Abu Abdullah Nafi was one of the foremost Tabi'un scholars of the Medina school, a jurist and traditionist. Of Daylami origin, he was captured young and then purchased and freed by Abdullah ibn Umar, which is why he is called "the mawla of Ibn Umar." He remained with Ibn Umar for over thirty years, learning from him and becoming the most reliable transmitter of his narrations. Many scholars, foremost Imam Malik, took hadith from him; al-Bukhari's saying, "the soundest of all chains is Malik from Nafi from Ibn Umar" (the golden chain, silsilat al-dhahab), made this chain the most prized isnad. He was an important link in the formation of the practice and jurisprudence of the people of Medina. He died in Medina around 117-119 AH (735-737 CE). According to Arabic sources he was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery near the grave of his student Imam Malik. His grave is today unmarked, like all graves in Baqi.