Shu'bah ibn 'Ayyash

Abu Bakr Shu‘bah ibn ‘Ayyash ibn Salim al-Asadi al-Kufi al-Nahshali (, 95-193 AH/713-808 CE), more commonly known as Shu'bah, is a significant figure in the history of Qur'an readings as well as a hadith narrator. though the reading of Hafs is more well known in the Muslim world today.

Biography He was a Mawla (freedman) of Wasl ibn Hayyan al-Ahdab al-Asadi, and used to reside in Kufa. He was a Quran reciter, jurist, and hadith scholar known for his piety. He learned the Quran from Asim and jurisprudence from Al-Mughira.

He perfected his recitation three times under the guidance of Asim. Shu'bah is reported to have said: Shady Nasser quotes ad-Dhahabi as bringing a report that Shu'bah rejected the reading of his contemporary Hamzah az-Zaiyyat as bid'ah.

Dialogue between Harun al-Rashid and Shu'bah Harun al-Rashid summoned Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash from Kufa. He came accompanied by Waki'. When they entered, Waki' was guiding him. Al-Rashid brought him close and said to him, You have witnessed the days of the Umayyads and our days—who is better? Abu Bakr replied, You are better at performing the prayers, but they were more beneficial to the people. Al-Rashid rewarded him with 6,000 dinars and dismissed him. He also rewarded Waki' with 3,000 dinars. Ibn Al-Mubarak said: "I have not seen anyone who adheres to the Sunnah more quickly than Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash" Sulayman al-Aʽmash said: "I have not seen anyone who prayed better than Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash".

Death When death approached him, his sister cried, so he said to her: "What makes you cry? Look at that corner, for I have completed eighteen thousand recitations (of the Quran) there". He died in Jumada Al-Ula, 193AH (February/March 809 CE).