al-Sadr al-Bakri

al-Sadr al-Bakri (574–656 AH / 1178–1258 CE) was a Damascus-born hadith scholar, Sufi, and public official of Taymi descent, best known for his hadith compilation al-Arbaun lil-Bakri (al-Arba‘un al-Buldaniyyah) Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Lineage and early life

He was Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Abi al-Futuh Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Amruk al-Qurashi al-Taymi al-Bakri, bearing the honorific titles Sadr al-Din and Jamal al-Mashayikh Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. His lineage traced back to Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. His ancestor Amruk originated from Medina before relocating to Nishapur Siyar Aalam al-Nubala. Al-Sadr al-Bakri was born in Damascus in 574 AH Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Travels, education, and students

Al-Sadr al-Bakri journeyed across numerous major Islamic centers of learning to collect hadith transmissions Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. In Mecca, he heard hadith from his grandfather and from Abu Hafs al-Mayanishi Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. In Damascus, he studied under Hanbal ibn Abd Allah al-Rusafi and Ibn Tabarzadh, making his daughter Shamiyyah hear from them as well Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. His travels took him to Herat, where he studied under Abu Ruh al-Harawi; to Nishapur, where he heard from al-Mu'ayyad al-Tusi and Zaynab al-Sha'riyyah; to Isfahan, studying under Abu al-Futuh Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Junayd and Ayn al-Shams al-Thaqafiyyah; to Merv, under Abu al-Muzaffar ibn al-Sam'ani; and to Baghdad, under Ibn al-Akhdar Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. He also studied in Mosul, Erbil, Aleppo, Jerusalem, and Egypt Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

He compiled the geographically structured hadith collection al-Arba‘un al-Buldaniyyah and embarked on writing a continuation (dhayl) to Ibn Asakir's Tarikh Dimashq, though its draft was lost after his death Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1. He transmitted major compilations, including the Sahih of Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj and the Sahih of Abu Awanah al-Isfarayini al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…. His students included Ibn al-Salah, al-Birzali, Abd al-Mu'min ibn Khalaf al-Dumyati, al-Qutb al-Qastallani, Abu al-Ma'ali ibn al-Balisi, and Badr al-Din ibn al-Tawzi Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

Public offices and diplomatic mission

Al-Sadr al-Bakri held prominence under the Ayyubid ruler al-Mu'azzam Isa in Damascus, where he was appointed as inspector of the markets (muhtasib) and head of the Sufi hospices (mashyakhat al-shuyukh) Siyar Aalam al-Nubala+1.

In 619 AH, when a severe locust plague struck Syria, al-Mu'azzam publicly dispatched al-Sadr al-Bakri accompanied by a group of Sufis to Persian lands under the pretext of retrieving spring water said to attract the locust-eating starling bird (al-samarmar) Mirat al-Zaman fi Tawarik…+1. The covert objective was an embassy to Sultan Jalal al-Din Mangburni in Azerbaijan to forge a political alliance after al-Mu'azzam learned that his brothers al-Kamil and al-Ashraf had allied against him Mirat al-Zaman fi Tawarik…+1. Al-Sadr al-Bakri met the Khwarazmian ruler, settled terms with him, and upon his return was reaffirmed as muhtasib alongside the headship of the Sufis Mirat al-Zaman fi Tawarik…+1.

Standing and criticism

Biographical sources describe al-Sadr al-Bakri as an eloquent and widely traveled scholar, though critics recorded mixed assessments regarding his reliability al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1. Umar ibn al-Hajib deemed him weak, characterizing him as having excessive unverified claims, slander, and a propensity for levity and jesting al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1. Al-Zaki al-Birzali remarked that he was prone to confusion (kathir al-takhlit) Madrasat al-Hadith fi Mis…. Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi stated that he was not strong, but noted that his condition improved later in life al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1.

Death

In his later years, al-Sadr al-Bakri moved to Egypt, where he died in 656 AH (1258 CE) Qiladat al-Nahr fi Wafaya…+1.