Question

I heard that Abu ‘Amir the great-grandfather of Imam Malik (rahimahullah) was a Sahabi. But today, I read in an article that Hafiz ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (rahimahullah) said that he was a Tabi’i Mukhadram. Which is correct?

 

Answer

‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah), the expert in the science of ‘ilmur-rijal (narrators) has written that Abu ‘Amir lived during the time of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) but he has not seen anyone mentioning him to be a Sahabi.

(Tajridu Asma-is Sahabah, vol. 2, pg. 181/182, number: 2107)

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has included him in the section of Mukhadramun in Al-Isabah and has quoted the above statement of ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah).

(Al Isabah, vol. 12, pg. 483, number: 10413)

Therefore, the correct view seems to be that he was a Mukhadram (One who lived in Jahiliyyah and Islam but did not meet Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

تجريد أسماء الصحابة: (٢/ ١٨١)
(٢١٠٧) – ابو عامر بن عمر بن الحارث بن عثمان الاصبحي الحميرى كان في زمان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم. و ابنه مالك جد مالك بن انس مدني تابعى سمع عثمان ولم ار احدا ذكره فى الصحابة.

الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة: (١٢/ ٤٨٣)
(١٠٤١٣) – أبو عامر بن عمرو بن الحارث بن غيمان بفتح الغين وسكون التحتانية المثناة الأصبحي.
ذكره الذهبي في التجريد وقال: لم أر من ذكره في الصحابة وقد كان في زمن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لابنه مالك رواية، عن عثمان وغيره.