Shuÿba bin al-ḤajjÃÂj bin al-Ward, Abà « Busá¹ÂÃÂm al-ÿAtakë () (c. 85âÂÂ160/704âÂÂ776 AH/CE) was an early, devout Muslim, who was known for both his knowledge of poetry and of ḥadëth. His scrupulousness in ḥadëth transmission, alongside other scholars such as SufyÃÂn al-Thawrë, is understood to have laid the foundation for the concretization of ḥadëth sciences.
Shuÿba bin al-ḤajjÃÂj was born with a speech impediment (althagh) sometime between the years 80âÂÂ86 AH, though likely 85, in WÃÂsiá¹Â, a historical city located on the west bank of the Tigris River in central ÿIrÃÂq. He then moved to Baá¹£ra as a child, where lived, studied, and later died in 160/776 AH/CE due to plague. Another famous scholar and ḥadëth transmitter, SufyÃÂn al-Thawrë, called Shuÿba "commander of the faithful concerning ḥadëth" (amër al-mu'minën fë al-ḥadëth), but Shuÿba himself is quoted by Ibn Qutayba al-Dënawarë as saying "By God, truly in poetry I am more sound than in ḥadëth." He was instrumental in transmitting ḥadëth, and is understood to be one of the first individuals mentioned as a zÃÂhid amongst the early ḥadëth transmitters. Although Abà « Ḥanëfa and ÿAbd AllÃÂh bin á¹¢ÃÂliḥ al-ÿAjlë al-Kà «fë levelled critiques against his transmissions. It is mentioned in al-Dhahabi's TÃÂrëkh al-IslÃÂm that Shuÿba studied masÃÂÿil (juridical affairs) under both Anas Ibn MÃÂlik and Ḥasan al-Baá¹£rë, but not much is known of his juridical endeavors. However, his appearance in the ḥadëth transmitted by individuals such as Sufyan al-Thawri, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj and al-Bukhari show the prominent place he held in the early circles of ḥadëth transmitters and other scholars. Furthermore, there are many reports that mention the devotion of Shuÿba, including: helping the poor, avoiding ostentatious displays of knowledge and wealth, and participating in renunciatory acts.