Abu Bakr al-Tartushi

Abu Bakr al-Tartushi (c. 451–520 AH / 1059–1126 CE) was an Andalusian Maliki jurist, traditionist, and legal theorist based in Alexandria, best known for his political treatise Siraj al-Muluk al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1.

Lineage and Early Life

He was Muhammad ibn al-Walid ibn Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn Sulayman ibn Ayyub al-Qurashi al-Fihri, known in his homeland as Ibn Abi Randaqa al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1. He was born around 451 AH (1059 CE) in Tortosa (Tartusha), a frontier city in eastern Al-Andalus al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1. In al-Andalus, he studied estate inheritance division (fara'id) and arithmetic in his home city, accompanied the Maliki scholar Abu al-Walid al-Baji in Zaragoza to study comparative jurisprudence (masa'il al-khilaf), and studied literature under Ibn Hazm in Seville Wafayat al-Ayan.

Travels, Confinement, and Teaching

In 476 AH, al-Tartushi set out for the East, performing the pilgrimage to Mecca and traveling through Iraq, Syria, and Palestine al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…+1. In Baghdad, he studied Shafi'i jurisprudence under Abu Bakr al-Shashi and Abu Ahmad al-Jurjani, met the Hanafi chief judge Abu Abd Allah al-Damaghani, and heard hadith from Rizq Allah al-Tamimi and Abu Abd Allah al-Humaydi Nisba wa Mansub+1. In Basra, he heard Sunan Abi Dawud from Abu Ali al-Tustari Siyar Aalam al-Nubala. He subsequently resided and taught in Syria and Jerusalem before moving to Egypt and permanently settling in Alexandria Nisba wa Mansub+1.

In Alexandria, al-Tartushi married a wealthy woman who gifted him a residence; he lived on the upper level and converted the lower floor into a madrasa where he taught local and traveling students al-Dibaj al-Madhhab fi Ma…. His growing following drew suspicion from local officials; the Fatimid vizier al-Afdal Shahanshah had him removed from Alexandria and placed under forced residence at the Mosque of Shaqiq al-Mulk near the Observatory in Fustat, barring students from attending his circle Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. Following al-Afdal's assassination, his successor, the vizier al-Ma'mun al-Bata'ihi, released and honored al-Tartushi, for whom al-Tartushi dedicated Siraj al-Muluk (The Lamp of Kings), his major treatise on governance and statecraft Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. He also authored Kitab al-Hawadith wa-l-Bida (Events and Innovations), an influential legal critique of religious innovations Tuhfat al-Turk fima yajib…+1.

Among his notable students were the Maliki jurist Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi, the hadith master Abu Tahir al-Silafi, Sallar ibn al-Muqaddam, and Sanad ibn Inan, who took over his teaching circle in Alexandria after his death al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+2. Al-Qadi Iyad also received a general license of transmission (ijaza) from him via written correspondence al-Dibaj al-Madhhab fi Ma….

Standing and Character

Biographical sources describe al-Tartushi as an ascetic scholar known for his piety, humility, and contentment with minimal worldly possessions al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1. Ibn Bashkuwal recorded that he was a practicing scholar detached from worldly gain al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1. Ibn Khallikan noted his adherence to his principles, citing his maxim: "If two matters present themselves to you—one of this world and one of the hereafter—hasten to the matter of the hereafter, and you will attain both" Azhar al-Riyad fi Akhbar …+1.

Death

Al-Tartushi died in Alexandria during the final third of the night on the 26th of Jumada al-Ula 520 AH (1126 CE)—with other reports citing the 25th of Jumada al-Ula, the month of Sha'ban, or the year 525 AH Nisba wa Mansub+3. His son Muhammad led the funeral prayer over him Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak….