Shams ad-Din Abu Muhammad Al-Dhahabi, also known as Shams ad-Din Abu Abdillah Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn ʿUthmān al-Dhahabī, was a renowned Islamic scholar, historian, and hadith expert. He lived from 1274 to 1348 CE and is best known for his extensive works, particularly his biographical dictionaries and critical analysis of hadith narrators. He is considered one of the leading scholars of his time.