al-Yunini, Abu al-Fath

Abu al-Fath al-Yunini (640–726 AH / 1242–1326 CE) was a Syrian Hanbali scholar, traditionist, and historian based in Baalbek, best known for Dhayl Mirat al-Zaman (The Continuation of the Mirror of Time), a multi-volume chronicle documenting contemporary events and biographies al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Lineage and Early Life

He was Qutb al-Din Abu al-Fath Musa ibn Muhammad ibn Abi al-Husayn Ahmad ibn Abd Allah ibn Isa al-Yunini al-Ba'labakki al-Hanbali, also designated by the kunya Abu Imran al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. His family originated from the village of Yunin north of Baalbek, and he traced his descent to Ja'far al-Sadiq al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

He was born at Dar al-Fadl in Damascus on 8 Safar 640 AH (1242 CE), though an alternative account recorded his birth in 662 AH al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. His father, Taqi al-Din Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Yunini (d. 658 AH), was a prominent Hanbali jurist and hadith scholar who personally supervised his early education, took him to study under various scholars, and obtained scholarly certifications (ijazas) on his behalf al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1.

Education and Scholarly Activity

Al-Yunini studied hadith under his father, as well as Ibn Abd al-Da'im and Shaykh al-Shuyukh Abd al-Aziz al-Ansari in Damascus Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He also traveled to Egypt, where he heard traditions from Isma'il ibn Sarim and al-Rashid al-Attar Mujam al-Muallifin+1.

He attained considerable standing and prestige through his association with the Mamluk sultan al-Mansur Qalawun, who granted an estate to him and his brother Mujam al-Shuyukh al-Kabir…. Following the murder of his elder brother, the hadith master Sharaf al-Din Ali ibn Muhammad al-Yunini (d. 701 AH), he succeeded him as the foremost scholar and elder of Baalbek al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

As a scholar, al-Yunini composed Mukhtasar Mirat al-Zaman, an abridgment of the universal chronicle by Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi, and subsequently authored his primary historical chronicle, Dhayl Mirat al-Zaman, which continued Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi's history in four volumes al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. He also wrote a biographical work on Sufi virtues titled al-Sharaf al-Bahir fi Manaqib al-Shaykh Abd al-Qadir regarding Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1.

Among those who transmitted hadith from him were the historian al-Dhahabi, Sadr al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Sulami, and Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Fasi Mujam al-Shuyukh al-Kabir…+1.

Standing and Demise

Biographers characterized al-Yunini as generous, agreeable in discourse, pious, and modest in his attire and sustenance al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. Ibn Kathir commended his historical continuation for its well-ordered structure, easy and elegant style, fairness, and discretion in covering events and individuals al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya.

Al-Yunini died on the night of Thursday, 13 Shawwal 726 AH (September 1326 CE) in Baalbek and was buried outside the Bab Sathha gate alongside his brother Sharaf al-Din al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1.