Profile of Shurayh ibn Al Harith ibn Qays Al Kindy [1]
The model example judge who embraced Islam in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He was born in Yemen and learned from Mu`adh ibn Jabal when he was in Yemen. `Umar ibn Al Khattab appointed him as a judge when he was forty-years old, and remained as judge for sixty years. He led a long life, and he was one hundred and twenty when he left the judiciary system in the time of Al Hajjaj and lived one year later.
Ibn Al Madiny said: He assumed the judiciary of Kufa for fifty-three years and assumed the office of Basra for seven years.
Shurayh reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him), `Umar, Ali, Ibn Mas`ud, and others.
Ibn As-Sakan and others reported from the way of Ali ibn `Abdullah ibn Mu`awiyah ibn Maysarah ibn Shurayh, the judge. Our father told us from his father Mu`awiyah from his father Maysarah from his father Shurayh: I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: O Messenger of Allah, I have a large number family in Yemen. He said: “Bring them.” He brought them after the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away.
Abu Na`my reported with the previous chain of narration up to Shurayh, he said: I assumed judiciary in the time of `Umar ibn Al Khattab, `Uthman, Ali, and those who came after them until Al Hajjaj relieved me.
His news and rulings are numerous in the books of biographies such as Ibn Sa`d, Ibn `Asakir, Waki` in the book of the news of judges, and others.
[1] At-Tabaqat Al Kubra by Ibn Sa`d (vol. 6/131-145), Mukhtasar Tarikh Ibn `Asakir by Ibn Manzhur (vol. 10/294, 303), Usd Al Ghabah fi Ma`rifat As-Sahabah by Ibn Al Athir (vol. 2/394), Al Isti`ab by Ibn `Abdul-Bar No. (1172), Al Isabah fi Tamiz As-Sahabah by Ibn Hajar (vol. 5/65 – 67) No. (3875), Siyar A`lam An-Nubala’ by Adh-Dhahaby (vol. 4/100, 106), Tajrid Asma’ As-Sahabah by Adh-Dhahaby (vol. 1/64), and the news of Judges by Waki` (vol. 2/189).