Al-Dahhak ibn Muzahim (died; 105 AH / 723 AD) was a figure in early Islamic scholarship, known for his contributions to

Hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...

literature,

Quranic exegesis Tafsir ( ; ) refers to an exegesis, or commentary, of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' (; plural: ). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, context or commentary for clear understanding ...

, and

Islamic jurisprudence ''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.Fiqh
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...

. Despite the controversy surrounding the authenticity of some of his narrations, his influence is widely acknowledged in historical and religious texts. Scholars such as

Ibn Hibban Muḥammad ibn Hibbān al-Bustī () (c. 270–354/884–965) was a Muslim Arab scholar, polymath and a prominent Shafi'i traditionist, ḥadith critic, evaluator of rijal, compiler and interpreter of hadith. He was a prolific writer and well-ve ...

recognized his efforts, while others viewed his work with skepticism.

Career

Hadith contributions

His contributions to Hadith literature are recorded in various sources. The ''1000 Qudsi Hadiths: An Encyclopedia of Divine Sayings'' mentions Al-Dahhak's narrations through a chain of transmitters, reflecting his involvement in the dissemination of Hadith.

Recep Şentürk Recep Şentürk (born 1964, Çankırı, Turkey), is a Turkish academic and sociologist of religion. He was the rector and founding president of Ibn Haldun University from 2017-2021, and is currently the dean of the college of Islamic Studies at Ha ...

in ''Narrative Social Structure'' mentions that

honored Al-Dahhak and stated that he did not hear directly from

Ibn Abbas ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās (; c. 619 – 687 CE), also known as Ibn ʿAbbās, was one of the cousins of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, prophet Muhammad. He is considered to be the greatest Tafsir#Conditions, mufassir of the Quran, Qur'an. ...

, despite a large group of scholars considering him weak.

Exegesis and Tafsir

Al-Dahhak also made significant contributions to

Tafsir Tafsir ( ; ) refers to an exegesis, or commentary, of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' (; plural: ). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, interpretation, context or commentary for clear understanding ...

(Quranic exegesis). In "

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (), commonly known as ' (), is the Qur'anic exegesis (') by Ibn Kathir. It is one of the most famous Islamic books concerned with the science of interpretation of the Quran. It also includes jurisprudential rulings, and takes care of the hadit ...

Juz' 5," he is noted for his interpretations alongside other prominent scholars like

Ibn 'Abbas ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās (; c. 619 – 687 CE), also known as Ibn ʿAbbās, was one of the cousins of the prophet Muhammad. He is considered to be the greatest mufassir of the Qur'an. He was the son of Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, an uncle of M ...

and

Al-Hasan Al-Basri Abi Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Yasar al-Basri, often referred to as al-Hasan al-Basri, was an ancient Muslim preacher, ascetic, theologian, exegete, scholar, and judge. Born in Medina in 642,Mourad, Suleiman A., “al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī”, in: ''Encycl ...

Views

on Islamic law

His views extended to

Islamic jurisprudence ''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.Fiqh
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...

and

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...

. Abdullah Alwi Haji Hassan's ''Sales and Contracts in Early Islamic Commercial Law'' references Al-Dahhak's perspectives on various legal terms and practices in early Islamic commerce.

on Political and social

In ''Democracy: The Rule of Law and Islam,'' Eugene Cotran and Adel Omar Sherif highlight Al-Dahhak's interpretations related to

Islamic governance Islamic governance is the approach to leading Islamic nations and guiding their communities and organizations, all in line with the fundamental principles of Islam. It can be viewed as a governance model that integrates Islamic values into the r ...

. He was known for explaining

Allah Allah ( ; , ) is an Arabic term for God, specifically the God in Abrahamic religions, God of Abraham. Outside of the Middle East, it is principally associated with God in Islam, Islam (in which it is also considered the proper name), althoug ...

's instruction to

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

to consult with his people according to Islamic belief, emphasizing the importance of consultation in governance.

Religious influence and teachings

Al-Dahhak's teachings and religious interpretations were influential during his time. Gozde Hussain's ''Islamic Doctrines and Political Liberalism'' discusses his association with renowned Islamic scholars like

al-Suyuti Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (; 1445–1505), or al-Suyuti, was an Egyptians, Egyptian Sunni Muslims, Muslim polymath of Persians, Persian descent. Considered the mujtahid and mujaddid of the Islamic 10th century, he was a leading Hadith studies, muh ...

and

Muhammad Said Ramadan al-Bouti Muhammad Said Ramadan Al-Bouti () (1929 – 21 March 2013) was a renowned Syrian Sunni Muslim scholar and author. He was served as professor and vice dean at the Damascus University, also serving as the imam of the Umayyad Mosque. Al-Bouti wr ...

Death

Al-Dahhak ibn Muzahim continued his scholarly work until his death in 105 AH (723 AD).

References

{{Authority Control 723 deaths 8th-century Muslim scholars of Islam Islamic scholars Hadith scholars Quranic exegesis scholars