al-Qurtubi

Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH / 1273 CE) was an Andalusian Maliki jurist, hadith scholar, and exegete, best known for his comprehensive legal commentary on the Qur'an, al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Qur'an Takmilat Siyar Alam al-Nu…+1.

Lineage and Education

His full name was Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr ibn Farh (with the second syllable vowelless) al-Ansari al-Khazraji al-Andalusi al-Qurtubi al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1. Raised in Cordoba, he received his early training there, reciting the seven canonical readings to Abu Ja'far ibn Abi Hujja and transmitting hadith extensively from Abu 'Amir ibn Rabi' al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li….

Al-Qurtubi subsequently journeyed eastward to Egypt and settled in Munyat Bani Khasib (also referenced as Munyat Ibn Khasib) in Upper Egypt al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1. During his travels and residence in Egypt, he studied under several scholars, including Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad ibn 'Umar al-Qurtubi—the author of al-Mufhim fi Sharh Sahih Muslim, from whom he heard parts of that commentary—as well as Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Wahhab ibn Rawaj, Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Mu'ti al-Lakhmi al-Iskandarani, Ibn al-Jummayzi, Abu al-Hasan 'Ali ibn Muhammad al-Yahsubi, and Abu 'Ali al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Bakri al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1.

Teaching and Students

Al-Qurtubi taught and transmitted hadith, granting written authorizations to students and correspondents al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1. Among those who transmitted from him was his son, Shihab al-Din Abu al-'Abbas Ahmad, who narrated from him by authorization in Munyat Bani Khasib, and the Granadan scholar Abu Ja'far ibn al-Zubayr, who received transmissions from him through correspondence from Egypt al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1. He was also heard by the traditionist Abu 'Abd Allah al-Birzali and his son, as well as Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Ghaffar ibn Muhammad al-Shammuni, who visited him in Munyat Bani Khasib in early 671 AH, read portions of his writings under his supervision, and received a handwritten authorization for his works al-Dhayl wa al-Takmila li…+1.

Standing and Character

Biographers highlighted al-Qurtubi's piety, asceticism, and dedication to scholarship. Qutb al-Din 'Abd al-Karim al-Halabi described him as one of the righteous and scrupulous scholars who detached himself from worldly entanglements, dividing his time between worship, devotional reflection, and writing; he added that al-Qurtubi lived simply and without pretension, walking in a single garment and wearing a skullcap on his head al-Muqaffa al-Kabir. Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi commended him as an erudite and deeply versed master whose writings attest to his extensive learning and intellect, noting the far-reaching acclaim achieved by his monumental exegesis, al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Qur'an Tarikh al-Islam. His major works also included the eschatological compendium al-Tadhkira bi-Ahwal al-Mawta wa-Umur al-Akhira ("The Reminder of the States of the Dead and Matters of the Hereafter") and al-Asna fi Sharh Asma' Allah al-Husna ("The Sublime in Explaining the Beautiful Names of God") Takmilat Siyar Alam al-Nu…+1.

Death

Al-Qurtubi died in Munyat Bani Khasib on the night of Monday, 9 Shawwal 671 AH (April 1273 CE), and was buried there al-Muqaffa al-Kabir. Another report places his death in the early part of the same year Tarikh al-Barzali al-Muqt….