-known scholars themselves. These included al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaymah. They also wrote their own books on hadith.

His Main Work: Sahih Muslim

Imam Muslim's most famous book is Sahih Muslim. It is a huge collection of hadith. The word Sahih means "authentic" or "sound." He carefully checked each hadith to make sure it was true and reliable.

The number of hadith in his book varies. It depends on whether you count each unique saying or include all the different ways a hadith was passed down. There are thousands of hadith in Sahih Muslim. About 2,000 of these hadith are also found in Sahih al-Bukhari.

His Legacy

At first, not everyone immediately accepted Imam Muslim's work. Some scholars had questions about it. However, over time, Sahih Muslim became highly respected.

Today, among Sunni Muslims, Sahih Muslim is considered one of the most authentic collections of hadith. It is ranked second only to Sahih Bukhari. These two books are seen as the most reliable sources for the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Works

• Sahih Muslim: his collection of authentic hadith

See also

In Spanish: Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj para niños