# Snapshot () **Ibn Dihya al-Kalbi (544–633 AH , 89 years)** was an Andalusian scholar, hadith compiler, historian, and literary figure from **Ceuta, Al-Andalus**. He traveled extensively, visiting **Marrakesh, the Levant, Iraq, and Khorasan** before eventually settling in **Egypt**, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was appointed as **judge of Dénia** in Al-Andalus and became known for his **prolific writing** in hadith, history, and literature. However, his scholarly reputation was controversial. **Despite being a hadith compiler, he faced accusations of inaccuracy and exaggeration.** Some contemporaries criticized his attribution to the famous Companion **Dihya al-Kalbi**, claiming that Dihya had no descendants. Additionally, he had **a reputation for attacking fellow scholars**, which led many to **dismiss or refute his claims**. Despite his contributions to literature and hadith compilation, his **credibility remained disputed**, and he was criticized for **his harsh critiques of scholars**. He passed away in **Cairo in 633 AH (1236 CE).** Among his notable works are: 📖 _Al-Muṭrib min Ashʿār Ahl al-Maghrib_ – A collection of poetry from the Maghreb. 📖 _Nihāyat al-Sūl fī Khaṣā’iṣ al-Rasūl_ – A work on the unique characteristics of the Prophet ﷺ. 📖 _Al-Tanwīr fī Mawlid al-Sirāj al-Munīr_ – A book on the Prophet’s birth. 📖 _Al-Nibrās fī Tārīkh Khulafā’ Banī al-ʿAbbās_ – A history of the Abbasid caliphs. # References | Arabic Text | English Translation | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ابن دحية الكلبي (٥٤٤ - ٦٣٣ هـ = ١١٥٠ - ١٢٣٦ م) | Ibn Dihyah Al-Kalbi (544-633 AH = 1150-1236 CE) | | عمر بن الحسن بن علي بن محمد، أبو الخطاب، ابن دحية الكلبي الأندلسي | ‘Umar ibn Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad, Abu Al-Khattab, Ibn Dihyah Al-Kalbi Al-Andalusi | | أديب، مؤرخ، حافظ للحديث، من أهل سبتة بالأندلس. | A scholar of literature, historian, and hadith memorizer, from Ceuta in Al-Andalus. | | ولي قضاء دانية. | He was appointed as a judge in Dénia. | | ورحل إلى مراكش والشام والعراق وخراسان، واستقر بمصر. | He traveled to Marrakesh, the Levant, Iraq, and Khorasan, and eventually settled in Egypt. | | وكان كثير الوقيعة في العلماء والأئمة فأعرض بعض معاصريه عن كلامه، وكذبوه في انتسابه إلى «دحية» وقالوا: إن دحية الكلبي لم يعقب. | He was frequently critical of scholars and religious leaders, which led some of his contemporaries to disregard his words. They also rejected his claim of lineage to "Dihyah" and said that Dihyah Al-Kalbi had no descendants. | | وهجاه ابن عنين. | Ibn ‘Anin satirized him in poetry. | | وتوفي بالقاهرة. | He passed away in Cairo. | | من تصانيفه «المطرب من أشعار أهل المغرب - ط [ثم طُبع]» | Among his works: Al-Mutrib min Ash‘ar Ahl Al-Maghrib (printed). | | و «الآيات البينات - خ» | Al-Ayat Al-Bayyinat (manuscript). | | و «نهاية السول في خصائص الرسول - خ» | Nihayat Al-Sul fi Khasa’is Al-Rasul (manuscript). | | و «النبراس في تاريخ خلفاء بني العباس - ط» | Al-Nibras fi Tarikh Khulafa’ Bani Al-‘Abbas (printed). | | و «التنوير في مولد السراج المنير» | Al-Tanwir fi Mawlid Al-Siraj Al-Munir (on the Prophet's birth). | | و «تنبيه البصائر - خ» في أسماء الخمر | Tanbih Al-Basair (manuscript), on the names of alcoholic beverages. | | و «علم النصر المبين في المفاضلة بين أهل صفين - خ» | ‘Ilm Al-Nasr Al-Mubin fi Al-Mufadala bayna Ahl Siffin (manuscript), on the merits of those involved in the Battle of Siffin. | | نقلا عن: الأعلام للزركلي | Source: Al-A‘lam by Al-Zarkali. | # Reference 2 | Arabic | English | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | هو أبو الخطاب عمر بن الحسن بن علي بن محمد بن فرج بن خلف بن قومس بن أحمد بن دحية بن خليفة الكلبي الحافظ، شيخ الديار المصرية في الحديث، ولد سنة 546. | He is Abu al-Khattab Umar ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Faraj ibn Khalaf ibn Qumus ibn Ahmad ibn Dahiya ibn Khalifa al-Kalbi, the Hafidh, Sheikh of the Egyptian lands in Hadith, born in 546 AH. | | كان يذكر أنه من ولد دحية الكلبي، وأنه سبطُ أبي البسام الحسيني الفاطمي. | He would mention that he was from the lineage of Dahiya al-Kalbi and that he was the grandson of Abu al-Bassam al-Hussaini al-Fatimi. | | كان بصيرًا بالحديث معتنيًا بتقييده، مكبًّا على سماعه، حسنَ الحَطِّ معروفًا بالضبط، له حظٌّ وافر من اللغة، ومشاركة في العربية وغيرها. | He was keenly knowledgeable in Hadith, diligent in recording it, attentive to hearing it, well-versed in it, and known for his precision. He had a strong command of language and contributed to both Arabic and other fields. | | وهو أول من باشر مشيخة دار الحديث الكامليَّة بها، وقد كان يتزيد في كلامه، فترك الناس الرواية عنه وكذَّبوه، وقد كان الكامِلُ مقبلًا عليه، | He was the first to assume the position of Sheikh of the Dar al-Hadith al-Kamiliyyah, but he began to exaggerate in his speech, leading people to abandon narrating from him and to accuse him of falsehood. | | فلما انكشف له حاله أخذ منه دار الحديث وأهانه، توفي بالقاهرة ودفن بقرافة مصر. | When his true nature was revealed, he was removed from his position at the Dar al-Hadith and humiliated. He died in Cairo and was buried in the Cairo cemetery. | | قال ابن خلكان: وكان من أعيان العلماء ومشاهير الفضلاء، متقنًا لعلم الحديث وما يتعلَّقُ به، عارفًا بالنحو واللغة وأيَّام العرب وأشعارها. | Ibn Khalkan said: He was one of the distinguished scholars and well-known virtuous people, proficient in the science of Hadith and related fields, knowledgeable in grammar, language, the days of the Arabs, and their poetry. | | اشتغل ببلادِ المغرِب، ثمَّ رحل إلى الشام ثم إلى العراق، واجتاز بإربل سنة 604، فوجد ملكها المعظم مظفر الدين بن زين الدين يعتني بالمولد النبوي. | He worked in the Maghreb, then traveled to the Levant, and later to Iraq. He passed through Erbil in 604 AH and found its great king, Muzaffar al-Din ibn Zayn al-Din, concerned with the celebration of the Prophet's birth. | | فعمل له كتاب " التنوير في مولد السراج المنير " وقرأه عليه بنفسه، فأجازه بألف دينار، ولي قضاء دانية مرتين، ثم صُرِف عن ذلك لسيرة نُعِتَت عليه. | He wrote for him the book "Al-Tanweer fi Mawlid al-Siraj al-Munir" and read it to him personally. The king rewarded him with a thousand dinars. He was appointed as judge in Daniya twice but was dismissed due to a criticized character. | | فرحل منها. | He then left from there. | | روى عنه الدبيثي فقال: "كان له معرفة حسنة بالنحو واللغة، وأنسة بالحديث، فقيهًا على مذهب مالك، وكان يقول: إنه حفظ " صحيح مسلم " جميعه". | Al-Dubaythi narrated from him, saying: "He had a good understanding of grammar and language, a fondness for Hadith, and was a jurist on the Maliki school. He claimed to have memorized the entire Sahih Muslim." | | وكان يقول: إنه حفظ " صحيح مسلم " جميعه، وأنه قرأه على بعض شيوخ المغرب من حفظه، ويدعي أشياء كثيرة. | He also claimed that he had memorized the entire Sahih Muslim and had read it to some of the scholars of the Maghreb from memory, and he made many such claims. | | قلت (الذهبي): كان صاحب فنون، وله يد طولي في اللغة، ومعرفة جيدة بالحديث على ضعف فيه. | I (al-Dhahabi) said: He was a man of many arts, had an extensive knowledge of language, and had a good understanding of Hadith despite his weaknesses. | | قرأت بخط الضياء الحافظ قال: لقيت الكلبيَّ بأصبهان، ولم أسمع منه شيئًا، ولم يعجبني حالُه، وكان كثير الوقيعة في الأئمة، | I read in the handwriting of al-Diya al-Hafidh, who said: "I met al-Kalbi in Isfahan, but I did not hear anything from him, nor was I impressed by his condition. He frequently spoke ill of the imams." | | وأخبرني إبراهيم السنهوري بأصبهان أنه دخل المغرب، وأن مشايخ المغرب كتبوا له جرحه وتضعيفَه. | Ibrahim al-Sanhuri from Isfahan told me that he entered the Maghreb, and the scholars there wrote a report of his faults and weaknesses. | | وقد رأيتُ منه أنا غير شيء ممَّا يدل على ذلك" قال ابن نقطة: "كان موصوفًا بالمعرفة والفضل، ولم أره إلَّا أنه كان يدعي أشياء لا حقيقة لها. | I too have witnessed things from him that confirm this," said Ibn Naqta. "He was described as knowledgeable and virtuous, but I only saw him making claims with no truth behind them." | | ذكر لي أبو القاسم بن عبد السلام - ثقة - قال: نزل عندنا ابنُ دحية، فكان يقول: أحفظ " صحيح مسلم "، و" الترمذي "، | Abu al-Qasim ibn Abd al-Salam, a trustworthy person, told me: "Ibn Dahiya stayed with us and claimed that he had memorized Sahih Muslim and al-Tirmidhi." | | قال: فأخذت خمسة أحاديث من " الترمذي "، وخمسة من " المسند " وخمسة من الموضوعات فجعلتها في جزء، ثم عرضتُ عليه حديثًا مِن " الترمذي "، فقال: | He said: "I took five Hadiths from al-Tirmidhi, five from the Musnad, and five from the fabricated ones and compiled them into a booklet. Then I presented one of the Hadiths from al-Tirmidhi to him, and he said: | | ليس بصحيح، وآخر فقال: لا أعرفه. ولم يعرف منها شيئًا. | "It is not authentic," and when I presented another one, he said, "I do not know it." He did not recognize any of them. | | قلت (الذهبي): ما أحسن الصدق، لقد أفسد هذا المرءُ نَفسَه". | I (al-Dhahabi) said: "How beautiful is honesty, this man has ruined himself." | | قال ابن كثير: وقد تكلَّمَ الناس فيه بأنواع من الكلام، ونسبه بعضهم إلى وضعِ حديثٍ في قَصرِ صلاة المغرب، | Ibn Kathir said: "People spoke about him in various ways, and some accused him of fabricating a Hadith about the shortening of the Maghrib prayer." | | ولابن دحية مصنفات منها: المطرب في أشعار أهل المغرب، ونهاية السول في خصائص الرسول، والنبراس في خلفاء بني العباس، وغيرها. | Ibn Dahiya authored several works, including "Al-Mutrib fi Ash'ar Ahl al-Maghreb," "Nihayat al-Sul fi Khasais al-Rasul," "Al-Nibras fi Khulafa' Bani al-Abbas," and others. | https://dorar.net/history/event/2518