Authored by Imaam Aboo Daawood as-Sijistaanee [d. 275H]
Authenticated by Imaam Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee [d. 1420H]

He is the noble Imaam, Aboo Daawood Sulaymaan ibnul-Ash'ath as-Sijistaanee, he is well-known by his kunyah, Abee Daawood. He was born in the year 202H in Sijistaan. He sought knowledge early in his life. He was a taalibul-ilm (student of knowledge) before the age of eighteen. Then, he began to travel and seek knowledge. In the year 220H, he went to ‘Iraaq. Aboo Ahmad (the leader) asked Abee Daawood to move to al-Basrah. He took Basrah as a place of residence and a place of seeking knowledge. He heard from Moosaa Ibn Ismaa’eel, al-Waleed and others. He went to Koofah in the year 221H and he heard from al-Hasan Ibn Rabee’ and Ibn Yunus and they were from the greater teachers of Imaam Muslim. He used to travel between Baghdad and he heard from Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. He narrated his book, ‘as-sunan’ in al-Baghdad. Imaam Ahmad praised his book, ‘as-sunan’. Before 222H he entered Makkah and benefited from ‘Abdullaah who was from the narrators of al-Muwaataa of Imaam Maalik. He also learnt from Hishaam Ibn Amaar who was from the teachers of al-Bukhaaree. He later went to Misr and learnt from Ahmad Ibn Saalih, the head of the muhaaditheen of Misr. His last travel was in 271H to Baghdad, before going to Basrah and he died in the year 275H (rahimahullaah).