al-Harali, Abu al-Hasan

Abu al-Hasan al-Harali (d. 638 AH / 1241 CE) was an Andalusian-Maghribi scholar of Quranic exegesis, legal theory, logic, and Sufism, best known for his hermeneutical work Miftah al-bab al-mughlaq li-fahm al-Quran al-munzal (The Key to the Locked Door for Understanding the Revealed Quran) al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Lineage and Early Life

He was Ali ibn Ahmad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ibrahim al-Tujibi, Abu al-Hasan al-Harali al-Andalusi Unwan al-Diraya fiman uri…+1. His nisba derives from Haralla, a village in the district of Murcia in al-Andalus, though he was born and raised in Marrakesh al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Education, Travels, and Career

In the Maghrib, al-Harali studied Arabic grammar under Ibn Kharuf and studied with Abu al-Hajjaj ibn Namir (also cited as Ibn Hawa) Unwan al-Diraya fiman uri…+1. He traveled to the East, performed the pilgrimage, and met scholars there, including Muhammad ibn Umar al-Qurtubi, the imam of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca Unwan al-Diraya fiman uri…+1. He adopted Sufism, returned to the Maghrib, and settled for a period in Bejaia al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Al-Harali later traveled east again and resided in Bilbays in Egypt Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1. Following a disagreement with the ruler of Egypt, he was expelled from the country and relocated to Syria, where he settled in Hama and stayed with its chief judge, Sharaf al-Din Ibn al-Barizi Mujam al-Mufassirin "min …+1. In Hama, he delivered public sermons and gained a following Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Among those who studied under him in Bejaia were Abu Muhammad Abd al-Haqq ibn Rabi' al-Ansari, who read philosophy texts under his guidance, and Abu Zakariyya Yahya ibn Mahjuba Unwan al-Diraya fiman uri…+1.

Scholarly Standing and Reception

Al-Harali was recognized for his wide mastery of legal theory, logic, metaphysics, natural philosophy, and Quranic exegesis al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. In his exegesis, he formulated hermeneutical canons designed to serve the interpretation of the Quran in the same manner that legal theory serves jurisprudence Unwan al-Diraya fiman uri…+1. He also authored al-Ma'qulat al-ula (The Primary Intelligibles) on logic al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

He was praised for his eloquence and proverbial forbearance (hilm), and it was reported that he spent seven years in spiritual discipline until receiving substantial wealth and being disparaged became equal to him Tarikh al-Islam+1. His commentary was highly regarded by scholars such as Ibn al-Barizi and Majd al-Din al-Tunisi Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Conversely, al-Harali drew sharp criticism from several traditionalist scholars. Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi described him as practicing a philosophical form of Sufism and criticized his exegesis for loading verses with meanings alien to Arabic usage Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. Al-Dhahabi and others also censured him for delving into letter and number mysticism (ilm al-huruf wa-l-a'dad), through which al-Harali claimed to deduce the exact timing of the emergence of the Antichrist (al-Dajjal), the rising of the sun from the west, and the coming of Gog and Magog Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. Ibn Taymiyyah likewise criticized his discourse for philosophical Sufi tendencies and expressions suggesting monism or indwelling (hulul and ittihad) al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…+1.

Death

Al-Harali died in Hama in 638 AH / 1241 CE, though other accounts place his death in 637 AH / 1239–1240 CE or 627 AH Mujam al-Muallifin+1. Ibn al-Abbar related a report that al-Harali predicted his death would occur when the afternoon prayer call (adhan al-asr) was made, and when the call was sounded, he responded to the muezzin and died al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1.