Biography of Imam Tirmidhi

 Biography of Imam Tirmidhi.

 (may Allah have mercy on him) 

Name, surname, and genealogy:

Abu Isa Muhammad bin Isa ibn Surah ibn Musa ibn Dhahak.

Birth: Imam Tirmidhi was born in Tirmidh, the ancient and famous city of Turkestan, on the banks of the river Sabihun.

Education: Imam Tirmidhi initially received his education in his hometown. He also traveled to Khorasan, Iraq and Hijaz.

Teachers. The following are the names of the famous teachers of Imam Tirmidhi. Ishaaq bin Rahwiyah. Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Qutaybah bin Saeed, Ismail bin Musa, Abu Musab Zuhri, Abu Dawad, Ziaad bin Yahya, Muhammad bin Muthanna, Ali bin Ha jar and other scholars of knowledge and art. Tafsir, Hadith, Sirah, Tarikh, Adab, Aqeedah, Fitn, Ahkam, mastered in them. There were teachers of Imam Tirmidhi who were also teachers of Imam Muslim.

Disciple: A morning also appeared in which this sun shone with full radiance and appeared on the equator of Arabia. How many Arabic candles have been sacrificed on this perfect moon. Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari, the star of Bukhara, has also benefited from, Imam Tirmidhi.

Imam Bukhari praised Imam Tirmidhi with these words.

“ما انتفعتُ بک اکثر مما انتفعتَ بی”


It is enough for the greatness of Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) that Imam Bukhari also got knowledge from him. Although Imam Tirmidhi is a disciple of Imam Bukhari.

Many people got knowledge from Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him). Here are some of his famous students.

Imam Abu Hamid Ahmad bin Abdullah Marwzi. Haitham bin Kalib Shami. Muhammad bin Mehboob Marwzi. Ahmed bin Yusuf Nasfi. Abu Harith Assad bin Hamdawiyah. Dawood . Mahmud bin Numir. Muhammad ibn Mahmud and thousands of other disciples received the knowledge.

Personality and Memory: The burden that was not borne by the earth and the skyscrapers.  This burden was lifted by this simple man.

Allah Almighty bestowed special mercy on the holders of the Holy Qur'an and its commentary and hadith. Imam Tirmidhi is also among those who were blessed with a great memory by Allah Almighty.  Imam al-Tirmidhi was well versed in the science of hadith and "jirh wa ta'dil" in terms of its authenticity.  The queen of scrutiny was present.

Abu Saad Idrisi says: Abu Isa was a proverb in memory.

Umar ibn Ataak  says: Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) did not leave any scholar like Imam Tirmidhi after his death in Khurasan.  One who is ahead in knowledge, memorization, humility and submission.

If someone took the test of Imam Tirmidhi, he too became helpless and shouted: "I have never seen anything like you". 

(Araf al-Shadhi)

Anwar Shah Kashmiri says: Imam Tirmidhi was a famous Imam, a trustworthy, reliable and agreeable man.

Abu Ya'la says: Imam Tirmidhi is a trustworthy and agreeable man.

Jurisprudential point of view: Just like other Imams of Hadith were Mujtahids, followers of Sunnah and not imitators of  anyone.  Imam Tirmidhi was like that.

Anwar Shah Kashmiri says: Imam Tirmidhi was a mujtahid and did not imitate any one.

Allama Ibn Taymiyyah says: Imam Tirmidhi was one of the Imams of Jurisprudence.

Taqwa: Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) was a very humble man.  There  his not hold back tears for fear of Allah. The diamond-like eyes were blinded by too much crying.

It is written in Seyar-A'lam Al-Nubla: "Imam Tirmidhi cried so much that he lost his sight with both eyes".

 Compilations: Imam Tirmidhi used to be busy in every hour of the day and night so that people would quench their thirst for knowledge.

So, from the pen of Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) came Jami Tirmidhi, Shama'il Tirmidhi, Kitab Al-Ill,  Al-Kabeer Wal-Saghir, Kitab Al-Zuhd,  Al-Tarikh Asma, Al-Sahaba Al -Asma Wal-Kunna, Kitab Fi Al-Athar, Kitab Fi Tafsir and other books.

Death: Imam Tirmidhi passed away in the year 279 AH.  And saddening thousands of disciples and countless admirers.