al-Shadhili al-Tunisi

Abu al-Mawahib al-Shadhili al-Tunisi (c. 820–882 AH / 1417–1477 CE), commonly known as Ibn Zaghdan, was a North African Maliki jurist and Sufi master affiliated with the Shadhili and Wafa'i traditions who settled and taught in Cairo Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1.

Lineage and Early Life

His full name is Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud ibn Salama al-Yazlitini al-Tunisi al-Qahiri, and he bore the kunyas Abu al-Mawahib and Abu 'Abd Allah Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. He was born in Tunis around 820 AH (1417 CE) into a family with roots tracing to the Yazlitin tribe Tarajim al-Muallifin al-T…+1. In Tunis, he commenced his studies under several disciples of Ibn 'Arafa, as well as Abu 'Uthman al-Maghribi Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. He studied Arabic grammar with Abu 'Abd Allah al-Ramli and 'Umar al-Qalshani, Maliki jurisprudence with al-Qalshani, logic with Muhammad al-Wasili, and legal theory and fundamentals with Ibrahim al-Akhdari Tarajim al-Muallifin al-T….

Travels, Career, and Teaching

He traveled eastward to Cairo, arriving in 842 AH (or according to other reports, 843 AH or 851 AH), where he took up residence among the Sufis at the Sa'id al-Su'ada' khanqah Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. He performed the pilgrimage to Mecca and resided there for a period of jiwar Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. During his stay in Cairo, he attended the hadith lessons of Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani, composing a panegyric ode in his praise that was later transmitted by al-Sakhawi Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. He attached himself spiritually to the Wafa'i master Yahya ibn Abi al-Wafa', deepening his training in Sufi metaphysics and practice Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. A circle of students in Cairo studied under him, including the Maliki scholar Shams al-Din al-Laqqani Tarajim al-Muallifin al-T….

Doctrinal Stances and Reception

Biographers noted his eloquence and skill in doctrinal exposition Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. He was strongly drawn to the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi and became well known for vigorously defending him against contemporary critics, most notably Burhan al-Din al-Biqa'i Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1. He also wrote an exposition of Sufi aphorisms commenting on al-Hikam al-'Ata'iyyah of Ibn 'Ata' Allah al-Iskandari Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+1.

His treatise Farah al-Asma' bi-Rukhas al-Sama' ("Delighting the Ears with the Dispensations of Audition") defended the legal and spiritual permissibility of music and Sufi audition (sama'), which generated sharp polemical opposition al-Kalam ala Masalat al-S…+1. The Shafi'i jurist Ibn Hajar al-Haytami later composed an extensive refutation of it titled Kaff al-Ra'a' 'an Muharramat al-Lahw wa-l-Sama' after encountering the popularity of Ibn Zaghdan's work in Mecca al-Kalam ala Masalat al-S…+1.

Death

He died in Cairo in Safar 882 AH (May 1477 CE) at the age of sixty-two—though some biographical sources record his death in 881 AH or shortly after 850 AH—and was buried in the Shadhili plot within the Qarafa necropolis Sullam al-Wusul ila Tabaq…+2.