Imām Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj

Imām Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj [الإمام مسلم بن الحجاج]

Life: (c. 202–261 AH / c. 817 – 875 CE)

One of the foremost scholars of ḥadīth, Imām Muslim is best known for compiling Sahīḥ Muslim, considered among the most authentic hadith collections in Sunni Islam and along with al-Bukhārī forming the “Ṣaḥīḥayn - الصحيحين.”

Early Life

His full name is Abū al-Ḥusayn Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj ibn Muslim ibn Ward ibn Kushādh al-Qushayrī al-Naysābūrī Arabic:أبو الحسين مسلم بن الحجاج بن مسلم بن ورد بن كُشاذ القشيري النيسابوري (commonly “Imām Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj”).^1
Mosque and biographical sources vary on his birth year: many place it in 202 AH (≈ 817 CE), while some sources also suggest 204 AH / 819 CE or 206 AH / 821 CE.2, 3
He was born in Nishapur (نيسابور ), a major center of learning in Khorasan (in present-day Iran).4
His tribe is said to be Qushayr (قشيري), a branch of the Arab Rabīʿah [ar: ربيعة] clan.5, 6
His father and family were devout, and from an early age Muslim was exposed to an environment supportive of scholarship.7

Youth / Teenage Years: The Pursuit of Knowledge

Imām Muslim began studying ḥadīth early under local scholars in Nishapur.8
It is recorded that by 218 AH, he was learning under Yahya ibn Yahya al-Tamīmī, and that in 220 AH (while still a youth) he performed the Ḥajj (pilgrimage) and studied in the Hijaz.9
Even at a young age, he is said to have embarked on journeys to meet scholars and collect hadith.10
His travels included visiting key centers like Basra, Kufa, Baghdad, the Hijaz (Mecca, Medina), Syria, and Egypt, among others, seeking hadith from many scholars.11

Mature Years: Scholarship, Works & Methodology

Method & Criteria

Imām Muslim was extremely careful in selecting only narrations whose chains were uninterrupted, whose transmitters were known for reliability (ʿadl) and precision (ḍabṭ), and where narrators had met or could plausibly have met.12
His methodology is often praised as rigorous and consistent, balancing stringency with scholarly judgment.13
He arranged his Ṣaḥīḥ thematically (by topic), rather than strictly by chain, aiding its usability.14

Sahīḥ Muslim

His major work, Sahīḥ Muslim (also called al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaḥīḥ), is one of the six canonical hadith compilations in Sunni Islam.15
Traditional accounts state that he collected approximately 300,000 hadiths over his journeys and studies.16
After selection and scrutiny, he accepted around 7,500 hadiths (with repetition) into the collection.17
The Ṣaḥīḥ is organized into books and chapters (e.g. purity, prayer, jihad, etc.), making it a structured reference.18

Other Works

Though Sahīḥ Muslim remains his most famous output, he authored numerous other works, though many are lost or partially preserved.19
These included works on ʿilm al-rijāl (biographies / evaluations of narrators), principles of hadith (uṣūl al-ḥadīth), and various thematic compilations.20
Biographical sources mention that he produced up to 28 works, but not all survived to our time.21

Later Life, Death & Legacy

Imām Muslim lived approximately 55 years, devoting most of his life to study, transmission, and teaching of hadith.22
He died in 261 AH (875 CE), in or near Nishapur, and was buried in its suburbs.23
His Ṣaḥīḥ achieved universal acclaim among Sunni scholars as one of the most authentic hadith collections.24
Alongside Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, his work forms the duo known as the Ṣaḥīḥayn (the two authentic ones).25
Later scholars and commentators wrote extensive works on Sahīḥ Muslim, ensuring its continued central place in hadith studies.
Muslim is honored with titles such as one of the “Amīr al-Muʾminīn fī al-Ḥadīth” (Commander of the Believers in Hadith) in recognition of his scholastic stature.

References (for internal use):

Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj,” accessed [today]. Encyclopedia Britannica
IslamicFinder, “Biography of Imam Muslim,” accessed [today]. IslamicFinder
The Faith website, “Imam Muslim,” accessed [today]. The Faith
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj.” Encyclopedia Britannica
HadithCollection, “Brief Biography of Imam Muslim,” accessed [today]. Hadith Collection
IslamicFinder, “Biography of Imam Muslim.” IslamicFinder
CPS GLOBAL, “Imam Muslim (204–261).” CPS Global
IslamicFinder, “Biography of Imam Muslim.” IslamicFinder
IslamicFinder, “Biography of Imam Muslim.” IslamicFinder
The Muslim Vibe, “A Short Biography of Imam Muslim.” The Muslim Vibe
IslamicFinder, “Biography of Imam Muslim.” IslamicFinder
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj.” Encyclopedia Britannica
CPS GLOBAL, “Imam Muslim (204–261).” CPS Global
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj.” Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj.” Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj.” Encyclopedia Britannica
The Muslim Vibe, “A Short Biography of Imam Muslim.” The Muslim Vibe
The Muslim Vibe, “A Short Biography of Imam Muslim.” The Muslim Vibe
The Muslim Vibe, “A Short Biography of Imam Muslim.” The Muslim Vibe
The Muslim Vibe, “A Short Biography of Imam Muslim.” The Muslim Vibe
The Muslim Vibe, “A Short Biography of Imam Muslim.” The Muslim Vibe
IslamOnline, “Imam Muslim (AH 202–261).” Islam Online
About Sahīḥ Muslim, Sunnah.com, “About — Sahīḥ Muslim.” Sunnah.com
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Muslim ibn al-Ḥajjāj.” Encyclopedia Britannica
IslamicFinder, “Biography of Imam Muslim.” IslamicFinder