A Study of the Biography of Imam Abū Isḥāq al-Jūzjānī and His Role in Disseminating Prophetic Ḥadīths

Abstract

This article presents a detailed biography of Imam Abū Isḥāq al-Jūzjānī (may Allah have mercy on him) and examines his significant contributions to the transmission and propagation of Prophetic ḥadīths. The study aims to deepen scholarly understanding of Imam al-Jūzjānī’s stature and his pivotal role in preserving the narrations of the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him). Employing an analytical-descriptive methodology, the research draws upon classical library sources. Findings indicate that Imam al-Jūzjānī, a prominent ḥadīth scholar of the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AH, was widely recognized for his reliability (thiqah) and trustworthiness (ṣadūq). Originating from the region of Jūzjān in present-day Afghanistan, he eventually settled in Damascus, where he passed away. He was instrumental in educating numerous scholars from diverse regions, and his narrations are extensively cited in the Six Canonical Books (al-Kutub al-Sittah) as well as other classical ḥadīth collections. Although he authored several works, most have been lost, surviving only in fragments. Imam al-Jūzjānī’s scholarly legacy underscores his vital role in the preservation and dissemination of Prophetic traditions. Moreover, the region of Jūzjān emerged as a notable center of Islamic scholarship, producing several other distinguished ḥadīth scholars and jurists.