Then those who followed them and at the head of them: 'Abdullaah ibn
al-Mubaarak (d. 181H), Wakee' ibn al-Jarraah (d. 197H), the Imaam Muhammad ibn
Idrees ash-Shaafi'ee (d. 204H), 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mahdee (d. 198H), Yahya ibn
Sa'eed al-Qataan (d. 198H) and Afaan ibn Muslim (d. 219H).
Then their students who followed them in this methodology, and at the head of
them: the Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241H), Yahya ibn Ma'een (d. 233H) and 'Alee
ibn al-Madeenee (d. 234H).
Then their students like al-Bukhaaree (d. 256H), Muslim (d. 261H), Abee
Haatim (d. 277H), Abee Zara' (Aboo Zur'ah?) (d. 264H), Aboo Daawood (d. 275H),
at-Tirmidhee (d. 279H) and an-Nasaa'ee (d. 303H).
Then those who proceeded in their way in the generations that preceded them,
like Ibn Jareer (at-Tabaree?) (d. 310H), Ibn Khuzaymah (d. 311H), ad-Daaraqutnee
(d. 385H) in his time, al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee (d. 463H) and Ibn 'Abdul-Barr
an-Niwaaree (d. 463H).
And 'Abdul-Ghanee al-Maqdasee (d. 620H), Ibn Salaah (d. 643H), Ibn Taymiyyah
(d. 728H), al-Mizzee (d. 743H), adh-Dhahabee (d. 748H), Ibn Katheer (d. 774H)
and their contemporaries who lived in their time and those who came after them,
and followed their footsteps in holding on to the Book and the Sunnah up until
the present day.
These are who I mean by Ahlul-Hadeeth.
NOTES
[1] Hadeeth saheeh, collected by Muslim (3/1523), Ahmad (5/278-279), Aboo
Dawood (3/4), Tirmidhee (4/420), Ibn Maajah (1/4-5), Haakim (4/449-450),
at-Tabaraanee in Mu'jam al-Kabeer (7643) and Aboo Daawood at-Tayaalisi (p. 94,
no. 689). Authenticated by al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah (270-1955).