al-Khayrbayti
- Died
- 843 AH
- Born in
- -
Mahmud ibn Isma'il al-Khayrbayti (d. after 843 AH / 1440 CE) was a scholar associated with the Mamluk sultanate of Egypt, known for his political treatise al-Durra al-Gharra fi Nasiha al-Salatin wa al-Qudat wa al-Umara.
Biography and Scholarly Activity
His full lineage is Mahmud ibn Isma'il ibn Ibrahim ibn Mika'il ibn Khidr ibn Yusuf ibn Ya'qub ibn Nur al-Din al-Khayrbayti. He was in contact with the Mamluk ruler of Egypt, al-Malik al-Zahir Jaqmaq al-'Ala'i, for whom he authored his advice treatise on governance, al-Durra al-Gharra fi Nasiha al-Salatin wa al-Qudat wa al-Umara ("The Radiant Pearl on Advising Sultans, Judges, and Emirs"). He completed the manuscript in his own handwriting on the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah 843 AH. Although the contemporary biographer al-Sakhawi dedicated an extensive biography to Sultan Jaqmaq in al-Daw' al-Lami', he did not mention al-Khayrbayti.
In his political and legal approach, al-Khayrbayti considered meetings between scholars and rulers, emirs, viziers, and military leaders to be legally commendable, arguing that such interactions allow scholars to counsel rulers eloquently according to practical needs. For scriptural interpretation, he drew upon earlier Quranic commentaries, specifically Ma'alim al-Tanzil, Zad al-Masir, and the Tafsir of Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi. On public finance and jurisprudence, he held that a ruler is not permitted to increase the rate of land tax (kharaj) beyond what Caliph 'Umar ibn al-Khattab had levied in the Sawad of Iraq or what was established in similar regions, citing the consensus of the Prophet's Companions.
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List of Works
al-Durra al-Gharra fi Nasiha al-Salatin wa al-Qudat wa al-Umara (The Radiant Pearl on Advising Sultans, Judges, and Emirs) is a 9th-century AH treatise on Islamic governance, public administration, and jurisprudence. It systematically sets forth the legal rules and principles governing sovereigns, judges, commanders, viziers, and governors, while offering practical solutions to complex legal dilemmas.