Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Binnawri (d.1397 A.H.), a commentator, on the Jami', said that Imam Tirmidhi was born in Bugh in the year 209 A.H. He belonged to the Banu Sulaym tribe, hence he was called Sulami. His native town Bugh is a few miles from Tirmidhi and is considered a suburb of Tirmidh. Therefore he was known as Tirmidhi and Bughi, both places being in Khurasan, which is presently a province in North Eastern Iran, and it is with the nisba (linking him to his place of origin) Tirmidhi, that he is well known. The aforementioned biographer of Imam Tirmidhi does not mention any details of his parents. Imam Tirmidhi is reported to have said that his grandfather belonged to Marw but he subsequently moved to Tirmidh. Likewise, no mention is made of Tirmidhi's early life or occupation.

Imam Abu Dawood
Imam Abu Dawud began the learning of hadith while he was less than 20 years old. He gained a wide reputation in his lifetime. At that time, Basra was deserted due to disturbance of Zanj (in 257 A.H.). The Governor Abu Ahmad visited Imam Abu Dawud in his house in Baghdad and requested that he move to Basra so that the deserted city may be rehabilitated by his presence and gathering of the scholars and students. The scholars are unanimous about his great ability, trustworthiness and accuracy. He was not only a good narrator of hadith but also a good lawyer. Sometimes he checked written material, papers, and ink to discover their age.