come immediately after them, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”
ʿImrān went on to say, “I am not sure—did he mention two generations after his own, or three?”
Then he added: “After you there will be people (1) who betray and are not to be trusted, who give testimony yet are not called upon to testify, who make vows yet do not keep them, and among whom obesity will become prevalent (2).” Agreed upon.
Al-Baghdādī related this hadith in Ṣafar 340 AH and died afterwards in Egypt.
268 – al-Zajjājī, Abū al-Qāsim ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Isḥāq*
The master of Arabic, Abū al-Qāsim ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Isḥāq al-Baghdādī, the grammarian.
He is the author of al-Jumal (3) and other works, and a direct disciple of the eminent scholar Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn al-Sarī al-Zajjāj (4), whose nisbah he bears.
He also produced literary Amālī (5).
(1) In the base manuscript the word appears as qawm, in the nominative.
(2) Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 2651 (Book of Testimonies, “One must not testify to an unjust statement when summoned”); no. 3650 (Virtues of the Companions); no. 6824 (Softening the Heart); and no. 6695 (Faith and Vows). Also by Muslim, no. 2535 (Virtues of the Companions), all through several chains from Shuʿba with this isnad. A parallel version on the authority of ʿAbd Allah appears in al-Bukhari, nos. 2652, 3651, 6429, 6658, and in Muslim, no. 2533.
(*) Tabaqat al-nahwiyyin wa-l-lughawiyyin, 129; Nuzhat al-albaʾ, 211; al-Ansab, 6/256; Tarikh Ibn ʿAsakir, 9/432 a–b; Inbaʾ al-ruwat, 2/160–161; Wafayat al-aʿyan, 3/136; al-ʿIbar, 2/254; Mirʾat al-jinan, 2/332–333; al-Nujum al-zahira, 3/302–303; Bughyat al-wuʿat, 297; Shadharāt al-dhahab, 2/357.
(3) This is a well-known, widely circulated grammar book. The Foundation is preparing a verified critical edition that will be released soon, God willing.
(4) His biography is given in: al-Fihrist, 90–91; Tabaqat al-nahwiyyin wa-l-lughawiyyin, 121–122; al-Ansab, 6/257–258; Inbaʾ al-ruwat, 1/159–166; Wafayat al-aʿyan, 1/49–50.
(5) Published in Cairo, edited by ʿAbd al-Salam Harun, 1382 AH.