Alas, how I yearn to kiss even a single strand of that blessed hair!
The father of Abū Ḥafṣ ibn Shāhīn said: “I was in the presence of Abū Jaʿfar when he was asked about the ḥadīth of the Divine Descent (1). He replied, ‘The descent is intelligible, its modality is unknowable; believing in it is obligatory, and asking about its how is an innovation.’
Aḥmad ibn Kāmil al-Qāḍī said: ‘Among the Shāfiʿīs of Iraq there was none more eminent, more scrupulous, or a more reliable transmitter than Abū Jaʿfar al-Tirmidhī (2).’
I say: He passed away in Muḥarram, 295 AH. It is also said that his mind became confused toward the end of his life.
277 – Ibrāhīm ibn Abī Ṭālib, Abū Isḥāq al-Naysābūrī
The Imām, ḥadīth master, meticulous scholar, and ascetic; the shaykh of Naysābūr and the leading muḥaddith of his age: Abū Isḥāq ibn Abī Ṭālib Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Khālid al-Naysābūrī, known as al-Muzakkī.
= He handed it to the Ansari, who took it. Then he offered him the left side and said, “Shave.” When the barber had finished, he gave the hair to Abu Talha and said, “Distribute it among the people.” Muslim (2325) reports on the authority of Anas: “I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, while the barber was shaving him. His Companions stood around him, making sure that not a single hair fell except into someone’s hand.”
(1) The complete wording is: “Our Lord descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains and says: Who will call upon Me so that I may answer him? Who will ask Me so that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?” Reported by Malik 1/214; through his chain by al-Bukhari 3/25-26 in the Book of Night Prayer, chapter: If someone sleeps and does not pray…; by Muslim (758) in the Book of Travelers, chapter: Encouragement to make supplication and remembrance at the end of the night and the response granted therein; and by Abu Dawud (1315) and al-Tirmidhi (3498) through Ibn Shihab, from Abu Abd Allah al-Agharr and from Abu Salama ibn Abd al-Rahman, from Abu Hurayra.
(2) See: Tarikh Baghdad, 1/366.
(*) al-Muntazam, 6/76-77; Tadhkirat al-Huffaz, 2/638-639; ‘Ibar al-Muʾallif, 2/100; al-Wafi bi-l-Wafayat, 6/128; Tabaqat al-Huffaz, 279-280; Shadharāt al-Dhahab, 2/218.