The Eminence of the Masters of Hadith

* Sharaf Ashab al-Hadith ("The Eminence of the Masters of Hadith")
Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi

in which he narrated Abu Dawud's saying:

"Were it not for this band of people we would not be studying Islam."35

The narrations al-Khatib gathered in this precious book list the attributes used by the Imams of hadith for the scholars of the Prophetic narrations:

"Those Who Command Good and Forbid Evil [Ibrahim ibn Musa]

"The Substitute-Saints [Sufyan al-Thawri, Yazid ibn Harun, Ahmad ibn Hanbal]

"The Pillars of the Shari`a [al-Khatib]

"The Nearest of People to the Prophet "

[because of the hadith: "Truly the nearest of people to me on the Day of Resurrection are those who invoked the most blessings upon me"36].

"The Owners of Transmission Chains [to the Prophet - Allah bless and greet him] [Yazid ibn Zuray`]

"The Owners of Frayed Garments and Inkwells [Caliph al-Ma'mun]
"The Best of All Scholars [al-Khatib]
"The Best of All People [al-Awza`i]

"The Best of Those Who Spoke About Knowledge [Ahmad]
"The Trustees of Allah Over His Religion [Abu Hatim al-Razi]
"The Messenger's Trustees [al-Khatib]

"The People of Belief

[because of the hadith:

"Do you know who of those who possess belief is the best in belief? They said the angels. He replied: "This is true, and it is right that they should be so, but nothing stands in their way because of the position in which Allah Most High has placed them. I mean others. They said: "The Prophets whom Allah honored with Prophetship and Messengership. He replied in the same way. They said the martyrs. He replied: "This is true, and it is right that they should be so, but nothing stands in their way because of the honor Allah bestowed upon them with martyrdom. I mean others. They asked: "Who then, O Messenger of Allah? He said:

"Generations yet in the loins of men who shall come after me; they shall believe in me without seeing me and confirm me without seeing me. They shall see the suspended leaves [of the Law] and put them into practice."37

"The People of Truth [al-Khatib]
"The People of Righteousness [`Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz]
"The Vessels of Knowledge [al-Khatib]

"The People Most Meritorious of Salvation in the Hereafter

[because of the hadith: "Truly the safest among you against the disasters of the Day of Resurrection on that day are those of you who invoked the most blessings on me in the world"38].

"The Friends of Allah [al-Khalil ibn Ahmad]
"The Massive Throng [al-Khatib]
"The Guardians of the Earth [Sufyan al-Thawri]
"The Guardians of the Religion [al-A`mash]
"The Implanters of the Religion [Ibn al-Mubarak]
"The Party of Allah [al-Khatib]
"The Preservers of the Pillars of the Law [al-Khatib]
"The Preservers of the Prophet's Sunna [al-Khuraybi]
"The Custodians of the Faith [Kahmas]
"The Protectors of the Faith [al-Khatib]
"The Repellers of False Imputations to the Prophet [Ibn Ma`in]
"The Carriers of Knoweldge [al-Khuraybi]
"The Storehouses of the Religion [al-Khatib]
"The Successors of the Messenger  " [al-Khatib]
"The Elect Among Tribes [Hafs ibn Ghyath]
"The Elect Among People [Abu Bakr ibn `Ayyash]
"The Elect Among Worshippers [Abu Muzahim al-Khaqani]
"The Virile Among Men [al-Zuhri]39
"The Trustees Who Preserve the Reports of the Messengers [Abu Hatim al-Razi]
"The Strangers [`Abdan]
"The Knights of this Religion [Yazid ibn Zuray`]
"The Caretakers of the Matter of Shari`a [al-Khatib]
"The Strivers In the Preservation of the Faith [al-Khatib]
"Mankind (al-nâs) [Ahmad ibn Hanbal]40
"Those Who Belong to No Tribe [`Abdan]
"The Intermediaries Between the Prophet  and His Community [al-Khatib]
"Muhammad's Inheritors [Ibn Mas`ud]
"The Inheritors of the Prophets [al-Fudayl ibn `Iyad]

"The Beneficiaries of the Messenger of Allah

[Abu Sa`id al-Khudri, according to the hadith of the Prophet : "There shall come after me a people who shall ask you about me. When they come to you, treat them kindly and narrate to them <, make them memorize the hadith and make room for them in gatherings43>"44].