Biography of Abdur-Rahmaan al-Awzaa’ee [ ‫ رحه ا‬, rahimahullaah, may Allaah have mercy on him, died 157H] He was the Shaikh of Islaam, Aboo ‘Amr, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Amr ibn Muhammad adDimashqee al-Haafiz, al-Awzaa’ee, born in the year 88H. He narrated from: ‘Ataa’ ibn Abee Rabaah, Rabee’ah ibn Yazeed, az-Zuhree, Muhammad ibn Ibraheem at-Taymee, Yahya ibn Abee Katheer and a large number of people. He saw Muhammad ibn Seereen whilst the latter was ill and it is said that he heard from him. Those who narrated from him: Shu’bah, Ibn al-Mubaarak, al-Waleed ibn Muslim, al-Hiql ibn Ziyaad, Yahyaa ibn Hamzah, Yahyaa al-Qattaan, Aboo ‘Aasim, Abul-Mugheerah, Muhammad ibn Yoosuf al-Firyaabee and many others. At the end of his life he settled in Beirut, guarding the frontiers of Islaam and it is there that he died. His origin was from the captives from Sind. Al-Waleed ibn Mazyad said, “He was born in Ba’labakk and raised as an orphan in his mother’s apartment – yet kings would be unable to cultivate their children to the standard of his manners. I never heard a noble word from him except that it was such that those who heard it had to write it down from him. Nor did I ever see him laughing loudly. When he would mention the Hereafter I would say to myself, ‘Can any heart in this gathering be seen not to be weeping?’” Al-Hiql said, “Al-Awzaa’ee replied to seventy thousand questions.” Ismaa’eel ibn ‘Ayyaash said, “I heard them say in the year 140H, ‘Al-Awzaa’ee is today the scholar of the Ummah.’” Bishr ibn al-Mundhir said, “I saw al-Awzaa’ee and it was as if he had been blinded due to humility,” and al-Waleed used to say, “I have not seen anyone who strove harder in worship than him.” Aboo Mushir said, “Al-Awzaa’ee used to remain awake at night in Prayer, reciting the Qur’aan and weeping.” Al-Haakim said, “Al-Awzaa’ee was the Imaam of his time in general, and the Imaam of the people of Shaam in particular.” Al-Waleed ibn Mazyad said, “Al-Awzaa’ee was born in Ba’labakk and grew up in al-Kark, a village in the locality of al-Buqaa’, then his mother took him to Beirut. I heard him say, ‘Stick to the narrations of those who preceded, even if the people reject you; and beware of the opinions of men even if they make their words seem alluring, because the affair will be made clear whilst you are upon a straight way.’” ‘Aamir ibn Yasaaf said, “I heard al-Awzaa’ee saif, ‘If a hadeeth of Allaah’s Messenger (‫ )صل ا عليه وسل‬reaches you, then beware of saying something else – because he conveyed the Message from Allaah.’” Summarised from a longer biography in the book 'Mountains of Knowledge' published by Salafi Publications.