Al-Layth ibn Sa'd

For further information on the Leythi madhhab see Leythi.

al-Leyth Ibn Sa'd Ibn `Abdur-Rahmān Al-Fahmi (Arabic: الليث بن سعد بن عبد الرحمن بن عقبة الفهمي) was the chief representative, Imam and eponym of the Leythi school of Islamic jurisprudence and was regarded as a Hāfith (a title given to whoever memorizes 100,000 Hadeeth), the shaykh of Islam, the jurist (faqih) and scholar of Egypt.

Early life

al-Leyth was born in Sh`bān 94 AH in Qarqashandah, a village twenty-two kilometers from Fustāt, Egypt. However his ethnic origin goes back to Esfehān, Persia (modern day Iran).

He started to learn religious knowledge from an early age and was a student of some of the greatest scholars of his time, such as `Ubaydullaah Ibn Ja'far, Ja'far Ibn Rabee`ah, Al-Hārith Ibn Yazeed, and Yazeed Ibn Abi Habeeb. His teachers testified to his excellence, genius, and sharpness of mind. Al-Leyth had high aspirations to learn and learning in Egypt alone was not sufficient. In 113 AH he decided to travel to Hejaz to perform Hajj and seek knowledge being twenty years old at that time.^[1]

Travels and Pursuit of Knowledge

During his stay in Mecca and Medina Al-Leyth learned from a unique group of scholars of jurisprudence and Hadeeth, including Ibn Shihaab Az-Zuhari who was known as the most knowledgeable haafith and one of the first scholars to write down the Hadeeth. He also studied under `Ataa' Ibn Abi Rabaah (who was the Mufti and Jurist of Mecca), Ibn Abi Maleekah, Naafi` Ad-Daylami (who was the freed slave of the revered companion `Abdullaah Ibn `Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab), Sa`eed Ibn Sa`eed Al-Maqbari, Abu Az-Zubayr Al-Makki and many others.

He continued to attend classes and study up until and beyond the time where he had reached the level of the scholars in knowledge. He then went onto Baghdad to teach in 161 AH at the age of 65 years. During his stay in Baghdad Al-Leyth also asked about the house of the great scholar Hushaym Ibn Basheer (who was the master of Hadeeth scholars in Iraq) and asked Hushaym to send him some of his books in order to study them.^[2]

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Imaam Al-Leyth became prominent among his contemporary scholars as a genius jurist and a most trustworthy narrator of Prophetic Hadeeths. He began classes in his mosque to teach people. He soon became very famous and students from all across the globe came to learn from him. His schedule of teaching was split into four sessions a day;

• A session discussing the practices of the Sultan of Egypt. Imaam Al-Leyth Ibn Sa'd attained a high rank and prestigious standing in the sight of the `Abbasid Caliphs to the extent that if the Sultan or the Judge of Egypt committed any wrong, Al-Leyth would write to the Emir of the Believers who, in turn, would depose them.
• A class for teaching the noble Prophetic Hadeeths
• A class for answering people's religious questions
• A session for fulfilling the requests of the poor and the needy. The Imaam was regarded as never turning down any request for help.

A Famous Quotation

It is reported that Imam Al-Leyth ibn Sa’d once said;

Even if I saw a heretic walk on water, I would not accept him.”

This was reported to Imam Al-Shafi'i to which he replied;

“He didn’t go far enough. Rather, if I saw one walk in the air, I would not accept him.^[3]

Praise from various Scholars

Al-'Alaa' Ibn Katheer was quoted as saying;

"Al-Leyth Ibn Sa'd is our master, Imaam and scholar."

Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal is quoted as saying;

"Al-Leyth had profound knowledge and his narration of Hadeeths is authentic."

Imaam Ash-Shaafi`i is quoted as saying;

"Al-Leyth is more knowledgeable than Malik."

Positions of Authority

Imaam Al-Leyth occupied several posts throughout his lifetime. He was the head of the Administration of Finance during the reign of Saalih Ibn `Ali Ibn `Abdullaah Ibn `Abbaas of Egypt. He was also its head during the caliphate of the `Abbasid Caliph, Al-Mahdi. Previously, the `Abbasid Caliph Abu Ja'far Al-Mansoor asked him to be the ruler of Egypt, but Imaam Al-Leyth refused.

Notable Philanthropy

Imaam Al-Leyth was renowned for his great acts of charity and various accounts are recorded of his generosity, including many gifts to other scholars such as Imam Malik ibn Anas and Ibn Luhay`ah after his books had burnt. He was regarded as someone who would never eat except in the company of others and fed the needy and poor.^[4]

Death

Imaam Al-Leyth Ibn Sa'd died on Friday, 15th Sha'aban 175 AH. He was buried in Cairo and his funeral was attended by a large number of people who mourned his death.

References