ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā
ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā was a prominent early Muslim jurist and qadi of Kufa known for his role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence and his debates with Abu Hanifa.
ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā was born in 693 CE into a scholarly Kufan family. His father, Abd al-Rahman, was a notable tabi'i who fought alongside Ali at the Battle of the Camel and participated in the revolt of Ibn al-Ash'ath, while his grandfather Abu Layla was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He studied fiqh under prominent teachers such as al-Sha'bi and al-Hakam ibn Utayba and audited lectures of Ata ibn Abi Rabah. Ibn Abi Layla served as the qadi of Kufa from around 733 until his death in 765 CE. He was a leading figure of the ahl al-ra'y and engaged in public debates with Abu Hanifa, influencing early Islamic legal thought. His students included notable scholars like al-Kisa'i and Sufyan ibn ʽUyaynah. He died in 765 CE and was succeeded as qadi by his nephew Abd Allah ibn Isa ibn Abd al-Rahman.
Significance
Reputation in tradition
- sahih bukhari: 0
He is significant for his trustworthy narrations that appear in major hadith collections, contributing to the preservation of prophetic traditions.