Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji

Muslim ibn Khalid al-Makhzumi al-Zanji, the imam and jurist of Mecca Abu Khalid, client of the Banu Makhzum, born in 100 AH or shortly before; he died in 180 AH. ¹

He narrated from Ibn Abi Mulayka, 'Amr ibn Dinar, al-Zuhri, Abu Tawala, Zayd ibn Aslam, 'Utba ibn Muslim and 'Abdallah ibn Kathir al-Dari. The imam al-Shafi'i kept his company and studied fiqh under him until he authorised him to issue fatwas; he himself, al-Humaydi, Musaddad, al-Hakam ibn Musa, Ibrahim ibn Musa al-Farra', Hisham ibn 'Ammar and others narrated from him. ¹

Yahya ibn Ma'in said there was no harm in him; al-Bukhari called his hadith denounced; Abu Hatim said he was no proof; Ibn 'Adi called his hadith fair; Abu Dawud called him weak — al-Dhahabi notes that some critics raised his hadith to the rank of sound. It is said he was only nicknamed al-Zanji for his love of dates; Ibrahim al-Harbi said he was the jurist of Mecca and fair-haired like an onion. ²