'Alqama
'Alqama
c. 20 AH / c. 641 CE (approximate, not precisely recorded) - c. 62–72 AH / c. 681–692 CE (reports vary, generally placed in the latter Umayyad period) CE
Alqama ibn Qays al-Nakha‘i was a leading Tabi‘i scholar and jurist of Kufa, known for his deep knowledge of fiqh and hadith. He was a foremost student of Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud and helped transmit and codify the Kufan school’s understanding of Qur’an and Sunnah.
Key Information
- Full Name: 'Alqama
- Born: c. 20 AH / c. 641 CE (approximate, not precisely recorded) CE
- Died: c. 62–72 AH / c. 681–692 CE (reports vary, generally placed in the latter Umayyad period) CE
- Tribe: Banu Nakha‘ (from the larger Madhhij tribal confederation in Yemen)
- Hadith Narrated: 2 hadiths
Alqama said: “We followed Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud in everything, and we did not deviate from his way in anything.”
'Alqama narrated 2 hadiths among the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. His exceptional memory and dedication to preserving the Prophet's teachings resulted in narrations that appear in various hadith collections.
Notable Hadith Collections
Featured Hadith
'Alqama reported:
'Alqama appears in numerous isnad (chains of narration) in hadith literature. His position as a narrator makes him a crucial link in many hadith transmission chains.
Teachers & Sources
Notable Students
Example Chain of Narration
Alqama became one of the principal transmitters of the fiqh and hadith of Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud, shaping the legal tradition of Kufa, which later influenced the Hanafi school. His verdicts and narrations were relied upon by major Tabi‘in such as Ibrahim al-Nakha‘i and by hadith compilers.
Historical Impact
Preservation of Prophetic Knowledge
This narrator dedicated significant effort to memorizing and transmitting the Prophet's teachings, preserving a portion of hadith literature that might otherwise have been lost.
Development of Hadith Sciences
The narrations from this scholar helped establish methodologies for hadith verification and contributed to the development of isnad (chain of narration) analysis.
Influence on Islamic Jurisprudence
Many legal rulings in Islamic law are derived from hadiths narrated by this scholar, making his contributions relevant to Islamic jurisprudence across schools of thought.
Scholarly Recognition
Related Narrators
References & Further Reading
- Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala (Biographies of Noble Figures)
- Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Al-Isaba fi Tamyiz al-Sahaba (The Correct Distinction of the Companions)
- Muhammad Mustafa Azami, Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature