The life of Abu Khaythama Zuhayr b. Harb and his place in the study of hadiths

Abu Khaythama Zuhayr b. Harb al-Shaybani al-Nasaʾi (234 AH/849 CE) is one of the important scholars in the science of hadith. He especially had an impact on the science of al-jarh wa al-taʿdil (discrediting and accrediting), ilm al-rijal (knowledge of men) and al-ilal (the subject of hidden defects in the sanads of hadith). He is a close friend of Ahmad ibn Hanbal (241 AH /588 CE) and Yahya ibn Ma'in (233 AH/848 CE). They made many scientific journeys (rihla) together. Therefore, they have a common scientific background. Abu Hayseme was originally from Nesa and later settled in Baghdad. He lived during the Abbasid period. Zuhayr witnessed Mihna and was questioned about the creation of the Qur'an (Mihnat Ḵhalaq al-Qurʾan). Zuhayr could not respond to the evidence of the opposing view and had to accept the creation of the Qur'an by force. He always regretted this idea for the rest of his life and always said that the Qur'an was not created. Hadith scholars agree that he is a reliable imam with a strong memory. He narrated many hadiths. It is stated in the sources that he had a book called al-Musnad, but this book is now lost. Another of his works, Kitab al-Ilm, was verified and published by Nasir al-Din Nuh al-Albani (1999). In our study, Zuhayr's place in the science of hadith is revealed by examining his 764 narrations in Sahih Muslim. Topics such as from which of his teachers he narrated, how scholars was narrated from him and in which chapters his narrations took place were investigated. It has been determined that Muslim gives priority to Zuhayr's words in many places. This situation shows the importance of his place in the science of hadith.