Download PDF: [S] The Muhaddith who read 24,000 Qur’ans

There is confusion about Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr bin Ayyash Kufi’s – may Allah be pleased with them – actual name. Some have said it is “Muhammad”, some have said “Abdullah”, some have mentioned “Saalim”, “Shu’ba” or “Muslim”, etc. However, the majority are of the opinion that his actual title is his name.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr bin Ayyash Kufi – may Allah be pleased with them – is considered as being among the eminent Muhadditheen of Kufah and was a student of Imam Abu Ishaq Sabee, Imam Hameed Taweel – may Allah be pleased with them –  etc. His students are among the Muhadditheen and included such eminent Saints as Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ib Mubaarak, Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ahmed bin Hambal, Imam Sufyan Thouri, Imam Yahya bin Moeen – may Allah be pleased with them.

 

One of the signs of his immense Taqwah is that in his entire life, he never uttered a useless word and never committed a major sin his entire life. For thirty years continuously he completed one Qur’an every day. For seventy years, he continued to perform Nafil Salaah the entire night and kept fast during the day. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mubaarak – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions that he has never seen someone as steadfast as this Saint in matters of Shari’ah. Others have mentioned that they have never seen someone who used to perform Salaah with such dedication.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr bin Ayyash Kufi – may Allah be pleased with them – was also someone who displayed immense Karamah. It is mentioned that once when he placed his bucket into the well of Zam Zam it returned full of milk. On one occasion, the bucket returned with honey.

 

He used to publicly rebuke Harun Rashid without fear. He passed away in 193 A.H.

 

It is mentioned that as Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr bin Ayyash Kufi – may Allah be pleased with them – was about to pass away, his little daughter began to weep. He asked her why she was crying and whether she was afraid that her father would be punished in the grave. He then pointed to the room and said to her, “My beloved daughter! In this room on one corner, I had completed the recital of the Qur’an twenty four thousand times.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr bin Ayyash Kufi’s – may Allah be pleased with them – blessed son also mentions that once his father mentioned to him, “O my son! Your father has never been guilty of committing a sinful act and for thirty years, every day I used to complete more than one Qur’an. And beware, do not become guilty of performing any sin in this area because in this place, I had completed the recital of twenty four thousand Qur’ans. (Imam Nawawi)