There is no doubt that there is a significant gap and a deep divide between the knowledge that the youth of the Ummah receive today and the trusted scholars of the Qur'an, the Imams of recitation, whom Allah made the means of preserving His Noble Book. They held a high rank and were accepted by both the modern scholars and the general public of the Ummah.
Previously, we mentioned the biography of one of the men of the Qur'an, the one with the two lights, Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him). Now, we present one of the students of the Commander of the Believers, Uthman, and one of those great figures who carried the Qur'an in their hearts, living by it and for it, so that it could reach us as it was revealed to the Messenger of humanity, Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He is Imam Nafi' ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Nu'aym al-Laythi (1), the Imam of the reciters in the city of migration (Medina) and the city of the Prophet (peace be upon him), known by the scholars of recitation as "Dhi al-Rutbah," meaning the one with the high rank and status in knowledge and art.
He was born in the best of eras, the first century, in the caliphate of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, in the year 70 AH. He belongs to the third generation after the Companions. He was born in Medina, where he studied the recitations from the scholars of the Tabi'un (the successors to the Companions), including Abd al-Rahman ibn Hormuz al-A'raj, Abu Ja'far the reciter, Shaybah ibn Nadah, Yazid ibn Roman, Muslim ibn Jundub, and it is said that he learned from seventy of the Tabi'un. He also read "al-Muwatta" with Imam Malik and learned the Qur'an from him. He became the head of recitation in Medina. Imam Ibn al-Jazari said: "It is widely known that he read with the first five" (2) (the major scholars of recitation). He is one of the seven famous reciters, and his recitation spread across various regions, especially in the Maghreb, where the scholars there paid great attention to the recitation known as Warsh.
His Students and Narrators
He was narrated by Isa Mina, Qalon the famous narrator, as well as Uthman ibn Sa'id, known as "Warsh al-Misri," and Abu Ishaq.
His Status Among Scholars
Al-Layth ibn Sa'd said: "I performed Hajj in the year 113 AH, and the Imam of the people in recitation in Medina was Nafi'." Malik said when asked about the basmala: "Ask the people of knowledge, and Nafi' is the Imam of the people in recitation." Yahya ibn Ma'in said: "Nafi' is trustworthy." Ibn Kathir said: "The leadership of recitation in Medina ended with him." Sheikh Abdul Fattah al-Qadi said: "Nafi's recitation is mutawatir (widely transmitted). There is no clearer evidence of its authenticity than the fact that he received it from seventy of the Tabi'un." (3)
Al-Dhahabi said: "Nafi' is famous for having been taught by five scholars: Abd al-Rahman ibn Hormuz al-A'raj, Abu Ja'far Yazid ibn al-Qaqa' (one of the ten famous reciters), Shaybah ibn Nasah, Muslim ibn Jundub al-Hadhali, and Yazid ibn Roman." (4)
Dr. Raghib al-Serjani has a beautiful biography of Imam Nafi' on his website, highlighting his status among scholars and their statements about him. He narrates from Is'haq al-Masibi who said: "I met several of the Tabi'un, and I observed what two of them agreed upon and took it, while I left what one differed in, until I compiled this recitation."
Abu Qurrah Musa ibn Tariq said: "I heard Nafi' say: 'I read with seventy of the Tabi'un.'"
Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam (d. 224 AH) said: "The recitation of the people of Medina became associated with Nafi', and they have adhered to it until today."
Al-Mujahid ibn Jabr said: "Imam Nafi' was the one who took over the responsibility of recitation in the city of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) after the Tabi'un. He was a scholar of the various modes of recitation, following the traditions of the imams."
Abu Bakr al-Maqurasi said: "Imam Nafi' taught recitation for a long time, for more than seventy years, and he became the head of recitation in Medina. People followed his method."
Imam Malik said: "Nafi' is the Imam of the people in recitation, and his recitation is considered a sunnah."
Al-Asma'i said: "I reached Medina in the year 100 AH, and Nafi' was the leader in recitation."
Ubayd ibn Maimun al-Tabban said: "Harun ibn al-Musayyib asked me: 'Whose recitation do you teach?' I said: 'I teach the recitation of Nafi.' He asked: 'Who did Nafi' learn from?' I replied: 'He learned from al-A'raj.' Al-A'raj said: 'I read from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him).'"
Al-Dhahabi said: "It is narrated that Nafi' was a man of good humor, with excellent manners. He was trusted by Yahya ibn Ma'in, and Abu Hatim said he was truthful. Ibn Adi mentioned that Nafi' had a collection of over one hundred hadiths from al-A'raj, narrated by Ja'far ibn Ahmad, and he also had another collection of more than one hundred hadiths from Abu al-Zinad, narrated by Ibn Abi Fadiq from al-A'raj. I did not find anything suspicious in his narrations."
Scholars' Opinions on Imam Nafi's Recitation
The sources mention that Imam Nafi' learned from seventy of the Tabi'un, including: Abu Ja'far Yazid ibn al-Qaqa', Abd al-Rahman ibn Hormuz al-A'raj, Shaybah ibn Nasah, Yazid ibn Roman, and Muslim ibn Jundub. These five learned from three of the Prophet's companions: Abu Huraira, Abdullah ibn Abbas, and Abdullah ibn Ayash, who in turn learned from Ubayy ibn Ka'b, who learned from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).
From this, it is clear that Imam Nafi's recitation is authentic, mutawatir, and connected directly to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He had many students from various regions: Medina, Egypt, Basra, Syria, and others. Among them were Imam Malik ibn Anas, the Imam of the people of Medina (d. 179 AH), Abu Amr ibn al-Ala' al-Basri (d. 154 AH), Ismail ibn Ja'far ibn Wardan (d. 160 AH), Suleiman ibn Jamaz (d. 170 AH), Isa ibn Mina Qalon (d. 220 AH), and Abu Said Uthman al-Misri Warsh (d. 197 AH). Al-Dhahabi also mentioned that Nafi' narrated hadith from al-A'raj, Amer ibn Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, and Abu al-Zinad.
It is narrated from him by: Al-Layth ibn Sa'ad, Khārijah ibn Mus'ab, Ibn Wahb, Ashhab, Khalid ibn Mukhlad, and others.
Al-Dhahabi narrated that when Nafi' was near death, his children asked him: "Give us advice." He replied: "Fear Allah, reconcile what is between you, and obey Allah and His Messenger if you are believers."
Qalon said: "Nafi' was one of the purest in character, one of the best in recitation, and he was ascetic, generous, and prayed in the mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for sixty years." (5)
The Secret of the Sweet Fragrance that Never Fades
Imam al-Jazari mentioned that al-Shaybani narrated: "A man who read with Nafi' said: 'Whenever Nafi' spoke, there was a scent of musk coming from his mouth.' I asked him: 'O Abu Abdullah, do you apply perfume whenever you sit to teach the people?' He replied: 'I don't use perfume or come near it, but I once saw in a dream the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reading in my mouth, and from that time I smell that fragrance.'"
This fragrance was also referenced by Imam al-Shatibi in his famous poem. Al-Masibi narrated: "It was said to Nafi': 'Why is your face so radiant and your character so beautiful?' He replied: 'How could it not be, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has shaken my hand, and I read the Qur'an in his presence, even if it was in a dream!'" Qalon said: "Nafi' was one of the purest in character, one of the best in recitation, and he was ascetic, generous, and prayed in the mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for sixty years." (6)
May Allah have mercy on Imam Nafi', who lived for many years, passing away in 169 AH. He spent more than sixty years teaching recitation and was the Imam at the Mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
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(1) Nafi‘ ibn Abi Nu‘aym, the Imam and scholar of the Quran, also known as Abu Ruwaym. It is said he was also called Abu al-Hasan, Abu Nu‘aym, Abu Muhammad, or Abu Abdullah ibn Abd al-Rahman. He was a freedman of Ja‘unah ibn Sha‘ub al-Laythi, an ally of Hamzah, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Some sources state he was an ally of al-Abbas, the brother of Hamzah. His origins trace back to Isfahan. (Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, by Imam al-Dhahabi, Vol. 7, p. 337).
(2) Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, by Imam al-Dhahabi.
(3) The website "Story of Islam," authored by Dr. Ragheb al-Sarjani.
(4) Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala.
(5) Dr. Ragheb al-Sarjani, biographies on the website "Story of Islam."
(6) Ghayat al-Nihayah fi Tarikh al-Qurra, by Imam al-Jazari.
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