Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā al-Birtī

Of this generation was the judge Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā al-Birtī. He transmitted the books from Abū Sulaymān al-Jūzjānī. One side of Baghdad was entrusted to him, and the other to Ismāʿīl ibn Isḥāq. Then, in al-Muʿtamid's reign, he requested release, returned his appointment document to them, stayed in his house, and devoted himself to worship until he died.

Of this generation was the judge Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā al-Birtī. He transmitted the books from Abū Sulaymān al-Jūzjānī. One side of Baghdad was entrusted to him, and the other to Ismāʿīl ibn Isḥāq. Then, in al-Muʿtamid's reign, he requested release, returned his appointment document to them, stayed in his house, and devoted himself to worship until he died.

Judge Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḍabbī related to us: Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-Hāshimī related to us: Judge Abū ʿUmar Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf related to us: One day I rode with Ismāʿīl ibn Isḥāq to Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā al-Birtī, who was staying in his house. I saw an elderly man, pale, with the effects of worship visible upon him. I saw Ismāʿīl show him great reverence and ask about him, his household, and its elderly women. We sat with him for a while, then left. Ismāʿīl said to me, “My son, do you know this elder?” I said, “No.” He said, “This is the judge al-Birtī. He has remained in his house and devoted himself to worship. This is how judges should be, unlike us.”

Judge Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḍabbī related to us: Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-Hāshimī related to us: Judge Abū ʿUmar Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf related to us: One day I rode with Ismāʿīl ibn Isḥāq to Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā al-Birtī, who was staying in his house. I saw an elderly man, pale, with the effects of worship visible upon him. I saw Ismāʿīl show him great reverence and ask about him, his household, and its elderly women. We sat with him for a while, then left. Ismāʿīl said to me, “My son, do you know this elder?” I said, “No.” He said, “This is the judge al-Birtī. He has remained in his house and devoted himself to worship. This is how judges should be, unlike us.”

ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm informed us: Makram ibn Aḥmad narrated to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Muḥammad al-Marwazī narrated to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim narrated to me: Al-Birtī the judge narrated to us: I heard Abū Nuʿaym say: Abū Ḥanīfa was handsome, with a fine face, fine beard, and fine clothing.

ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm informed us: Makram ibn Aḥmad narrated to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Muḥammad al-Marwazī narrated to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim narrated to me: Al-Birtī the judge narrated to us: I heard Abū Nuʿaym say: Abū Ḥanīfa—may God have mercy on him—was handsome, with a fine face, fine beard, and fine clothing.

ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm the Qurʾān reciter and ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad the witness informed us: Makram ibn Aḥmad narrated to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb narrated to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim narrated to me: Al-Birtī the judge narrated to us: I heard Abū Nuʿaym say: Abū Ḥanīfa was born in the year 80.

ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm the Qurʾān reciter and ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad the witness informed us: Makram ibn Aḥmad narrated to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb narrated to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim narrated to me: Al-Birtī the judge narrated to us: I heard Abū Nuʿaym say: Abū Ḥanīfa was born in the year 80.

Abū ʿUbayd Allāh al-Marzubānī informed us: Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad the scribe related: al-Ḥārith ibn Abī Usāma related: Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad related: Muḥammad ibn Ḥātim related: Ḍirār ibn Ṣurad related to me, saying: Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā related to me: Abū Ḥanīfa passed on his mule following a funeral. Al-Aʿmash said: “I hear an animal’s hoof.” He was told: “Abū Ḥanīfa.” He bit his lip and said: “Nuʿmān, do you pass through our lane without an escort?” Abū Ḥanīfa smiled: “Abū Muḥammad, do you hold that a man cannot pass through his lane without an escort?” He replied: “Do not do it again.”

Abū ʿUbayd Allāh al-Marzubānī informed us: Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad the scribe related: al-Ḥārith ibn Abī Usāma related: Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad related: Muḥammad ibn Ḥātim related: Ḍirār ibn Ṣurad related to me, saying: Aḥmad ibn ʿĪsā related to me: Abū Ḥanīfa passed on his mule following a funeral. Al-Aʿmash said: “I hear an animal’s hoof.” He was told: “Abū Ḥanīfa.” He bit his lip and said: “Nuʿmān, do you pass through our lane without an escort?” Abū Ḥanīfa smiled: “Abū Muḥammad, do you hold that a man cannot pass through his lane without an escort?” He replied: “Do not do it again.”

Abū ʿUbayd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿImrān ibn Mūsā al-Marzubānī informed us: Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn Kāmil related to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim al-Birtī related to us: Bishr ibn al-Walīd related to us: I heard the judge Abū Yūsuf Yaʿqūb ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Saʿd ibn Ḥabta. Ibn Kāmil said: He was the judge of Mūsā al-Hādī and Hārūn al-Rashīd in Baghdad. Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, and ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī did not disagree about his trustworthiness in transmission. He was the first person addressed as Chief Judge. He had appointed his son Yūsuf as his deputy on the western side, and al-Rashīd confirmed him in his post. After Abū Yūsuf died, Abū al-Bakhtarī Wahb ibn Wahb al-Qurashī became Chief Judge.

Abū ʿUbayd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿImrān ibn Mūsā al-Marzubānī informed us: Abū Bakr Aḥmad ibn Kāmil related to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim al-Birtī related to us: Bishr ibn al-Walīd related to us: I heard the judge Abū Yūsuf Yaʿqūb ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Saʿd ibn Ḥabta. Ibn Kāmil said: He was the judge of Mūsā al-Hādī and Hārūn al-Rashīd in Baghdad. Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, and ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī did not disagree about his trustworthiness in transmission. He was the first person addressed as Chief Judge. He had appointed his son Yūsuf as his deputy on the western side, and al-Rashīd confirmed him in his post. After Abū Yūsuf died, Abū al-Bakhtarī Wahb ibn Wahb al-Qurashī became Chief Judge.

ʿUmar informed us: Makram related to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Muḥammad related to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim related to me: Judge al-Birtī related to us: I heard Abū Nuʿaym say: Zufar sat opposite Abū Ḥanīfa, while Abū Yūsuf sat beside him.

ʿUmar informed us: Makram related to us: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Muḥammad related to us: Aḥmad ibn al-Qāsim related to me: Judge al-Birtī related to us: I heard Abū Nuʿaym say: Zufar sat opposite Abū Ḥanīfa, while Abū Yūsuf sat beside him.