Download PDF: [S] He was a Student of Imam A’zam

His full name is Abu Ishaq Ebrahim bin Adham Balkhi – may Allah be pleased with him. Besides being one of the famous Saints of his era, he was also one of the most authentic Muhaditheen and Jurists of his era.

 

In the field of Hadith and Fiqh, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Ishaq Ebrahim bin Adham Balkhi – may Allah be pleased with him – was also one of the famous students of Imam A’zam, Imam Abu Hanifah– may Allah be pleased with him. He was originally from Balkh but later settled in Syria. He was extremely respected in the field of Zuhd, Taqwah and spiritual penitence.

 

It is mentioned that when Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Ishaq Ebrahim bin Adham Balkhi – may Allah be pleased with him – arrived in the blessed court of the Imam A’zam – may Allah be pleased with him, the great Imam mentioned to him, “O Ebrahim! You have been blessed with immense power of Ibadah and spiritual penitence. Therefore, it is also important that you acquire some knowledge as well. The reason is that the foundation of all of these actions is also based on Shari’ah.”

 

After hearing the advice of his eminent teacher, he busied himself in acquiring knowledge. After being in the blessed company of such giants in Islam as Imam A’zam, Imam Yahya bin Sa’eed, Imam Maqaatil bin Habban – may Allah be pleased with them –  etc, he himself became an authority in Hadith. It is from his Hadith classes that such giants in Islam were born such as Imam Sufyan Thouri, Imam Shafeeq Balkhi, Imam Ebrahim bin Bashaar, Imam Awzaa’i – may Allah be pleased with them .

 

Imam Nisaa’i, Imam Yahya bin Mo’een, Imam ibn Numair, Imam Ajali – may Allah be pleased with them – all consider him a most authentic Muhaddith. Imam ibn Habban – may Allah be pleased with him – has included him among the authentic narrators of Hadith.

 

In the final years of his life, he divorced himself from everyone and spent every moment in Ibadah and spiritual penitence. Through his spiritual grace, thousands of people made Taubah and many hundreds more accepted Islam. He also joined the Mujahideen and fought against the Romans and passed away in that region in 161 A.H. or 162 A.H. (Tahzeeb)