Khalifa ibn Khayyat

Quick Facts: Who was Khalifa ibn Khayyat?

Subject:

Khalifa ibn Khayyat

Known for:

Basran scholar, historian, and genealogist known for his early Islamic chronicle.

Born:

777

Died:

854

Century / Era:

777s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Khalīfa bin Khayyāṭ bin Khalifa bin Khayyāṭ al-ʿUṣfūrī al-Shaybānī al-Dhuhlī al-Tamīmī al-Laythī Abū ʿAmr Shabāb (Arabic: خليفة بن خياط بن خليفة بن خياط العصفوري الشيباني الذهلي التميمي الليثي أبو عمرو شباب; 777–855) commonly known by his nickname Shabab or simply Khalifa Ibn Khayyat was a Basran Arab Islamic scholar, traditionist, historian, chronicler and genealogist. A member of a scholarly Basran family of hadith transmitters, he became known primarily for his contributions to history and biographical literature. His Taʾrīkh is the earliest extant Islamic chronicle, covering events from the Prophet’s life to 232/847, while his Ṭabaqāt is one of the earliest surviving Islamic biographical dictionaries, cataloguing more than three thousand transmitters of hadith. He main nisba in later biographical dictionaries is al-ʿUṣfurī. Al-Sam'ani, Ibn al-Athir and Ibn Khallikan maintain that this nisba derives from the Arabic word for safflower (ʿuṣfur), a plant which was used to dye cloth red, and thus refers to some involvement in the safflower trade, although his family connection to this is unknown.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Al-Mizzi cites Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, who says that ʿuṣfur refers to a certain subtribe of the Arabs, but this might refer to ʿuṣfūr and the nisba al-ʿUṣfūrī, which is different from al-ʿUṣfurī. Khalifa was given the nickname al-Shabāb ('the youth'), to distinguish him from his grandfather who also held the same name. Ibn al-Athir mentions the alleged tribal affiliation of Khalifa as "ar-Raqashi" i.e from the Banū Rāqash, a branch of Banu Tamim. Ibn al-Athir also mentions Khalifa as a descendant of Shayban bin Dhuhl bin Tha‘laba bin ‘Ukaba bin Sa‘b bin ‘Ali bin Bakr bin Wa’il. The genealogy of Bakr bin Wa’il is eventually traced back to Asad bin Rabi‘a bin Nizar bin Ma‘dd bin ‘Adnan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Khalifa Ibn Khayyat was born around 160 AH / 776–7 CE in Basra, Iraq. In his Ṭabaqāt, he does not mention his own full lineage, despite listing his own grandfather, Abū Hubayra Khalīfa bin Khayyāṭ (d. 160/777), who was also a prominent hadith transmitter. His father, Khayyāṭ bin Khalīfa bin Khayyāṭ, is not mentioned in the Ṭabaqāt, but he was also a hadith transmitter, although less prominent than his father and son.The exact social position of Khalīfa’s father and grandfather is unclear, but the biographicies about them show that Khalifa came from a Basran family involved in hadith scholarship. Little is known about Khalifa's life.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 777: Birth of Khalifa ibn Khayyat — Basran scholar, historian, and genealogist known for his early Islamic chronicle.
2. 854: Passing & Historical Legacy — Khalifa ibn Khayyat passed away on 854, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Khalifa ibn Khayyat

True or False: “Khalifa Ibn Khayyat's primary scholarly contribution was considered to be in the field of Hadith transmission, rivaling major figures of his time.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While he transmitted hadith, later authorities emphasized that his principal contributions were in history and biographical literature rather than solely in hadith transmission.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Khalifa ibn Khayyat