Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri

Muhammad ibn Muslim ibn Ubaydallah ibn Shihab al-Zuhri (51–124 AH), known as al-Zuhri, was the most important hadith scholar of the Tabi'un generation and is universally regarded as one of the greatest scholars in Islamic history. By order of Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, he undertook the first systematic collection and recording of hadith. Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: 'The isnad of al-Zuhri is the most authentic of all isnads.' He narrated from many companions and Tabi'un, and was narrated from by Imam Malik, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, and the greatest scholars of the next generation. He is credited with being the first to formally write down hadith on a large scale.