An Overlooked Science of Hadeeth in the West:

An Overlooked Science of Hadeeth in the West:

المُتَّفِقُ وَ المُفْتَرِقُ

In the name of Allah the Most High and Most Gracious. Praise to the One Who has preserved His religion-Islam. May Allah’s countless blessings be on his Prophet, his household, companions and whoever shadows their path until the Day of Judgment. As for what follows.

Hadeeth is blessing from Allah. In its science there are various studies. Studies such as Takhreej, Jarh wa Ta’dil, Sabiq wa Lahiq and many more. However I would like to mention a science in Hadeeth that relates to narrators of Islam which is overlooked or unknown in the west. That is Al-Muttafiqu wal Muftariq.

Al-Muttafiqu wal Muftariq: is when a narrator’s first name and his father’s name are the same.i.e Khalil ibn Ahmed. There six narrators with this name. Furthermore, it can be when a person’s kunya and lineage are the same, or when a person’s name and kunya are the same, or even when a person’s first name, father’s name and grandfather’s name are all the same and so forth.

The Benefit in this science: Knowing this science of hadeeth prevents a person from thinking that two people are the same or vice versa.

Books authored for this science: Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi, Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn An-Najjar, Abu Bakr Jawzaqee have all authored books about Al-Muttafiqu wal Muftariq.

Hence, since it’s been the way of the people of Hadeeth to write about this topic, I would like to mention a few contemporary scholars who fall under this category of Hadeeth. I have compiled a few which are known to me today. I will only mention the first and last name which are the same; as in western society it’s common that we refer to the title, first name and last name only. Therefore I begin with:

1. 1.   Al-Ethiopian:

Muhammad Al-Ethiopian: There are two with this name today and both are often confused among publishers and distributors.

1. Muhammad Adam Al-Ethiopiis a known Muhaddith alive today in Mecca. He has authored numerous books in hadeeth, Fiqh, Rijal and language. His most famous work is his explanation for Sunnan An-Nisa’I which totals 40 volumes.
2. Muhammad Al-Ameen Al-Ethiopi is also a known Muhaddith in our time. He has written various books for almost every science of Islam. His most famous work is his explanation for Saheeh Muslim, which is a total of 26 volumes. He follows the same minhaj of An-Nawawee in his explanation of Muslim, except throughout times he’ll cover grammatical points, chains of hadeeth and support the Shafi mathab more than An-Nawawee did.

1. 2.   Al-Fawzan:

There are various people of knowledge with Al-Fawzan at the end of their name. And when a person says, “ Shaykh Fawzan”, then automatically Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan is what’s triggered. Nonetheless, there is a scholar named Abdullah ibn Salih Al-Fawzan alive today who scholars have said is a Muhaddith and Faqeeh. There are two Abdullah ibn Salih Al-Fawzan’s alive today that I am aware of .

1. Abdullah ibn Salih Al-Fawzan: He was born in 1368 in Qasseem in Saudi Arabia and up until 1425 he was a teacher at Muhammad ibn Saud branch in Qasseem. He isn’t just well known for Fiqh, but also grammar and Usul. He has one of the most commonly used explanation for “Al-Waraqat fi Usul Al-fiqh and an explanation for Qatrun Nada . What’s more, the scholars have praised his explanation for Bulughul Maram . It totals 9 volumes. And is an explanation which deals with Takhreej and Fiqh. His website is: http://www.islamlight.net/alfuzan/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1362&Itemid=52.
2. Abdullah ibn Salih Al-Fawzan: is a younger Muslim who appears on Tv sometimes in Saudi Arabia and on Majd Tv station.

1. 3.   Al-Jibreen:

When a person says, “ Shaykh Al-Jibreen, then Sahykh Abullah Al-Jibreen is the one the people think of. At any rate in our time there are two Shaykh Abdullah Al-Jibreens, but their middle names are different. I am mentioning these two here as I recall going out to buy an explanation for Ummdahtul Fiqh from Shaykh Abdullah Jibreen and the worker was confused. So much so, he thought no explanation for the book existed by that author.

1. a.       Shaykh Abdullah Jibreen (may Allah have mercy on him) Sheikh Abdullah Bin Jibreen was born in 1933 in one of the villages of Al-Quwai’iah. He grew up in Ar-Reen town and started his education in 1940. He started memorizing the Holy Qur’an with the help of his father and completed the memorization through Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Shithri. He also memorized several religious references. He used to attend lessons by senior Ulema on studying books on the Shariah, literature and history.

           He got his secondary school certificate in 1958, a bachelor’s degree in Shariah in   1961, masters degree in 1970 from the Higher Institute for the Judiciary, and a doctorate with excellent grade and honors in 1987. Several judges, teachers and religious callers were taught by him.

He accompanied the late Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz in most of his lessons in the Grand Mosque and used to give sermons and lead prayers on his behalf at times. Furthermore he was one of the Kingdom’s senior Ulema and a former member in the Ifta Permanent Committee.He died July 13, 2009.

1. b.    Shaykh Abdullah Jibreen: He was born in 1378. He holds a doctorate in Sharia and is a member of the Ifta committee. He currently lectures in Malik Saud University in Riyad. His most famous book is his explanation for Ummdahtul Fiqh, which the Mufti Abdul Aziz Al-Shaykh said, “This explanation shows just how strong in Fiqh and current issues author is.” Also he has written an excellent essay about interacting with non-Muslims.

1. 4.   Al-Luhaydan:

Shaykh Al-Luhaydan is mentioned then people often refer to the one who is the Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia, and a senior scholar in Riyad. The one people asked Shaykh Rabee about and his reply was, “ You go and ask him about ME!”

1. Shaykh Salih ibn Muhammad Al-Luhaydan : He was born in 1350H in Qassem. He graduated in 1379 from the college of Sharia in Riyad. He was the Mufti Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al-Shaykh’s secretary after graduating. He is the Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council of Saudi Arabia. Here is the Shaykh’s website. Visit it for more benefit and info on his bio.http://lohaidan.af.org.sa/
2. Shaykh Salih ibn Sa’d Al-Luhaydan : He was born in 1372 in Riyad. He is an advisor for the judges at the Ministry of Justice in Riyad. He has authored a few books and one of his most famous books is, “ Jarh wa Ta’dil. He has given Shaykh Ali Reda Ijazah in the science of Hadeeth.

1. 5.   Al-Qar’awee:

Al-Qar’awee is well known name among the ulema, especillay in Jizan. There are two Shaykh Abdullah Al-Qar’awees.

1. Shaykh Abdullah Al-Qar’awee: He was born in 1315 in Unayzah. He was known for being the bringer of light to darkness in Jizan. Shaykh Ahmed An-Najmi said , “He was responsible for opening 1200 schools in Saudi Arabia” For more information about this Imam visit: http://www.njza.net/default_ar.aspx
2. Shaykh Abdullah Al-Qar’awee : He was born in 1374 in Buraydah. He is currently and Imam and Khateeb in Buraydah. He has written some very valuable books in Aqeedah, Fiqh and Minhaj. One of his most remarkable works is the organization for the Musnad Imam Ahmed in sections of Fiqh. Its 25 volumes. Here is his website: http://www.qaraye.com/

6. Shakir:

There are two who are known as Mahmoud Shakir.

1. Mahmoud ibn Muhammad Shakir: He was Ahmed Shakir’s brother. A well known scholar and master of the Arabic language. He was from Egypt
2. Mahmoud Shakir: He’s a professor and author of the book Islamic History. He’s from Sham and resides in Saudi Arabia.

8. Shanqeetee:

There are two Muhammad Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee.

1. Muhammad Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee:Died in 1351H and was Abdur Rahman As-Sa’dee and Taqid Deen Al-Hilali’s teacher.
2. Muhammad Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee: (1393H). He is the author of Adwaul Bayyan in Tafsir.

9. Sudais:

a. Abdur Rahman As-Sudais : He is currently an Imam and recites the Quran in Mecca at the Haram. Here is his website: http://www.alsudays.com/

b. Abdur Rahman As-Sudais: He is one of the top students for Ash-Shaykh Abdur Rahman ibn Nassir Al-Barrak. He has transcribed many of the Shaykh’s audio lectures, reviewed them with the shaykh and then published them.

ًwritten and translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Lamont Battle Sr.

Doha, Qatar Rabi Thani 28,1432 ©

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