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Sufis, Shaykhs, Saints & Scholars

Short Biographies   [1]

'Look into the heart of a Sufi,
If you want to see the Reality,
You would find there nothing but,
The true reflection of the Almighty.'

- 250 HIJRI | 251 - 500 HIJRI | 501 - 750 HIJRI | 751 - 1000 HIJRI | 1001 - 1250 HIJRI | 1251 + HIJRI

KEY :        d = death,   H = Hijri,    CE = Common Era

OWAIS AL-QARNI [d.37 H - 657 CE]
ALI IBN ABI TALIB [d.40 H - 661 CE]
HASAN AL-BASRI   [d.110 H - 728 CE]
MUH'MAD BIN ALI AL-BAQIR [d.114 H - 732 CE]
HABIB AL-AJAMI [d.120 H - 737 CE]
MALIK IBN DINAR [d.130 H - 748 CE]
IMAM ABU HANIFAH [d.150 H - 767 CE]
SUFYAN AL THAWRI  [d.161 H - 778 CE]
IBRAHIM IBN ADHAM  [d.164 H - 782 CE]
DAWUD AL-TAI  [d.165 H - 783 CE]
IMAM MALIK IBN ANAS  [d.179 H - 795 CE]
ABD'ULLAH IBN AL-MUBARAK [d.181 H - 797 CE]
QADI ABU YUSUF [d.182 H - 798 CE]
RABI'AH AL-BASRI  [d.185 H - 801 CE]
IBN AL HASAN AL-SHAIBANI [d.189 H - 805 CE]
MAROOF AL-KARKHI  [d.200 H - 815 CE]
IMAM AL-SHAFI'I   [d.204 H - 819 CE]
BISHR AL-HAFI  [d.225 H - 840 CE]
ABU BAKR IBN ABI SHAYBA [d.235 H - 849 CE]
AHMAD BIN HANBAL  [d.241 H - 855 CE]
AL-HARITH AL-MUHASIBI  [d.243 H - 858 CE]
DHUL-NUN AL-MISRI   [d.244 H - 859 CE]
QASIM AL-JU'I [d. 248 H - 862 CE]

SUFIS & SHAYKHS [2]  d. 251 - 500 Hijri

SARI AL-SAQATI   [d.253 H - 867 CE]
ABU YAZID AL-BISTAMI  [d.261 H - 874 CE]
SAHL AL-TUSTARI  [d.283 H - 896 CE]
JUNAYD, AL-BAGHDADI  [d.297 H - 910 CE]
IBN MANSUR AL HALLAJ  [d.309 H - 922 CE]
ABU JA'FAR AL-TAHAWI  [d.321 H - 933 CE]
ABU AL-HASAN AL-ASH'ARI [d.324 H - 935 CE]
ABU MANSUR AL-MATURIDI [d.333 H - 945 CE]
ABU BAKR ASH-SHIBLI  [d.334 H - 946 CE]
ABU 'ALI AL-DAQQAQ  [d.412 H - 1021 CE]
ABUL HASAN AL-KHARQANI [d.425 H - 1033 CE]
ABD 'AL-QAHIR AL-BAGHDADI [d.429 H - 1038 CE]
ABU SA'ID ABU'L KHAYR  [d.440 H - 1049 CE]
ABU AL-FARMADHI AT-TUSI [d.447 H - 1055 CE] 
ABU AL-QASIM AL-QUSHAYRI  [d.464 H - 1072 CE]
'ALI UTHMAN AL-HUJWIRI  [d.469 H - 1077 CE]
IBN AL-JUWAYNI [d.478 H - 1085 CE]
'AL-HARAWI AL-ANSARI  [d.481 H - 1088 CE]

SUFIS & SHAYKHS [4]  d. 751 - 1000 Hijri

SHAYKH AKHI SIRAJ AL-DIN CHISTI [d.758 H - 1357 CE]
TAJ AL-DIN AL-SUBKI [d.771 H - 1369 CE]
IBN KATHIR [d.774 H - 1373 CE]
MAKHDOOM JAHANIAN JAHAN GASHT [d.785 H - 1384 CE]
SHAH BAHA'AL-DIN NAQSHBAND  [d.791 H - 1388 CE]
HAFIZ AL SHIRAZI [d.791 H - 1389 CE]
SHAYKH ALA AL-HAQ WADEEN CHISTI [d.800 H - 1398 CE]
MAKHDOOM ASHRAF JAHANGIR SEMNANI [d.807 H - 1405 CE]
IBN KHALDUN [d.808 H - 1406 CE]
GESU DERAZ BANDA NAWAZ [d.825 H - 1422 CE]
IMAM IBN HAJAR AL-ASQALANI [d.852 H - 1448 CE]
IMAM MUHAMMAD AL JAZULI [d.870 H - 1465 CE]
ABD'AL RAZZAQ, NUR 'AL-AYN  [d.871 H - 1467 CE]
ABD 'AR-RAHMAN JAMI  [d.897 H - 1492 CE]
SHAMS AL-DIN AL SAKHAWI [d.902 H - 1497 CE]
JALAL AL-DIN AL-SUYUTI [d.911 H - 1505 CE]
'ABD 'AL WAHHAB AL-SHARANI [d.973 H - 1566 CE]
IBN HAJAR AL-HAYTAMI  [d.974 H - 1567 CE]
SHAH WAJIH AL-DIN ALVI GUJERATI [d.998 H - 1590 CE]

SUFIS & SHAYKHS [5]  d. 1001 - 1250 Hijri

SUFIS & SHAYKHS [6]  d. 1251 Hijri -

MAWLANA FAZL-E-HAQ KHAYRABADI [d. 1278 H - 1861 CE]
AHMAD ZAYNI DAHLAN AL-MAKKI [d. 1304 H - 1886 CE]
HAJI IMDADULLAH MUHAJIR MAKKI [d.1317 H - 1899 CE]
AL HAAJ WARIS ALI SHAH  [d.1323 H - 1905 CE]
MIAN MUHAMMAD BAKSH AL-QADIRI [d.1324 H - 1907 CE]
A'LA HADRAT IMAM AHMAD RIDA KHAN  [d.1340 H - 1921 CE]
ALIM-E-RABBANI SAYYAD AHMAD ASHRAF [d. 1347 - 1930 CE]
A'LA HADRAT 'ASHRAFI MIYA'  [d.1354 H - 1936 CE]
PIR MEHR ALI SHAH GOLRAWI  [d.1356 H - 1937 CE]
'HUJJAT AL ISLAM' HAMID RIDA KHAN [d.1362 H - 1945 CE]
SADR'AL AFAZIL NAIM AL-DIN MURADABADI  [d. 1367 H - 1948 CE]
PIR SAYYAD JAMA'AT ALI SHAH [d.1370 H - 1951 CE ]
SHAH ABD'AL ALEEM SIDDIQI [d.1373 H - 1954 CE]
MUHADDITH AL A'ZAM-E-HIND [d.1381 H - 1961 CE]
MUHADDITH AL AZAM PAKISTAN [d.1381 H - 1962 CE]
MUFTI AHMED YAAR KHAN NA'IMI [d. 1391 H - 1971 CE]
KHAWAJA QAMAR AL-DIN SIYALVI [d.1401 H - 1981 CE]
'MUFTI AL-A'ZAM' MUSTAFA RIDA KHAN [d.1402 H - 1981 CE]
SAYYAD AHMAD SA'EED KAZMI [d.1406 H - 1986 CE]
SARKAR-E-KALAN SAYYAD MUKHTAR ASHRAF [d. 1417 H - 1996 CE]
PIR KARAM SHAH AL-AZHARI [d. 1418 H - 1998 CE]

 

More shaykhs & scholars will be added at regular intervals

MAIN PAGE: SUFIS & SHAYKHS [1] 

[1]  |   [2]  |  [3]  |  [4]  |  [5]  |  [6]



SUFI STORIES | SUFI QUOTES | SUFI POETRY

 

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Imam Hasan al-Basri [d.110H/728CE] 'alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan

 

Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan Yasar Abu Sa'id al-Basri (d.110H), al-Faqih, the great Imam of Basra, leader of the ascetics and scholars of his time. The son of a freedwoman of Umm Salma's (the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's wife) and a freedman of Zayd ibn Thabit's (Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's stepson). Umm Salma Radi Allahu ta'ala anha nursed him. His mother took him as a child to Hadrat 'Umar Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu who supplicated for him with the words: "O Allah! Make him wise in the Religion and beloved to people." As a man he became known for his strict and encompassing embodiment of the Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, famous for his immense knowledge, austerity and asceticism, fearless remonstrances of the authorities, and power of attraction both in discourse and appearance. One of the early formal Sufis in both the general and the literal sense, he wore all his life a cloak of wool (suf).

 

Imam Hasan al-Basri Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was a major religious figure of the Umayyd period. Produced writings & sermons that were extremely influential in all areas of Islamic piety [taqwa'], from theology ['aqa'id] to Qur'anic Exegesis [tafsir]. Often critical of or opposed to Umayyad rulers, but did not approve of rebellion against tyrannical rule. His sermons contain some of the earliest & best examples of 'Arabic prose style.

 

Imam Hasan al Basri Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was considered by the Salaf to be one of the "Substitute-Saints" (al-Abdal). Hadrat Anas (narrated that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: "The earth will never lack forty men similar to the Friend of the Merciful [Hadrat Ibrahim (alaihi asalam)], and through them people receive rain and are given help. None of them dies except Allah substitutes another in his place." Hadrat Qatada Radi Allahu anhu said: "We do not doubt that al-Hasan is one of them." [Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat]

 

Further recommended reading : http://www.sunnah.org/history/Scholars/hasan_al_basri.htm

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Al-Imam Muhammad al-Baqir [d. 114AH/732C.E] alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan 

"Al-Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has disclosed secrets of Ilm and Hikmah and unfolded the principles of spiritual and religious guidance. Nobody can deny his character, his God-given knowledge, his divinely-gifted Hikmah, and his obligation and gratitude towards the spreading of knowledge. He was a sacred and highly talented spiritual leader and for this reason, he was popularly titled al-Baqir, which means the expounder of knowledge. Kind in heart, spotless in character, saved by soul, and noble by nature, the Imam devoted all his time to Allah's Ibadah. It is beyond the power of a man to count the deep impression of knowledge and guidance left by the Imam on the hearts of the faithful. His saying in devotion and abstinence, in knowledge and wisdom and in religious exercise and submission to Allah are so great in number that the volume of this book is quite insufficient to cover them all.”

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Source: by M. Jamaal al-Din Abdul-Wahid al-Hanafi

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1. There were good and bad men of authority amongst Banu Umayya. Amongst the excellent men are Hadrat Umar bin al-Khattab, Hadrat Uthman bin al-Affan, Umar bin Abdul-Aziz, etc. (May Allah be pleased with them and bestow them peace).
   
   
   
2. The Shi'ah who deserted Imam Zaid (in the same way their deserted his grandfather, Imam El-Husain bin Ali bin Abu Talib, Radi Allahu Anhu are now known as Rawafid, meaning Deserters and comprise 95% of the Shi'ah population today. This term, Rawafid, was titled to them by the Ahlul-Bayt.
   
   
   
   

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Nu'man ibn Thabit - 'Imam al A'zam' Abu Hanifah [d.150H/767CE] alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan 

 

Better known as 'Imam-e-'Adham' (The Greatest Imam), or by his kunyah 'Abu Hanifah' radi Allahu anhu, Nu'man ibn Thabit was born in the city of Kufa (modern day Iraq) in the year 80H (689 CE). Born into a family of tradesmen, the Imam's family were of Persian origin as well as descending from the Noble Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's Companion Salman al-Farsi radi Allahu anhu.' Imam Abu Hanifah's father, Thabit,' had met in Kufa Imam 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib radi Allahu ta'ala anhu who made du'a for him and his progeny, and some say that Abu Hanifah radi Allahu anhu was a result of this du'a.

 

Imam Abu Hanifah radi Allahu anhu acquired knowledge from over four thousand people. His teachers included many prestigious men of the time whose sanad went back to a number of Companions radi Allahu ta'ala anhum He himself was blessed with the meeting of the Companions: Anas ibn Malik, Abdullah ibn Afwa and Sahl ibn Sa'ad radi Allahu anhum, thus gaining him the rank of being a Tabi'i (Successor to the Companions).

 

Amongst Imam Abu Hanifah's shayukh was Hammad ibn Sulayman radi Allahu anhu, he joined his circle at the age of 22, having already become a well-known debater and studied with this shaykh until the latter's death, whereupon he took over his majlis (circle) at the age of forty. Shu'ba, a leading muhaddith who knew-by-heart two thousand traditions was also a teacher of Imam Abu Hanifah radi Allahu anhu. Shu'ba was greatly attached to Imam Abu Hanifah radi Allahu anhu saying: "Just as I know that the sun is bright, I know that learning and Abu Hanifah radi Allahu anhu are doubles of each other."

 

The Imam's quest for knowledge inevitably took him to the Holy Sanctuaries, at a time when Makkah was a busy center for learning. A number of acknowledged masters of hadith, who had had access to the Prophet's Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam Companions radi Allahu ta'ala anhum had established their own schools there. Of these was 'Ata bin Rabah's (rahm) school. 'Ata was a famous Tabi'i who had associated with most of the Companions radi Allahu ta'ala anhum) and acquired from this association a status of authority. He himself claimed to have met two hundred men who had associated with the Noble Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam. The leading Companions radi Allahu ta'ala anhum all acknowledged his learning. Abdullah ibn 'Umar radi Allahu anhu, son of the Caliph 'Umar radi Allahu anhu often used to say: "Why do people come to me when 'Ata ibn Abi Rabah is there for them to go to?" Of the other Muhaddithin of Makkah whose classes the Imam attended was 'Ikrimah. He was the slave and pupil of Abdullah ibn 'Abbas, who educated him with great care and attention, making him so proficient that he, during his own lifetime gave Imam Abu Hanifah the authority to exercise personal judgement and rulings. "Imam Abu Hanifah radi Allahu anhu was the first to analyze Islamic jurisprudence, divide it into subjects, distinguish its issues and determine the range and criteria for analytical reasoning (qiyas)."

 

Imam as-Shafi'i rahmatullahi alayh is recorded to have stated:"All men of fiqh are Abu Hanifah's children" and "I would not have acquired anything of knowledge had it not been for my teacher. All men of knowledge are children of the ulema of Iraq, who were the disciples of the ulema of Kufa, and they were the disciples of Abu Hanifah." The Hanafi madhhab, entitled after the Imam, spread far-and-wide during the time of the Ottoman Empire.? Today, more than half of the Muslims on the earth perform their `ibabadah according to the Hanafi madhhab. The Hanafi school has decided court cases in the majority of Islamic lands for the greater part of Islamic history, including the 'Abbasid and Ottoman periods.

 

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Further recommended reading :
http://www.sunnah.org/publication/khulafa_rashideen/hanifa.htm

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 IMAM MALIK | IMAM SHAFI'I | IMAM HANBAL

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Sufyan ibn Sa'id ibn Masruq Abu 'Abd Allah al-Thawri al-Mudari al-Kufi [d.161H/778CE]  'alayhi al-rahmah wa'l-ridwan

 

Sufyan al-Thawri al-Mudari al-Kufi [97-161], the Godfearing, wise, grief-stricken, Mujtahid Imam, "Commander of the Believers in Hadith" – the highest level in hadith Mastership –, "Shaykh al-Islam, the Imam of hadith Masters, the leader of the practicing Ulema in his time, the author of the Jami' " (SHAMS AL-DIN AL-DHAHABI). His father was a junior Tabi'i Muhaddith and he thus began his scholarly career at home. Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i recited when he saw Sufyan coming: (And We gave him wisdom when a child) (19:12). His Shuyukh number 600. Ibn al-Jawzi claimed that his students number over 20,000 but al-Dhahabi said: "This is preposterous, they hardly reached 1,000. I know none of the hadith Masters from whom more narrated than Imam Malik, and those number 1,400 – including the liars and the unknown!"

 

Among the praises related about him: