His lineage and early life
He was Ibrahim ibn Yazid at-Taymi, from Taym al-Rabab, the exemplar, the devoted jurist, the worshipper of Kufah, known as Abu Asma. His father was Yazid ibn Sharik at-Taymi, one of the great imams of Kufah, who narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab, Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, and other senior companions. Ibrahim grew up in an environment of knowledge and piety, taking from the senior figures of his time. He narrated mursal reports from Aishah.
Those Who He Narrated From
Ibrahim narrated from his father Yazid ibn Sharik, from al-Harith ibn Suwayd, from Anas ibn Malik, from Amr ibn Maymun al-Awdi, and from other scholars. Among those who narrated from him were al-Amash (d. 148 AH), Muslim al-Batin, Bayan ibn Bishr, Yunus ibn Ubayd (d. 139 AH), and others. His chains were counted among the strongest and his hadiths were marked with precision and piety.
His knowledge and worship
He was a righteous young man, constantly devoted to Allah, a scholar, a jurist, and a preacher of great status. His devotion was famous among the people of Kufah. Al-Muharibi narrated that al-Amash said: Ibrahim at-Taymi said to me, “I have not eaten for forty nights except a single grape.” Abu Usamah said that he heard al-Amash say: Ibrahim at-Taymi said, “A month would pass over me without me tasting any food or drink, but do not let anyone hear this from you.” Al-Amash also said, “When Ibrahim at-Taymi prostrated, it was as if a wall had collapsed, and the sparrows would land on his back.”
Al-Awam ibn Hawshab (d. 150 AH) said, “I never saw Ibrahim at-Taymi lifting his gaze to the sky.” Ibrahim was known for his humility and constant fear of Allah. He said, “Whenever I compared my words to my actions, I feared that I was lying.” He also said, “A man may wrong me, and yet I feel mercy towards him.”
Mansur ibn al-Mu’tamir (d. 132 AH) narrated from him that he said, “If you see a man being negligent in attending the first takbirah (the opening Allahu Akbar of prayer), then wash your hands of him.”
Ath-Thawri (d. 161 AH) narrated that Ibrahim at-Taymi said, “What a difference between you and those people. The world came to them, and they fled from it, but it turned away from you, and you followed it.”
His imprisonment and death
Ibn Saad (d. 230 AH) narrated that Ali ibn Muhammad informed them that al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf (d. 95 AH) sought Ibrahim an-Nakhai (d. 96 AH), and a messenger came saying, “I want Ibrahim.” Ibrahim at-Taymi said, “I am Ibrahim,” and he did not deem it permissible to point the way to another. Al-Hajjaj ordered that he be imprisoned in a dungeon that had no shade from the sun nor shelter from the cold. Two men would be shackled together in that prison. Ibrahim changed in appearance, and when his mother visited him, she did not recognise him until he spoke to her. He died while in prison, not having reached the age of forty years.
There are differing reports about his death. Some said he died in 92 AH, while others said 94 AH.
Al-Hajjaj saw a dream in which a voice said to him, “Tonight a man from the people of Paradise has died in the city.” He asked and was informed that it was Ibrahim at-Taymi. Al-Hajjaj said, “This is just a dream, a whisper from the whispers of Shaytan,” and he ordered that his body be thrown onto the refuse heap.
Siyar A‘lām al-Nubalā by Ad Dhahabi (5/60-62)
