Abu Nu`aym Biography

Abu Nu`aym al-Isfahani (أبـو نـعـيـم الأصـفـهـانـي; full name Ahmad ibn `Abd Allāh ibn Ahmad ibn Ishāq ibn Mūsā ibn Mahrān al-Mihrānī al-Asbahānī (or al-Asfahānī) al-Ahwal al-Ash`arī al-Shāfi`ī, d. 1038 / AH 430) was a medieval Persian Muslim scholar. Born in Buwayhid era Isfahan, he travelled widely, visiting Nishapur, Basra, Kufa, Baghdad, Mecca and Andalusia. He is the presumed author of Hilyat al-awliya' , one of the most important sources for the early development of Sufism, and a transmitter of Shafi'i hadith. He was considered one of the best hadith authorities by his contemporary Khatib al-Baghdadi and by Dhahabi and Taqi al-Din al-Subki.