معجم الصحابہ لابن قانع کا اسلوب و منہج اور علمی مقام

The style, methodology and scholarly position of Ibn Qani's Mu'jam al-Sahaba

Abstract

This research article provides an analytical study of the scholarly status, methodology, and stylistic nuances of Mu'jam al-Sahaba by Ibn Qani' (d. 351 AH), a pivotal work in the domain of Hadith and biographical evaluation. Being one of the earliest extant works on the lives and narrations of the Companions, it precedes many classical biographical encyclopedias. The study elucidates Ibn Qani's alphabetical arrangement of names and his meticulous approach to documenting at least one narration for each Sahabi through continuous chains (Isnad).

Furthermore, the article addresses the criticisms and perceived errors (awham) attributed to him by later scholars like Ibn Hajar, contextualizing them as unintentional scholarly oversights rather than flaws in his reliability. The research highlights Ibn Qani's profound influence on subsequent historiography and Hadith literature, noting that seminal figures such as Al-Dhahabi and Ibn Hajar relied extensively on his work for identifying obscure Companions and determining death dates. Ultimately, the study reaffirms Ibn Qani's stature as a cornerstone in the preservation of Islamic heritage, proving that his Mu'jam remains an indispensable primary source for researchers in Islamic sciences.