Al-Baqillani | |
|---|---|
ٱلْبَاقِلَّانِيّ | |
| Title | Shaikh as-Sunnah ("Shaykh of the Prophetic Way"),Lisān al-Ummah ("Voice of the Nation"),Imād ad-Dīn ("Pillar of the Religion"),Nāsir al-Islām ("Guardian of Islam"), andSaif as-Sunnah ("Sword of the Prophetic Way")[1] ("Protector of Islam")[1] |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Abu Bakr Muḥammad ibn al-Ṭayyib al-Bāqillānī 338/950 CE[2] |
| Died | 403/1013 CE[3] Baghdad, Iraq |
| Main interest(s) | Theology (Kalam),Usul al-Din,Tawhid,Logic,Islamic Jurisprudence,Hadith |
| Notable work(s) | Kitāb al-Tamhīd,[1]Kitāb I'jaz al-Qur'ān[1] |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Maliki[2] |
| Creed | Ash'ari[2][4] |
| Muslim leader | |
Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn al-Ṭayyib al-Bāqillānī (Arabic:أَبُو بَكْر مُحَمَّد بْن ٱلطَّيِّب ٱلْبَاقِلَّانِيّ; 950 – 5 June 1013),[5] was aSunniMuslim scholar andpolymath who specialized inspeculative Islamic theology,jurisprudence,logic, andhadith. He spent much of his life defending and strengthening theAsh'ari school of theology withinIslam.[1] An accomplished rhetorical stylist and orator, al-Baqillani was held in high regard by his contemporaries for his expertise in debatingtheological and jurisprudential issues.[6]Al-Dhahabi referred to him as "the learnedimam, incomparable master, foremost of the scholars, author of many books, and example of articulateness and intelligence."[7]
Born inBasra in 330 AH / 950 CE,[2] he spent most of his life in Baghdad, and studied theology under two disciples ofAbu Hasan al-Ash'ari,[2] Ibn Mujahid al-Ta'i and Abul-Hasan al-Bahili.[8] He also studied jurisprudence under theMaliki scholarIbn Abi Zayd and the Shāfiʿī scholar Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Shīrāzī.[8] After acquiring expertise in both Islamic theology and Maliki jurisprudence he expounded the teachings of the Ash'ari school, and taught Maliki jurisprudence in Baghdad.[2]
He held the office of chiefQadi inBaghdad and in Ukbara, a town not far from the capital.[2] Al-Baqillani became a popular lecturer, and took part in debates with well-known scholars of the day.[3] Al-Baqillani was a hadith scholar, having studied under prominent hadith scholars such as Abu Bakr ibn Malik al-Qotaie, Abu Muhammad ibn Massi, and others, especially byal-Daraqutni, who was one of the leading hadith scholars at his time and who once kissed al-Baqillani's forehead (a sign of sincere respect) and said of him: "This is a man who will refute the allegations of people of false beliefs."[9]
Because of his debating skill, the Amir'Adud al-Dawla dispatched him as an envoy to the Byzantine court inConstantinople, where he debated Christian scholars in the presence of their king in 371/981.[10][11] He debated and defeated multiple Christian theologians on matters pertaining to the differences between Islam and Christianity.[12]
He died in 403 AH / 1013 CE.[3] When Al-Baqillani died, the leading Imam of theHanbalis who was Imam Baqillani's best friend for seven years, ImamAbu al-Fadl al-Tamimi, came barefoot to his funeral with many of his fellow Hanbali scholars and the funeral was packed with huge gatherings. Imam Al-Tamini was chosen as an announcer and he shouted:[13]
"This is the Helper of the Sunnah (of the prophet PBUH) and the Religion (of Almighty God)! This is the Imam (Leader) of Muslims! This is the Defender of the Sharia (Divine Law)! This is the one who authored 70 thousand pages (of Writings)!
Due to his prestige and high esteem, he was buried near the grave of the famous ImamAhmad ibn Hanbal. Baqillani's grave has become a place where thousands visit until today where they seek the blessings of Allah's mercy on him.[13]
Qadi Iyad said of al-Baqillani, "He is known as the sword of thesunna and spokesman of the community, who spoke the language of traditionists, strictly keeping firm to the beliefs, and was the head of the Maliki scholars of his time. His gatherings in Basra were huge."[7]
Ibn Taymiyya called al-Baqillani "the best of the Ash'ari mutakallimun, unrivalled by any predecessor or successor".[14]
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi said, "Imam al-Baqillani's nightly devotions and worship consisted of 40cycles ofprayer whether at home or while he was travelling away, after which he would write about 35 pages of textual knowledge, after which he would praydawn prayer, and then he would pass on his writings to others in his circle to read out loud for proof-readings, verifying, and editing the texts."[7]
Fifty-five titles of works written by al-Baqillani have been listed, the great majority on legal and theological matters, and many written against his opponents.[15]
