Abu al-Hasan al-Mujashi'i

Abu al-Hasan al-Mujashi'i (d. 479 AH / 1086 CE) was a North African grammarian, Quranic exegete, and man of letters known for his extensive travels across the Islamic world and his scholarship in Arabic philology and exegesis Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Origin and Travels

His full lineage is recorded as Ali ibn Faddal ibn Ali ibn Ghalib ibn Jabir, tracing back to the Banu Tamim through the lineage of the pre-Islamic and early Islamic poet al-Farazdaq and the tribal ancestor Mujashi' ibn Darim Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. Born in Kairouan, he eventually left his homeland and traveled extensively through the eastern regions of the Islamic world Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

His journey took him as far east as Ghazna, where he dedicated writings to local notables and taught literature for a period Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. He also visited Nishapur during the 460s AH and returned there in 470 AH before traveling to Baghdad, where he took up permanent residence al-Muntakhab min Kitab al…. In the east, he entered the circle of the Seljuk vizier Nizam al-Mulk and composed panegyric poetry praising his authority Kharidat al-Qasr wa Jarid…+1.

Scholarship and Standing

Al-Mujashi'i was widely acknowledged as a leading authority in Arabic grammar, morphology, and Quranic exegesis al-Muntakhab min Kitab al…. Among his major exegetical endeavors was the massive commentary al-Iksir fi al-tafsir (The Elixir in Exegesis), spanning thirty-five volumes, which he composed after the prominent Ash'ari theologian Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni promised him one thousand dinars for it Siyar Aalam al-Nubala. When al-Mujashi'i finished reciting the text to al-Juwayni and received nothing, he threatened to compose a satirical poem against him, to which al-Juwayni replied that his honor was at al-Mujashi'i's disposal Siyar Aalam al-Nubala. He also produced another extensive exegetical work, al-Burhan fi al-tafsir (The Proof in Exegesis), in twenty volumes Siyar Aalam al-Nubala.

In hadith transmission, al-Mujashi'i faced notable criticism al-Jami li-Kutub al-Duafa…. He narrated several traditions from memory claiming transmission through Makki ibn Abi Talib from Abu Muhammad al-Qabisi back to Malik ibn Anas al-Jami li-Kutub al-Duafa…. When the scholar Hibat Allah al-Saqati transcribed these narrations and showed them to the North African expert Abd Allah ibn Sab'un al-Qayrawani, the latter condemned the chains as fabricated and combined with ungrounded texts al-Jami li-Kutub al-Duafa…. Faced with the consensus of hadith scholars against his narrations, al-Mujashi'i apologized, acknowledged that he had fallen into delusion and confusion (waham), and retracted them al-Jami li-Kutub al-Duafa….

Students and Death

Al-Mujashi'i taught widely, and his poetry and literary compilations were transmitted by several prominent contemporaries Kharidat al-Qasr wa Jarid…+1. The historian Abd al-Ghafir al-Farisi praised his vast erudition and memory, receiving a general authorization (ijazah) to transmit all of al-Mujashi'i's writings and collections al-Muntakhab min Kitab al…+1. In late Rabi' al-Awwal 475 AH, a group that included Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Irbili studied his literary work Ma'arif al-adab (The Lofty Paths of Belles-Lettres) under his direct dictation Tarikh Arbil. Transmissions of his poetry were also preserved by Shuja' ibn Faris al-Duhri al-Shahrazuri Kharidat al-Qasr wa Jarid…+1.

Al-Mujashi'i died in Baghdad in Rabi' al-Awwal 479 AH (with one account specifying 22 Rabi' al-Awwal) Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.