Recognition of Imam al-Nasa'i's Scholarly and Religious Status

Scholars have acknowledged Imam al-Nasa'i's outstanding religious services, profound scholarship, and excellence in authorship, to such an extent that he was titled "Imam of the Muslims" and "Imam in the Science of Hadith." He was recognized as a leader in both religion and knowledge.

SB Muhammad ibn Sa’d al-Bawardhi: EB He said: “I mentioned Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i to Qasim Mutarraz, and he said: Al-Nasa’i is an Imam, or worthy of being called an Imam.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333]

SB Imam al-Hakim: EB He said: “I heard al-Daraqutni say many times: ‘Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman is ahead of all contemporaries known for this knowledge.’” [Ma‘rifah ‘Ulum al-Hadith 83, Taqyid 140, Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/334, Tadhkirah, Bidayah wa Nihayah 14/793, Siyar 14/131, Tabaqat al-Shafi‘iyyah]

◈ Al-Hakim also said: “I heard Abu ‘Ali Husayn ibn ‘Ali mention the names of four Imams of Islam, and the first among them was Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i.” [Ma‘rifah ‘Ulum al-Hadith 82, Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333]

◈ He further narrates from Abu ‘Ali that he asked Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i something, acknowledging him as one of the Imams of Islam. And he added: “He is unanimously the Imam of hadith without dispute.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala 14/131, Tarikh al-Islam, Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 2/699]

◈ Al-Hakim also said: “I heard Abu ‘Ali al-Hafiz say: I saw four Imams of hadith in my town and on my journeys: two in Nishapur (Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibrahim ibn Abi Talib), the third was Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i in Egypt, and the fourth was ‘Abdan in Ahwaz.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333]

◈ He continued: “I heard Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn al-Harith say: I heard al-Ma’mun Abu al-Qasim (Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud al-Misri) say: In the year of battle (fidā’), we went with Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i to Tartus. There gathered a group of Islamic scholars and hadith masters like ‘Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Murabbi, Abu al-Adhan (‘Umar ibn Ibrahim), and Muhammad ibn Salih ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman Kiljah. They consulted among themselves on who should select hadiths from the elders, and they all agreed on al-Nasa’i. They recorded what he selected.” [Ma‘rifah ‘Ulum al-Hadith 82, Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333, Siyar 14/130, al-Hittah 458]

◈ Al-Hakim said: “I heard al-Hafiz Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn al-Muzhaffar say: I heard my teachers in Egypt acknowledge the leadership and excellence of Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i, that he spent his nights and days in worship, performed Hajj frequently, and accompanied the governor of Egypt for jihad (fidā’). He was known among the Muslims for reviving Sunnah and quick understanding. Though he traveled with the ruler, he kept away from his gatherings. He was generous in his journeys. Eventually, he was martyred in Damascus at the hands of the Khawarij (Nawasib).” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/334, Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 2/700]

◈ Al-Hakim said: “I heard ‘Ali ibn ‘Umar al-Daraqutni say more than once: Among all his contemporary hadith scholars, Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i is the most superior.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333]

SB Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman Muhammad ibn Husayn al-Sulami: EB He said: “I asked al-Daraqutni: If both Ibn Khuzaymah and al-Nasa’i narrate a hadith, whom would you prefer? He said: Al-Nasa’i, because he is a senior musnid. But I would not place anyone above al-Nasa’i, even though Ibn Khuzaymah is a peerless Imam and a well-grounded scholar.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333–334]

SB Hamzah ibn Yusuf al-Sahmi: EB He said: “Al-Daraqutni was asked: If both al-Nasa’i and Ibn Khuzaymah narrate, whose narration would you prefer? He replied: Al-Nasa’i’s, because there is no one like him. I would not favor anyone over him. He was unmatched in piety and righteousness. He did not narrate from Ibn Lahi‘ah, even though he had a high chain of transmission through Qutaybah.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/335]

SB Abu Talib Ahmad ibn Nasr: EB He said: “Who can show more patience and restraint than Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i? He had hadiths from every chapter narrated by Ibn Lahi‘ah via Qutaybah, yet he did not narrate them because he did not consider the narrations of Ibn Lahi‘ah to be reliable.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/335, Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 2/699]

⟐ Abu Bakr ibn al-Haddad was a man of knowledge, virtue, and ijtihad. Al-Daraqutni said: Ibn al-Haddad narrated many hadiths, but only from al-Nasa’i. He said: “I am content with al-Nasa’i’s narrations. It is a proof between me and Allah.”

SB Ibn ‘Adiyy: EB He said: “I heard Mansur al-Faqih and Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Salamah al-Tahawi say: Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Nasa’i is one of the Imams of Islam.” [Tahdhib al-Kamal 1/333]

In summary, the virtue, excellence, and leadership of Imam al-Nasa’i, both in religious and scholarly matters, is acknowledged by all the hadith masters and biographical scholars.

SB Hafiz Ibn Kathir: EB He said: “Many scholars praised him and testified to his virtue and leadership in the field of hadith.”