Question

I would like to ask who was Al Humaydi? Is he a narrator in Sahih Bukhari?

Answer

Imam ‘Abdullah ibn Zubayr ibn ‘Isa, Abu Bakr Al Humaydi’s lineage links up to Ummul Mu’minin Sayyidah Khadijah (radiyallahu ‘anha) as well as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

He studied under great personalities and senior Muhaddithun and Fuqaha, the likes of Imams Ibrahim ibn Sa’d, Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, Walid ibn Muslim, Waki’ and Imam Shafi’i (rahimahumullah).

Imam Humaydi (rahimahullah) says, “I spent nineteen years in the company of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah).” He was therefore regarded to be the most senior and greatest student of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah).

From among his students were, Imams Bukhari, Dhuhli, Salamah ibn Shabib, Ya’qub Al Fasawi, Abu Zur’ah Ar Razi, Abu Hatim, Ya’qub ibn Shaybah (rahimahumullah) and many others.

Imam Bukhari (rahimahullah) has narrated many Hadiths from him in his Sahih, including the first Hadith.

He authored a Hadith book entitled, “Al Musnad” which is published with the annotations of Al-Muhaddithul Kabir; Shaykh Habibur Rahman Al-A’zami (rahimahullah).

Imam Humaydi (rahimahullah) passed away in Makkah Mukarramah in the year 219 A.H.

(Refer: Siyaru A’lamin Nubala, vol. 10, pg. 616-621, Fathul Bari, Hadith: 1, vol. 1, pg. 10, and Shaykh Habibur Rahman Al-A’zami’s foreword of Al Musnad)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar