al-Malaqi, Abu Abd Allah
- Died
- 741 AH
- Born in
- Malaga
Abu Abd Allah al-Malaqi (674–741 AH / 1275–1340 CE) was an Andalusian Maliki jurist, judge, and historian, best known for his historical study al-Tamhid wa al-Bayan fi Maqtal al-Shahid Uthman .
Life and Career
His full name was Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn [Abi] Bakr ibn Sa'd al-Ash'ari, and he was known as Ibn Bakr . He was born in 674 AH / 1275 CE . In al-Andalus, he studied under scholars including Abu al-Qasim ibn al-Taylasan, Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abbas, Abu Abd Allah ibn Rabi', Abu Ja'far ibn al-Zubayr, Abu Abd Allah ibn Rushayd, and Abu Abd Allah ibn al-Imad . He also traveled to Egypt and the Levant, receiving scholarly certifications (ijazas) from scholars of Egypt and the Hijaz, such as Abu Muhammad ibn Harun, al-Dimyati, and al-Abarquhi .
Al-Malaqi initially held the scholarly directorship (mashyakha) in his hometown before being appointed to deliver sermons (khitaba) and administer justice as judge (qadi) in Granada . As a judge, he strictly vetted court witnesses, rejecting over seventy of them for lacking credibility, an uncompromising stance that brought him considerable hardship but from which he refused to relent, turning down any intercession on their behalf .
Scholarly Standing
Lisan al-Din ibn al-Khatib praised him as one of the foremost leading scholars and distinguished figures of his era, noting his integrity, command of legal rulings and Quranic recitation variants (qira'at), and mastery of Hadith transmission, history, narrator names, and genealogy . Ibn al-Khatib further commended his proficiency in Arabic grammar, lexicography, legal theory (usul), and substantive law (furu'), describing him as good-natured, modest in dress and food, and high-minded, who taught numerous disciplines .
His historical monograph al-Tamhid wa al-Bayan fi Maqtal al-Shahid Uthman (The Preparation and Exposition Concerning the Murder of the Martyr Uthman) examined the circumstances surrounding the caliphate, siege, and assassination of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan .
Death
Al-Malaqi was killed in battle against Christian forces in the major engagement outside Tarifa (the Battle of Río Salado) in Jumada al-Ula 741 AH / October 1340 CE .
Answer updated
List of Works
al-Tamhid wa al-Bayan fi Maqtal al-Shahid Uthman is a historical monograph dedicated to the biography, caliphate, siege, and assassination of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan. Drawing on earlier classical historical authorities, the work aims to examine the events surrounding his rule and death impartially and without partisanship.