al-Zurqani, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Baqi
- Died
- 1122 AH
- Born in
- Cairo
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Baqi al-Zurqani (1055–1122 AH / 1645–1710 CE) was an Egyptian Maliki jurist and hadith scholar, best known for his commentaries Sharh al-Muwatta and Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyya .
Life and Education
Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abd al-Baqi ibn Yusuf ibn Ahmad ibn Alwan al-Zurqani was born in Cairo in 1055 AH (1645 CE) . His nisba derives from the Egyptian village of Zarqa in the province of Menoufia . He was raised in a scholarly household under the guidance of his father, the Maliki jurist Abd al-Baqi ibn Yusuf al-Zurqani .
He received his education in Cairo, studying hadith and Islamic jurisprudence under several leading scholars of his era, including his father, Nur al-Din Ali al-Shubramallisi, Muhammad ibn Ala al-Din al-Babili, and Ali al-Ujhuri . Al-Zurqani served as a teaching assistant (muʿīd) for al-Shubramallisi's study circles; despite being among the youngest of his pupils, al-Shubramallisi held him in high regard and would wait to open his lesson until al-Zurqani was present .
Scholarship and Students
Al-Zurqani attained distinction in hadith sciences, legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh), and Maliki fiqh . Among his major scholarly works is Sharh al-Muwatta, a comprehensive commentary on the Muwatta of Imam Malik ibn Anas that elucidates legal rulings, linguistic expressions, and chains of transmission . He also authored Sharh al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyya, an expansive commentary on al-Qastallani's work on the prophetic biography (sīrah) and virtues, as well as an abridgment of al-Sakhawi's al-Maqasid al-hasana .
A number of prominent scholars transmitted hadith from him and studied under his tutelage, including the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Abd Allah al-Shabrawi, Ahmad al-Mallawi, Ahmad al-Jawhari, Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Andalusi, and Zayn al-Din Abd al-Hayy al-Bahnasi .
Standing and Death
Al-Zurqani was recognized by contemporary and later scholars for his broad learning across the Islamic disciplines . Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti designated him as the "seal of the hadith scholars" (khātimat al-muḥaddithīn), noting his wide knowledge and eloquence . His student Abd Allah al-Shabrawi likewise referred to him in his thabat as the "seal of the memorizers" (khātimat al-ḥuffāẓ) .
He died in Cairo in 1122 AH (1710 CE) .
Answer updated
List of Works
Sharh al-Zarqani ala al-Muwatta is an extensive commentary on the Muwatta of Imam Malik ibn Anas (d. 179 AH / 795 CE). The work provides an exposition of the text by examining its narrations, legal rulings, linguistic expressions, and chains of transmission, centering on the recension of Yahya ibn Yahya al-Laythi.
Sharh al-Zurqani ala al-Mawahib al-Ladunniyya bil-Minah al-Muhammadiyya, also recorded under the title Ishraq masabih al-sira al-muhammadiyya bi-mazj asrar al-mawahib al-ladunniyya, is an extensive commentary on Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Qastallani's work on prophetic biography and virtues. It examines the Prophet's life, attributes, and special characteristics.