Imām Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab (d. 94 AH)

Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab ibn Ḥazn al-Qurashī al-Makhzūmī, the illustrious scholar who was regarded as the leader of the Tābiʿūn and the most senior of the Seven Jurists of Madīnah.

Though Scholars differ regarding his date of birth, the preferred view is that he was born in the 15th year after Hijrah, two years since the caliphate of ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him).

Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab was blessed with a photographic memory and the greatest teachers, and was really learned. Imām Ibn Shihāb said, ‘ʿAbdullāh bin Thaʿlabah said to me, ‘If you desire this [matter of Fiqh], then you should adhere to this Shaykh, Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab.’ (Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, Tahdhīb at-Tahdhīb, 4:85)

Likewise, ʿAmr ibn Maymūn relates from his father, ‘I came to Madīnah and asked about the most knowledgeable person in Madīnah, and I was directed to Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab.’

His mursalāt (i.e. reports narrated from a Tābiʿī without naming the Ṣaḥābī) are considered to be the most authentic, and widely accepted, even by Imām Shāfiʿī. Imām Aḥmad mentioned, ‘The mursalāt of Saʿīd are authentic, we do not consider any other mursalāt more authentic than his.’

Imām Rabīʿ quotes Imām Shafiʿī saying, ‘The irsāl (mursal narrations) of Ibn al-Musayyab is ḥasan (good) according to us.’ Tahdhīb at-Tahdhīb, 4:85-86).

He was considered to be the most reliable narrator from Abū Hurayrah (raḍī Allāhu ʿanh), ʿAllāmah Dhahabī states, ‘He was the son-in-law of Abū Hurayrah and the most knowledgeable of his narrations.’

He is reported to have transmitted 681 narrations from Abū Hurayrah (raḍī Allāhu ʿanh).

Despite being a leading scholar and jurist of his time, he remained meticulous in worship and piety.ʿAllāmah Ibn Saʿd states in his Ṭabaqāt, ‘Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab possessed a high rank amongst the people due to his outstanding qualities of piety, integrity, maintaining speaking the truth in front of leaders and others, distancing himself from the rulers and possessing incomparable knowledge.’ This great scholar attracted thousands of students and many attained knowledge from him.

Imām Wāqidī stated regarding his date of demise, He passed away in the year 94 AH during the caliphate of Walīd, at the age of 75 years old.”

May Allāh shower His mercy on him. Āmīn yā Rabb.