Saeed
ibn Al-Mussayyib
Abu
Muhammad Saeed ibn Al Mussayyib ibn Hazm belonged to the
clan of Makhzoum of the tribe of Quraish. He was one of
the generation of successors to the companions of the
Prophet(pbuh), i.e. the immediate generation to follow
that of the Prophet(pbuh) and his companions. He was born
in Madinah when Umar ibn Al Khattab had been caliph for
two years. As a young boy, he listened to Umar giving
sermons in the mosque, as it was customary for the caliph
to give the sermon which preceded the congregational prayer
on Friday. It was also customary for the caliph to lead
the prayers in the Prophet(pbuh?)'s mosque. He obviously
heard the next caliph Uthman ibn Affan delivering many
of his sermons. He learned a great deal from many of the
companions of the Prophet(pbuh), most distinguished of
whom were Zaid ibn Thabit, Aisha, Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqqas,
Abu Hurairah and others. He was perhaps the leading scholar
of his generation. Islamic scholarship began with the
companions of the Prophet(pbuh). There were some of them
who distinguished themselves with acquiring a high standard
of learning, coupled with a profound insight into the
principles and required practices of Islam. They could
acquire all this only through direct and close contact
with the Prophet(pbuh) himself. Perhaps these numbered
about 100 and they all were able to give rulings, or fatwas,
in matters that were put to them by other Muslims. Most
distinguished among these were the four who later became
caliphs, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Mass'ood, Abdullah
ibn Umar, Abu-Dardaa', Abu Hurairah, Aisha and others.
It was through these scholar companions of the Prophet(pbuh)
that Islamic scholarship was passed on to the next generation
whose scholars elevated it to a higher standard through
dedication and a keen desire to excel. Saeed ibn Al Mussayyib
was perhaps the leading figure among this class of scholars.
Testimonies made by his contemporaries agree that he belonged
to a class of his own. Qattadah, Az-Zuhri, Makhool and
other scholars are reported to have said on different
occasions: "I have never seen anyone who could be described
as superior to Saeed ibn Al Mussayyib in his learning."
What made Saeed attain such a high standard was his thorough
study of every ruling or judgement made by the Prophet(pbuh),
Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman in every case or dispute that
was put to them. No scholar could have better tutors.
Their knowledge of Islam was superior to that of any other
person. Moreover, Saeed devoted much of his time to a
further specialisation, studying in more detail every
judgement and ruling given by Umar. We have said more
than once that Umar was perhaps the companion of the Prophet(pbuh)
who was endowed with the best insight into Islam. Saeed
ibn Al Mussayyib combined his scholarship with the humility
of one who dedicates himself to worship. He used to fast
voluntarily day after day. He is quoted as saying that
he went on pilgrimage forty times. It is also well documented
that he was always in the first row of worshippers in
the Prophet(pbuh)'s Mosque, for every obligatory prayer
for many years on end. He devoted much of his time to
his studies. He is quoted as saying that he would spend
several days and nights to make sure of the correct text
of a single Hadith. That is the mark of a scholar who
took his studies very seriously. It is no wonder then
that a scholar like Qattadah has said: "I have never seen
anyone who knows what is lawful and what is forbidden
better than Saeed." Muhammad ibn Ishaq, the biographer
of the Prophhet(pbuh), quotes Makhool, a great scholar
in his own right, as saying, "I have travelled all over
the world in pursuit of learning, and I have never seen
a better scholar than Saeed." If Saeed's teachers were
companions of the Prophet(pbuh) his students belong to
the generation of successors.
