Abà « al-Ḥasan ûAlë ibn ûAbdillÃÂh ibn Jaûfar al-Madënë (778 CE/161 AH â 849/234) () was a ninth-century Sunni Islamic scholar who was influential in the science of hadith. Alongside Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Abi Shaybah and Yahya ibn Ma'in, Ibn al-Madini has been considered by many Muslim specialists in hadith to be one of the four most significant authors in the field.
Ibn al-Madënë was born in the year 778 CE/161 AH in Basra, Iraq to a family with roots in Medina now in Saudi Arabia. His teachers include his father, ûAbdullÃÂh ibn Jaûfar, ḤammÃÂd ibn Yazëd, Hushaym and SufyÃÂn ibn ûUyaynah and other from their era. His teacher, Ibn ûUyaynah, said that he had learned more from Ibn al-Madënë, his student, than his student from him.
Ibn al-Madënë specialized in the disciplines of hadith, biographical evaluation and al-ûIlal, hidden defects, in the sanad, chain of narration. He was praised by other hadith specialists for his prowess in that fieldâÂÂby both his contemporaries, students and his teachers. ûAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn ibn Mahdë, a scholar who preceded him, described Ibn al-Madënë the most knowledgeable person of prophetic hadith.
His students include prominent hadith scholars in their own right. They include: Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyàal-Dhuhalë, Muḥammad ibn IsmÃÂûël al-BukhÃÂrë, Abà « DÃÂwà «d SulaymÃÂn ibn al-Ashûath al-SijistÃÂnë and others. Al-BukhÃÂrë, who went on the collect what is considered to be the most authentic collection of hadith in Sunni Islam, said that he did not consider himself diminutive in comparison to anyone other than Ibn al-Madënë.
Al-Dhahabë lauded Ibn al-Madënë as an imÃÂm and as exemplary to subsequent scholars in the field in hadith, a description he considered tarnished by Ibn al-Madënë's adopted position in the theological inquisition of the ninth century. According to Al-Dhahabë, he adopted a position in favor of the Muûtazilah regarding the uncreated origin of the Quran, but later regretted this and declared the claimant that the Quran was created as an apostate.
Ibn al-Madënë died in Samarra, Iraq in June, 849/Dhu al-Qa'dah, 234.
Al-Nawawë said Ibn al-Madënë authored approximately 200 works some on subjects not previously written about and many not since superseded.