al-Malaqi, Abu Muhammad
- Died
- 705 AH
- Born in
- -
Abu Muhammad al-Malaqi (d. 705 AH / 1305–1306 CE) was an Andalusian scholar of Quranic readings (qira'at), Maliki jurist, grammarian, and legal theorist based in Malaga. He is best known for his Quranic reading commentary al-Durr al-Nathir wa al-Adhb al-Namir.
Identity and Lineage
His full name was Abd al-Wahid ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abi al-Saddad, and he bore the kunya Abu Muhammad. He was known by the nisbas al-Malaqi (after Malaga in al-Andalus) and al-Andalusi, as well as the tribal lineages al-Umawi and al-Bahili. Biographers also note that he was known by the occupational appellation al-Ba'i' ("the seller").
Education, Teachers, and Students
Al-Malaqi studied Quranic recitation and textual transmission under prominent Andalusian authorities. He read al-Taysir by Abu Amr al-Dani through Yusuf ibn Ibrahim ibn Abi Rayhana and al-Qasim ibn Ahmad ibn Hasan al-Hajari. He also studied under Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Zubayr, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Juzami (known as al-Sahli), al-Husayn ibn Abi al-Ahwas, and Abu Umar Abd al-Rahman ibn Hawt Allah. Additionally, he received authorization (ijaza) for Abu Amr al-Dani's al-Tabsirah and other texts from Ismail ibn Yahya al-Azdi al-Attar, and heard al-Kafi from Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ubayd Allah al-Tujibi.
A number of scholars read under al-Malaqi's instruction, including Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Bakr al-Ash'ari (later the chief judge of Granada), Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abi Ja'far ibn al-Zayyat, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ubayd Allah ibn Manzur, and Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Kala'i al-Agharr.
Scholarly Standing
Biographers characterized al-Malaqi as a distinguished master (ustadh kabir), Maliki jurist, grammarian, and legal theorist who was dedicated to teaching and renowned for his piety, modesty, and character. In the field of Quranic readings, Ibn al-Jazari commended his major commentary on al-Taysir, titled al-Durr al-Nathir wa al-Adhb al-Namir, stating that he provided a fine explanation in which he offered valuable instruction and excelled. Al-Malaqi also composed a treatise on phonetics and recitation entitled Umdat al-Tahrir fi al-Idgham al-Kabir, as well as writings in jurisprudence and poetry.
Death
Al-Malaqi died on 5 Dhu al-Qa'dah 705 AH (mid-1306 CE) in Malaga, where he was buried. His funeral was attended by a large gathering of students and scholars.
Answer updated
List of Works
al-Durr al-Nathir wa al-Adhb al-Namir is a specialized treatise on Quranic readings (qira'at) composed as an extensive commentary on Abu Amr al-Dani's manual al-Taysir fi al-Qira'at al-Sab'. Rather than providing a continuous, line-by-line exposition, the work focuses on resolving ambiguities, clarifying intricate formulations, identifying omitted qualifications, and untangling complex phonetic and transmission problems within the source text.