Al-Barbahaaree
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| Iraq scholar Medieval era |
|
|---|---|
| Name |
Abu Muhammad al-Barbahaaree
|
| Birth | Baghdad, Iraq [1] |
| Death | 940 CE [2] |
| School/tradition | Salafi[3] |
| Main interests | Tawheed, Fiqh, and Hadiths |
| Influenced by | Ahmad ibn Hanbal[4] |
| Influenced | Ibn battah[5] |
Al-Barbaharee was a Sunni Islamic theologian from Iraq. In the midst of growing innovations and heresies, he was widely known for being severely harsh against the people of innovations or bidah. His books are peppered with stinging remarks that place the Shias, Qadaris, Mu'tazilis and Asharis in an extremely negative light. His concern for preserving the Sunnah, lead him to become increasingly outspoken in his later years, and ultimately led him in trouble with the authorities. He is often remembered by Salafi Sunnis as a staunch defender of Tawheed, and as one who passionately advocated that the viewpoint of the Sahaba or the companions of Muhammad, are a decisive authority when interpreting texts rather than contemporary laymen.
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[edit] Name
His full name was Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn' Alee ibn Khalf al-Barbahaaree
[edit] Biography
Al-Barbahaaree was born in Baghdad, Iraq and was fortunate to learn from the students of the illustrious Imam, Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Al-Barbahaaree focused a large portion of his scholarship in the science of hadith and fiqh. He often found himself in groups of hadith students studying the narrations of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Sunni scholars have frequently praised his piety and his efforts of preserving the Sunnah. Indeed, Abu-al-Faraj ibn Al-Jawzi eulogized al-Barbahaaree's stern oratory style, stating, :
| “ | ...He gathered knowledge and abstention from this world...and was strong against the people of innovation.[6] | ” |
Al-Barbahaaree had several widely known students, including the famed scholar, Ibn battah amongst many others. Al-Barbahaaree's growing influence in Baghdad ultimately led him to come to loggerheads with public officials and groups who received the brunt of his criticism. An arrest order was issued against al-Barbahaaree as he was forced into hiding while some of his students were arrested. Al-Barbahaaree ultimately died in 329 AH in eastern Baghdad
[edit] Views
[edit] Firm stance against bidah or innovations in Islam
Al-Barbahaaree is mostly remembered as a severe critic of innovations in Islam or bidah. In his book, Sharh us-Sunnah translated into the popular, Explanation of the Creed, al-Barbahaaree rebukes and chastises various groups he believed were heresies. Barbahaaree's works however may be seen as a warning for the general public, to apprise them of the increasing amount of innovations that plagued Iraq in his era. For example, a good portion of sayings in his book, begins with the phrase, "May Allah have mercy upon you!" or "Beware of..." thus suggesting his works were not necessarily a rebuttal against the growing heresies but rather as warnings to the masses.
[edit] The Salaf
In deeply relying on the viewpoints of the companions of Muhammad, al-Barbahaaree praises many of the Tabieen, theorizing that one can ascertain whether an individual is on the right path by discerning whether that individual shows love for the early generations of Muslims. Al-Barbahaaree went as far to say that those who viewed any Islamic religious matter differently from the Sahaba, or companions of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, has fallen into disbelief.
[edit] Quotes
- "May Allah have mercy on you! Examine carefully the speech of everyone you hear from in your time particularly. So do not act in haste and do not enter into anything from it until you ask and see: Did any of the Companions of the Prophet speak about it or any of the scholars?" [7]
- "If you hear someone criticising or rejecting the narrations (hadiths) or desiring something other than the narrations, have doubt about his Islam. Do not doubt about his being a person of desires and innovation."
- "If you see a man criticising the companions of the Messenger of Allah, know that he is a person of wicked speech and desires..."
- "The innovators are like scorpions. They bury their heads and bodies in the sand and leave their tails out. When they get the chance they sting; the same with the innovators who conceal themselves amongst the people, when they are able, they do what they desire." [8]
