One
of the personalities amongst the great Muhaddiseen who has a very high
scholarly status is Shaykh-ul-Islam, Faqeeh-e-Jaleel, Haafiz-e-Kabeer, Imam Abu
Bakr Ahmad Bin Husayn Bayhaqi Shaafi’i رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ.
Birth
He رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ was born
in Bayhaq [near Nishapur, Iran], a famous city of Khurasan, in
Sha’ban-ul-Mu’azzam 384 AH. In relation to the city ‘Bayhaq’ he رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ is called ‘Bayhaqi’.
Education and teachers
He رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ travelled to Hejaz, Makkah Mukarramah, Iraq, Jabaal, Nishapur,
Taabran, Daamghan, Esfarayen and many other areas for gaining religious ‘Uloom
[branches of knowledge] and the knowledge of Hadees. He رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ was inclined to listen to Hadees [would listen to blessed
Ahadees directly from his teacher] when he was just fifteen years old. Amongst
his teachers, the name of Imam Abu ‘Abdullah
Haakim Nishapuri Shaafi’i رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ, the author of Mustadrak, is at the top of the list. In
addition, he رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ also
gained knowledge from Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad Bin Foorak Shaafi’i and Muhaddis
Abu Sa’eed Muhammad Bin Musa Sayrafi رَحْمَھما اللّٰہِ تَعَالٰی. Imam Tajuddeen Subuki
Shaafi’i رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ has
narrated that he had more than 100 teachers and Shuyukh.
Students
Shaykh-ul-Islam
Khuwajah ‘Abdullah Ansari Haravi,
Sayyiduna Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad Bin Fadl [فَضْل] Faravi Shaafi’i, Haafiz
Zaahir Bin Taahir Shahhaami, Sayyiduna Abul Ma’aali Muhammad Bin Isma’eel Farsi
رَحِمَهُمُ
الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی and many other personalities are amongst his famous students.
Scholarly glory and books
Haafiz
‘Abdul Ghaafir Bin Isma’eel رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ has said: “Bayhaqi” was a
Mufti, Haafiz of Hadees, had a matchless memory as compared to his
contemporaries and was superior to them regarding Zabt-o-Ittiqaan. He is one of the great students of Imam Haakim, but he
had more knowledge of many ‘Uloom [branches of knowledge] than him. He started
writing and memorizing blessed Ahadees since his childhood. He has written
matchless books about the knowledge of Hadees and Fiqh. He has written books on
many important topics like beliefs, Ahadees, Fiqh, Manaqib, etc. Amongst his
famous books the names of Dalaail-un-Nubuwwah, Shu’ab-ul-Iman, Ma’rifat-us-Sunan
wal-Aasaar, As-Sunan-ul-Kabeer, As-Sunan-us-Sagheer, Kitab-ul-Asma
was-Sifaat and Hayat-ul-Ambiya are at the top of the list.
Asceticism and piety
Talking
about his asceticism and piety Imam Abul Hasan Haafiz ‘Abdul Ghaafir Bin
Isma’eel رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ has said: Imam Bayhaqi رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ would
live like the blessed Seerah [life] of the past Islamic scholars. He رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ was satisfied with a little amount of money and was ascetic and
pious. He رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ
worshipped in such a way that he observed Sawm every
day [except the days when observing Sawm is prohibited] in the last 30
years of his life.
Blessed demise
He رَحْمَۃُاللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ spent the
last part of his blessed life in Nishapur. He fell ill there and passed away. He
رَحْمَۃُاللہِ
تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہ passed away on the 10th Jumadal Aula, 458 AH in
Nishapur and was laid to rest in Bayhaq.
May
Allah Almighty have mercy on him and forgive us without any accountability for
his sake!
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی
عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ