Book: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala by Ad-Dhahabi - سير أعلام النبلاء ـ الإمام الذهبي

Meeting with Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Daqiq al-Eid

When he entered the presence of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Daqiq al-Eid, known for his meticulous care in the transmission of hadith, the Shaykh asked him: "Where have you come from?" He replied, "From the Levant." The Shaykh then asked, "By what are you known?" He said, "By al-Dhahabi." The Shaykh queried further, "Who is Abu Tahir al-Dhahabi?" He answered, "Al-Mukhlis." The Shaykh said, "Well done." Then the Shaykh asked, "Who is Abu Muhammad al-Hilali?" He answered, "Sufyan ibn Uyaynah." The Shaykh praised him, "Well done, recite." He thus permitted him to read, having seen his familiarity with the names.

His Travels for Knowledge

He listened to hadith in Alexandria from Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Ahmad al-Ghrafi, Abu al-Hasan Yahya ibn Ahmad ibn al-Sawwaf, and others.

In Mecca, he learned from al-Tawzari and others.

In Aleppo, from Sanqar al-Zayni and others.

In Nablus, from al-Imad ibn Badran.

Licenses Granted to Him

He received ijazas (licenses) from Abu Zakariya ibn al-Sirfi, Ibn Abi al-Khayr, Al-Qutb ibn Asrun, and Al-Qasim ibn al-Irbili.

His Renowned Contributions

He had numerous teachers, whose enumeration would be lengthy. Many learned from him, and he dedicated himself to this discipline until he established a firm footing. He exerted himself by night and day without tiring his tongue or pen. Metaphors were coined with his name, and it traveled as the sun does; however, it neither retracts when it rains nor declines when the nights advance.

His Stay in Damascus

He resided in Damascus, attracting seekers from various lands, called upon by questions from every group. There, he was as a protective covering for its people, and an honor wherein the world took pride, sometimes seen smiling with the blooming of its flowers and the laughter of its streams, and at other times clothed in a garment of dignity and pride, surrounding its esteemed imam among its residents. [1]

Al-Suyuti's Praise

Al-Hafiz Al-Suyuti said in his "Supplement to the Memorandum of the Protectors," pages 347-348: He sought hadith at the age of eighteen, listened to much, traveled, dedicated himself to this field, and worked hard in it until his position was firmly established. He recited the seven variant readings of the Qur'an, and the people acknowledged his merit. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar narrated that he drank Zamzam water to attain al-Dhahabi's status in memorization … and what I would say is that: