Download PDF: [S] Imam Abu Zar’a’s Memory

Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – was one of the eminent Muhaddith of his era who was blessed with amazing memory. He knew hundreds of thousands of Ahadith by heart and he was also quick to mention these Ahadith whenever the need arose.

 

Such was his amazing memory that one day someone asked him, “If someone takes an oath by virtue of the fact that Abu Zarr’a has memorized two hundred thousand Ahadith, will he be considered as a Haanith, (in other words, someone who has broken his promise).” Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – replied that he would not be so. He has also mentioned that he knows one hundred thousand Ahadith like a person knows Surah Ikhlaas and that two hundred thousand Ahadith were protected in his memory. (Tadreeb Ar Raawi)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ahmed bin Hambal – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that, “The authentic Ahadith are more than seven hundred thousand in number and this young man, (Imam Abu Zar’a,) has memorised seven hundred thousand Ahadith.” (Tadreeb Ar Raawi)

 

Ibn Ai Haatim explains the immense and super memory of Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – in the following manner that once Ibn Waraah, whose actual name is Mohammed bin Muslim, and and Fadl bin Abbas, who is known by the famous title of “Fadlik As Saa’igh”, both of them visited Imam Abu Zarra’a – may Allah be pleased with him. Both of them were discussing a certain issue and Ibn Waraa had presented a certain Hadith to back his argument but Fadlik had objected to this by saying that the words of the Ahadith were not like this. When ibn Waraah asked him about what the proper words of the Hadith were, Fadlik who more or less knew the words mentioned that these were the actual words. (In other words, what he felt were the correct words, he mentioned those words).

 

While they were conversing, Imam Abu Zarr’a – may Allah be pleased with him – was listening silently to them. They then asked him for his opinion. However, as per the behaviour of someone who is very learned, Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – remained silent but they forced him to give an answer.

 

Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – then asked them to call his nephew. When his nephew came, he said to him, “Please go to my library and removed a book from the fourth shelf. Then choose the seventh chapter of that book and bring it to me.” (Tahzeeb) Abul Qasim, his nephew, then went and brought the book his uncle requested. When they presented this chapter to Imam Waraah – may Allah be pleased with him – he finally admitted that he had mentioned the incorrect words.

 

The following words of Imam Zarr’a – may Allah be pleased with him – are also quite amazing which has been reported by Hafiz ibn Hajr – may Allah be pleased with him – from Imam Abu Jafer Al Tustari – may Allah be pleased with him: “It has been fifty years I recorded that specific Hadith Shareef and it has been kept in my house. After recording that Hadith Shareef, for fifty years, I did not have the need to go through it. However, I know specifically in which book that Hadith Shareef is recorded in, in which page and in which sentence it is in.” (Tahzeeb)

 

In spite of not being able to look at this Hadith Shareef in over fifty years, such was the amazing ability that Allah Almighty had blessed him with that he was able to pinpoint in which page this Hadith Shareef was to be found. In fact, the minds of ordinary people will find it difficult to be able to accept something as amazing as this. In fact, if the miracle memories of the Huffaz were not found, then this type of incident would become difficult to understand and comprehend.

 

The very presence of Huffaz in this world makes it easier to understand and accept. In fact, we know that there are such amazing Huffaz in the world who can pinpoint exactly where a certain verse of the Holy Qur’an can be found. There are even Huffaz who may just revise the Holy Qur’an in a year, but they are able to complete the entire Taraweeh without a mistake. Sadly, these types of Huffaz are also become lessor day by day. In most parts of the world, the Huffaz have to revise the Holy Qur’an at least twice a day to be able complete the Taraweeh Salaah.

 

Imam Saleh Jazarah narrates that Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – had admitted that he had memorised over ten thousand Ahadith by merely reading through them. (Tadkirah Al Huffaz)

 

There was once a person who no one knew what he was thinking at the time, had taken an oath that if Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – did not know by memory a hundred thousand Ahadith, his wife would be given a complete Talaaq. After saying this, he approached Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – and mentioned this to him. Obviously, he had taken an oath and did not know whether his wife would actually be divorced through this oath.

 

Perhaps another reason was that perchance someone had doubted the amazing memory of Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – and maybe this is why the person had taken such oath. No one knew the reason. However, whatever was the reason, he appeared in front of Imam Abu Zarr’a – may Allah be pleased with him – and informed him what he had done. Imam Abu Zarr’a – may Allah be pleased with him – then declared to him with confidence that he should keep his wife. It is obvious that the great Imam actually knew so many Ahadith through memory or else he would not have mentioned to the person to keep his wife. This is also a clear indication of his amazing memory. (Tadkirah Al Huffaz)

 

Imam Abu Jafer Tustari – may Allah be pleased with him – reveals that when the time came near for Imam Abu Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – to pass away, at that time there were a few eminent scholars who were present among them, namely Imam Abu Hatim, Imam Mohammed bin Muslim and Imam Manzar bib Shazaan – may Allah be pleased with them. They also wanted to inform the great scholar about reciting the Kalimah, (talkeen) but they also felt that it would be disrespectful on their part. Hence they devised an idea for him to do so.

 

Imam Mohammed bin Muslim – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned that actual sanad of the Hadith which is Duhaak bin Mukhallid from Abdul Hameed bin Jafer. As he mentioned this sanad, he remained silent. Imam Zar’a – may Allah be pleased with him – completed this by also reading the full sanad of this Hadith Shareef by saying: “Nidaar from Abu Asim from Abdul Hameed bin Jafer from Saleh bin Abi Ghareeb from Katheer bin Marrah Hadrami from Mu’az bin Jabal who narrates that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has stated that, “He whose final words are La ilaaha illal laahu,” the minute he mentioned these words, the great Imam passed away. The actually words of the Hadith Shareef is that, ‘He whose final words are laa ilaaha illal laahu, he will enter Jannah.’ (ibn Majah; Ilm-e-Hadith)