Introduction
Abdullah b. ‘Awn (d.151/768) is considered to be one of the most important scholars of ahl al-Sunna, having studied with both al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī (d. 110/728) and Muḥammad b. Sīrīn (d. 110/729).
His other teachers include al-Shaʿbī (d. after 103/721), Makḥūl al-Shamī (d. 113/731) and al-Qāsim b. Muḥammad (d. after 105/723). He was an h̩adīth specialist and considered to be one of the founders of h̩adīth criticism. [1] He had numerous famous students including al-Awzā‘ī (d.157/773), Shu‘ba b. al Ḥajjāj (d.160/776) and Sufyān al-Thawrī (d.161/778). [2]
His stance regarding various sects
Mu‘tazila
Abdullah b. ‘Awn refused to greet the Mu‘tazili ‘Amr b. Ubayd (d144/761) and walked off when the latter sat next to him. [3]
Qadariyya
He refused to greet them and discuss anything with them but would recite the verse (6:68) “When you see them argue about Our messages, withdraw from their company until they begin to talk about other things”. He was present at execution of Ghaylān al-Dimashqī. [4]
He opposed the ‘Alīd rebellion against the ‘Abbāsids. [5]
Order of the first four Caliphs
Ranked the merit of the Rāshidūn Caliphs in order of their succession, thus affirming the Caliphate of Abū Bakr and ‘Umar and placing ‘Uthmān before ‘Alī. [6]
Attitude to the rulers
Support for Umayyad dynasty. Initially hostile to ‘Abbāsids but reconciled himself to them.[7]
Khawārij
His recognition of the Caliphates of ‘Uthmān and ‘Alī and his support for the Umayyad dynasty. [8] He opposed revolting against the leaders. [9]
Notes
[1] Lucas, p. 10.
[2] Mourad, Suleiman A., “ʿAbdallāh b. ʿAwn”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE,
[3] Steven Judd, Religious Scholars and the Umayyads: Piety-Minded Supporters of the Marwanid Caliphate, (Routledge, 2013), p. 63.
[4] Ibid.; Ghaylān al-Dimashqī was an active proponent of the Qadariyya
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid. p. 65.
[7] Ibid. p. 68.
[8] He refused to criticise Hajjaj b. Yusuf. Ibid. p. 66.
[9] Mourad, Suleiman A., “ʿAbdallāh b. ʿAwn”, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE.
