al-Kafi al-Tunisi

Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Kafi (1278–1380 AH / 1861–1960 CE) was a Tunisian Maliki jurist, Ash'ari theologian, and Sufi of the Khalwati order who taught across the central Islamic lands before settling in Damascus al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Lineage and Early Life

His full lineage is Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Sa'd al-Haydari al-Tunisi, known as al-Kafi; his lineage is traced back to al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He was born in the town of al-Kaf in Tunisia, where he memorized the Quran al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. In his early years, he worked in the grain trade and entered the Khalwati Sufi path Mujam al-Muallifin.

Education and Travels

Al-Kafi began his formal religious studies in the town of al-Wardaniyyin near Sousse, studying under al-Habib al-Bakkush and Faraj Quraysa Mujam al-Muallifin. He then traveled through North Africa, visiting Sfax, Tripoli, Zliten, Misrata, and Benghazi, where he read texts under Badr al-Din al-Jaza'iri al-Wahrani Mujam al-Muallifin.

Continuing eastward, he passed through Beirut, Damascus, Homs, and Tripoli of the Levant before sailing from Beirut to Jaffa, Jerusalem, Port Said, and Ismailia, ultimately reaching Cairo Mujam al-Muallifin. In Cairo, he enrolled at al-Azhar and studied there for approximately twenty years, learning from scholars including Ahmad al-Rifa'i al-Fayyumi, Salim al-Bishri, Abu al-Fadl al-Jizawi, and Bakhit al-Muti'i Mujam al-Muallifin.

Teaching and Later Life

After his extensive training at al-Azhar, al-Kafi returned to Sfax to teach and journeyed throughout Tunisia Mujam al-Muallifin. He later embarked on a wider journey across the Ottoman world, traveling through Tripoli and Benghazi to Constantinople, Izmir, and Alexandria, before traveling via Suez and Jeddah to the Hijaz Mujam al-Muallifin. In Medina, he delivered lessons at the Prophet's Mosque Mujam al-Muallifin.

In his theological writings, he addressed contemporary inquiries and defended traditional doctrine in treatises such as al-Ajwiba al-Kafiya an al-Asila al-Shamiya ("The Sufficient Answers to the Levantine Questions") and al-Hisn wa-l-Janna ala Aqidat Ahl al-Sunna ("The Fortress and Shield on the Creed of the Sunnis") al-Alam lil-Zirikli. He eventually settled permanently in Damascus, where he remained until his death al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He died in Damascus in 1380 AH (1960 CE), with another report specifying his death on 29 Rabi' al-Akhir 1379 AH (1959 CE), and was buried in the Dahdah Cemetery al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.