110 – al-Akhfash the Elder, ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd ibn ʿAbd al-Majīd *
The master of Arabic, Abū al-Khaṭṭāb al-Baṣrī.
It is said that his personal name was ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd ibn ʿAbd al-Majīd.
Sībawayh completed his studies with him and carried away the science of grammar; indeed, had it not been for Sībawayh, his teacher would never have gained renown.
Others who also studied under him were the grammarian ʿĪsā ibn ʿUmar, Abū ʿUbaydah Maʿmar ibn al-Muthannā, and many others.
He relates a number of singular linguistic reports that he alone transmits from the Arabs.
I have found no record of his date of death.
As for al-Akhfash the Middle (1), the pupil of Sībawayh, and al-Akhfash the Younger (2), they will be mentioned later.
111 – Ibn al-Ghasīl al-Anṣārī, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Sulaymān ** (Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah)
He was the son of the Prophet’s Companion ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥanẓalah.
(*) al-Zabidi, Tabaqat al-Nahawiyyin, p. 40; al-Suyuti, Inbaʾ al-Ruwat, 2/157-158; al-Bulgha fi Tarikh Aʾimmat al-Lugha, pp. 119-121; Ibn Taghribirdi, al-Nujum al-Zahira, 2/86; al-Suyuti, Bughyat al-Wuʿat, 2/74.
(1) Saʿid ibn Masʿada (d. 211 AH; another opinion: 215 AH). For his biography, see: Ibn Qutayba, al-Maʿarif, 545-546; al-Zabidi, Tabaqat, 72-73. He is counted among the “younger” Akhfash scholars; see also Ibn al-Nadim, al-Fihrist, section 2, art. 1; Yaqut, Muʿjam al-Udabaʾ, 11/224-230; al-Suyuti, Inbaʾ al-Ruwat, 2/36-43; al-Bulgha fi Tarikh Aʾimmat al-Lugha, 86-87; Bughyat al-Wuʿat, 1/590-591; Ibn al-Dhahabi, Tabaqat al-Mufassirin, 1/185-186.
(2) ʿAli ibn Sulayman ibn al-Fadl (d. 315 AH). See: al-Zabidi, Tabaqat, 115-116; Ibn al-Nadim, al-Fihrist, section 2, art. 3; Yaqut, Muʿjam al-Udabaʾ, 13/246-257; al-Suyuti, Inbaʾ al-Ruwat, 2/276-278; Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-Aʿyan, 3/301-303; al-Bulgha fi Tarikh Aʾimmat al-Lugha, 158; Bughyat al-Wuʿat, 2/167-168.
(**) al-Bukhari, al-Tarikh al-Kabir, 5/289; idem, al-Tarikh al-Saghir, 2/189; Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Duʿafaʾ, p. 231; Ibn Abi Hatim, al-Jarh wa-l-Taʿdil, 5/239; Ibn Ḥibbān, Kitab al-Majruhin, 2/57; Ibn ʿAdi, al-Kamil (MS), fol. 459; al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad, 10/225-226; al-Mizzi, Tahdhib al-Kamal (MS), fol. 793; al-Dhahabi, Tadhhib al-Tahdhib (MS), 2/213; idem, Mizan al-Iʿtidal, 2/568; idem, ʿIbar, 1/260-261; Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, 6/189-190; Khulasat Tadhhib al-Kamal, p. 223; Ibn al-ʿImad, Shadharat al-Dhahab, 1/280.