Ibn Hajar's Generation System
In Taqrib al-Tahdhib, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani classified hadith narrators into 12 generational layers (tabaqat) based on when they lived and whom they met. The Companions occupy the first layer, the Tabi'in (Successors) span layers 2–6, and the Atba' al-Tabi'in (Successors of the Successors) cover layers 7–9. Layers 10–12 are the senior, middle, and junior scholars who received from the Atba' — including figures like Ahmad ibn Hanbal, al-Bukhari, and al-Tirmidhi. This system helps scholars assess the plausibility of transmission chains.
1
الطبقة الأولى
The Companions (al-Sahaba)
All who saw the Prophet \xe2\x80\x96 and believed, of all ranks
Up to ~100 AH
0
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2
الطبقة الثانية
Senior Tabi'in
The leading Successors, such as Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab, including Mukhadramun
~30–100 AH
0
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3
الطبقة الثالثة
Middle Tabi'in
The middle generation of the Successors, such as al-Hasan al-Basri and Ibn Sirin
~40–110 AH
0
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4
الطبقة الرابعة
Lower-Middle Tabi'in
Those who mostly narrated from senior Tabi'in, such as al-Zuhri and Qatadah
~50–130 AH
0
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5
الطبقة الخامسة
Junior Tabi'in
Those who met only one or two Companions, such as al-A'mash
~60–150 AH
0
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6
الطبقة السادسة
Contemporaries of the 5th (non-Sahaba meeting)
Those who lived alongside the 5th but did not meet any Companion, such as Ibn Jurayj
~80–150 AH
0
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7
الطبقة السابعة
Senior Atba' al-Tabi'in
The leading Successors of the Successors, such as Malik ibn Anas and Sufyan al-Thawri
~90–180 AH
0
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8
الطبقة الثامنة
Middle Atba' al-Tabi'in
The middle generation, such as Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah and Isma'il ibn 'Ulayyah
~110–200 AH
0
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9
الطبقة التاسعة
Junior Atba' al-Tabi'in
Such as al-Shafi'i, Yazid ibn Harun, and 'Abd al-Razzaq
~130–220 AH
0
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10
الطبقة العاشرة
Senior recipients from Atba' al-Tabi'in
Those who did not meet the Tabi'in, such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal
~150–240 AH
0
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11
الطبقة الحادية عشرة
Middle recipients
Such as al-Dhuhli and al-Bukhari
~170–260 AH
0
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12
الطبقة الثانية عشرة
Junior recipients
Such as al-Tirmidhi, and other late teachers of the Six Books compilers
~200–280 AH
0
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Grade Legend
Companion
Thiqah / Saduq
Maqbul
Da'if
Matruk
Unknown
Companions (1) Tabi'in (2–6) Atba' al-Tabi'in (7–9) Recipients (10–12)