A translation of one great scholar and historian from the book of Shadhart alDhahab f Akhbr man Dhahab, by Ibn

alImd (1035-1089 H.) Vol. I edited by Abd al-Qdir al-Arn and Mamd al-Arn Publised by Dr Ibn Kathr, Damascus, Beirut First Publication, 1986. Pp 64-65. Translated by Ali Muchtar

A BIOGRAPHY OF AL- AL-AFAD

[THE AUTHOR OF AL-WF BI L-WAFIYT ]

Kuala Lumpur, Monday 25th of March 2013.

AL-AFAD His full name Khall ibn Aybak ibn Abd Allh al-afad,

(his epithet) Ab al-af; a great leader of historians; the author of al-Wf bi lWafiyt and many interesting and useful works. He was born in afad, Palestina in 696/697 A.H. [1296/1297 A.D]. He studied adth under the most prominent scholars of his time, like al-Q Badr al-Dn Jamah, Ab al-Fat ibn Sayyid al-Ns, Taq al-Dn al-Subk and two experts of adth Ab al-ajjj al-Mizz and Ab Abd Allh al-Dhahab. he also learned some masterpieces of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) and learned syntax (al-Naw) under Ab ayyn. And studied literary under Ibn Nubtah and al-Shihb Mamd and he used to accompany him (al-Shihb Mamd) till he became expert in literature. He also a calligrapher who wrote beautifully, a poet who lucid in his poem, and an author of extraordinary works. He began to compose and write during his stay in Mir and Damascus. He became a secretary in Aleppo and treasurer of Muslim treasury (bayt alml) in Shm. In addition he began to record and report the history from the mosque of al-Umaw, and taught adth in Damascus, Aleppo and other regions. He died in the month of Shawwl in 764 A.H. [1362 A.D.] Imm al-Dhahab, al-afads teacher-professor, recorded him in his work alMujam al-Mukhta he said that: he is a great scholar, a man of letters and perfect eloquent, he sought for knowledge and shared great scholar in their excellence. He also profound and expert in the science of letter. he read adth, and composed a book on genealogy, he collected and composed several works and Allh bless him with success . He used to hear from my lesson and I heard to him as well. He has various writings, books and science of rhetoric. I said (the author of the book, Ibn al-Imad): al-afad became known by his great work al-Wf bi l-Wafiyt. His (autobiography) alluded in the beginning of this work. He compiled in this work notable and outstanding scholars that meticulously he choose it. He never leave to write and describe the prominent of companions and

succeeding of companions, kings and rules, judges and workers, reciters and expert of adth, legal scholars and clerics, righteous men and saints, grammarians, men of letters and poets, doctors and philosophers, people of creed, heresy and various views and every notable and prominent persons in many branches of knowledge. A group of Orientalist from German in Beirut, who expert in Arabic and Orientalism discourse undertook to edit this corpus. They published a great numbers of volumes and other volume stood still under editing or publication process.