al-Kirmani, Shams al-Din

Shams al-Din al-Kirmani (717–786 AH / 1317–1384 CE) was a Shafi'i scholar of hadith, legal theory, and Arabic language from Kirman who settled in Baghdad, best known for his commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari, titled al-Kawakib al-Darari al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Lineage and early life

He was Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn 'Ali ibn Sa'id al-Kirmani, later al-Baghdadi Manhaj al-Kirmani fi Kita…+1. Some sources insert "ibn Muhammad" after 'Ali, while others give "ibn 'Abd al-Karim" in place of Sa'id Manhaj al-Kirmani fi Kita…+1. According to a biographical notice by his son, he was born on Thursday, 26 Jumada al-Akhira 717 AH Manhaj al-Kirmani fi Kita…+1. Another transmission gives the date as 16 Jumada al-Akhira, and a variant notes Jumada al-Ula Mujam al-Muallifin.

Al-Kirmani began his early education under his father, Baha' al-Din, and local scholars in his home region Abjad al-Ulum+1. He subsequently journeyed to Shiraz, where he attached himself to the chief scholar ‘Adud al-Din al-Iji for twelve years, studying al-Iji's works directly under him al-Jawahir al-Ghawali fi …+1.

Travels and scholarly career

Al-Kirmani traveled widely in pursuit of knowledge, visiting the Hijaz, Syria, and Egypt Tabaqat al-Shafiiyya li-I…+1. In Cairo, he attended the al-Azhar Mosque, where he read Sahih al-Bukhari from the recitation of the hadith scholar Nasir al-Din al-Fariqi, and he heard traditions from Ibn Jama'a al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1. While in Mecca, he completed his extensive commentary al-Kawakib al-Darari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari and met scholars such as Zayn al-Din al-'Iraqi al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. At the age of thirty-four, he survived a severe fall from a height that forced him to walk with a cane, though he continued traveling and performing pilgrimage Raf al-Hajib an Mukhtasar….

He eventually settled in Baghdad, where Shihab al-Din Ibn Hijji reported that he spent thirty years teaching and disseminating religious sciences al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He composed a major three-volume commentary on Ibn al-Hajib's Mukhtasar in legal theory titled al-Sab'ah al-Sayyarah (also called al-Nuqud wa-l-Rudud), in which he compiled and evaluated seven prominent earlier commentaries alongside three rarer ones Tabaqat al-Shafiiyya li-I…+1. Among those who studied under him and transmitted his works were his son, the physician and scholar Taqi al-Din Yahya al-Kirmani, and Qadi Muhibb al-Din al-Baghdadi al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1. Biographers described him as affable, humble toward scholars and the poor, and content with little; rulers and dignitaries would visit his home to ask for his counsel and prayers Abjad al-Ulum+1.

Standing and reception

Al-Kirmani was recognized as a prominent authority in hadith, theology, jurisprudence, and rhetoric al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…+1. His commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari became widely circulated and served as a major reference for later commentators Kawthar al-Ma'ani al-Dara…. Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani deemed it a highly useful commentary, though he remarked that it suffered from occasional errors in transmission because al-Kirmani drew largely from written books rather than oral transmission chains Kawthar al-Ma'ani al-Dara…+1. Ibn Qadi Shuhba similarly noted that the work contained repetitions and occasional mistakes, particularly in recording the exact vocalization of narrator names al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Death

Al-Kirmani died on the morning of Thursday, 16 Muharram 786 AH, while returning from the Hajj pilgrimage Mujam al-Muallifin+1. His body was transported back to Baghdad and buried in a grave he had prepared for himself in proximity to Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi Abjad al-Ulum+1.