Imran ibn Husayn

Imran ibn Husayn al-Khuza'i (died 52 AH / 672 CE) was a senior Companion of the Prophet ﷺ and one of the major hadith narrators who settled in Basra, Iraq. He embraced Islam and his father Husayn later embraced Islam too, making them one of the father-son pairs both counted among the Companions. The Prophet ﷺ held him in high regard.

He is notable in the hadith literature for the remarkable circumstance of angels attending him. He reported that he could hear the greetings of angels upon him, a spiritual experience that he said ceased when he was afflicted with a severe illness, and then returned. This narration is preserved in the authentic collections and became one of the discussed topics in Islamic spirituality.

Imran ibn Husayn suffered from a severe chronic illness — described as hemorrhoids — for thirty years. Despite this painful condition, he maintained his worship and his teaching. He reportedly said he would never wish the illness away because he had made a vow of patience with it, and it kept him in constant remembrance of Allah. His endurance became a model of patience cited by scholars.

He settled in Basra and served as a teacher, judge, and transmitter of prophetic traditions. Umar ibn al-Khattab sent him to Basra to teach the people their religion. He became one of the founding religious authorities of that city. He died in Basra around 52 AH, leaving behind numerous students who spread his narrations throughout Iraq and beyond.