al-Naysaburi, Bayan al-Haqq

Bayan al-Haqq al-Naysaburi (d. after 553 AH / 1158 CE) was a Khurasani scholar of Quranic exegesis, Arabic linguistics, and jurisprudence, best known for his concise commentary Ijaz al-Bayan 'an Ma'ani al-Quran Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L…+1.

Name and Background

His full name is Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Abi al-Hasan [Ali] ibn al-Husayn al-Naysaburi, titled Najm al-Din and best known by the honorific Bayan al-Haqq al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1. In addition to his primary nisba al-Naysaburi (from Nishapur), biographical sources such as Yaqut al-Hamawi and al-Safadi accord him the nisba al-Ghaznawi (from Ghazna), while Isma'il Pasha al-Baghdadi gives al-Qazwini Ijaz al-Bayan an Maani al…+1. His association with the Ghaznavid realm is corroborated by references in his writings to the Ghaznavid dynasty and its rulers Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L….

In the introduction to his hadith work Jumal al-Ghara'ib, he mentioned two sons, Muhammad and Qasim Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L…. His son Abu al-'Ala' Mu'in al-Din Muhammad became a judge in Ghazna, served as an envoy from the Ghaznavid court to the Seljuk sultan Sanjar ibn Malik-Shah, and authored the biographical anthology Sirr al-Surur on contemporary poets Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L….

Scholarly Standing and Reception

Biographical authorities describe al-Naysaburi as an accomplished, versatile scholar, exegete, linguist, jurist, and poet Mujam al-Muallifin+1. Yaqut noted his eloquence, observing that in some of his literary compositions he laid claim to stylistic inimitability (i'jaz) Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L….

His scholarly contributions centered on Quranic exegesis and linguistic problemata, exemplified by Ijaz al-Bayan 'an Ma'ani al-Quran (The Brevity of Clarification Regarding the Meanings of the Quran), an exegesis compiled to balance clarity with concision, and Bahir al-Burhan fi Ma'ani Mushkilat al-Quran (The Radiant Proof Regarding the Meanings of Difficult Passages of the Quran), which addresses theological, rhetorical, and interpretive questions across the scriptural text Hadiyat al-Arifin Asma al…+1.

Yaqut preserved verses of his poetry reflecting spiritual reflection and humility Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L…:

فلا تَحْقِرَنَّ خَلْقًا مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَّهُ ... وَلِيُّ إِلهِ العَالَمِينَ وَلا تَدْرِي
فَذُو القَدْرِ عِنْدَ اللهِ يَخْفَى عَلَى الوَرَى ... كَمَا خَفِيَتْ عَنْ عِلْمِهِمْ لَيْلَةُ القَدْرِ
Never despise any person among humankind, for he may be a friend of the Lord of the worlds while you know it not;
The one of true standing with God remains hidden from creation, just as the Night of Destiny is hidden from their knowledge.

Death

Al-Naysaburi lived during the sixth century AH Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L…. He completed his work Ijaz al-Bayan in Khujand in 553 AH (1158 CE), establishing that he was alive in that year Buhuth wa Maqalat fi al-L…+1. Biographical references estimate his death to have occurred around 550 AH or shortly after 553 AH al-Mawsua al-Muyassara fi…+1.