Ali al-Hamad al-Salihi
- Died
- 1415 AH
- Born in
- Unayzah
Ali al-Hamad al-Salihi (1333–1415 AH / 1914–1994 CE) was a Saudi scholar, Quranic exegete, and publisher from Unayzah, known for his work in printing classical Islamic texts and compiling Quranic commentary from the writings of Ibn al-Qayyim.
Lineage and early education
He was Abu Muhammad Ali ibn al-Hamad al-Muhammad al-Salih Abd Allah al-Salihi, born in the city of Unayzah in the Qassim region. His father encouraged him to memorize the Quran and placed him in the circles of local scholars from a young age, where he memorized foundational texts and poetry and studied major classical works. He closely accompanied Abd al-Rahman ibn Nasir al-Sa'di, who entrusted him with teaching younger students.
Al-Salihi later moved to Riyadh to continue his education, enrolling in the Scientific Institute (al-Ma'had al-Ilmi), then graduating from the College of Sharia (Kulliyyat al-Shari'ah), and subsequently studying at the Higher Institute of Magistracy (al-Ma'had al-Ali lil-Qada).
Teachers and students
In addition to al-Sa'di, his teachers in Riyadh included the Grand Mufti Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh, Abd al-Razzaq Afifi, and Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz. Among his notable students were Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, Abd al-Rahman al-Yusuf al-Shibl, and Muhammad Uthman al-Qadi.
Career, publishing, and later life
Al-Salihi participated in founding the public library in Unayzah. In the 1370s AH, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al al-Shaykh appointed him director of the central book warehouse at Dar al-Ifta in Riyadh, which managed and preserved the scholarly books commissioned for printing and distribution by King Abd al-Aziz.
He later resigned from government service to focus on private enterprise, establishing Mu'assasat al-Nur for printing and publishing in Riyadh, which became one of the city's earliest printing presses and republished numerous major classical works. He also engaged in commerce and real estate development in Unayzah, where he purchased land east of the city, subdivided it into residential plots, and developed the district that came to be known as al-Salihiyyah. In his scholarly writings, he compiled a multi-volume exegesis drawn from the works of Ibn al-Qayyim, titled al-Daw' al-Munir (also cited as al-Siraj al-Munir). He died in 1415 AH (1994 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
al-Bayan «Muqaddima wa Khatima» li-Kitab Kashf al-Shubuhat is a theological treatise and edited arrangement of the work Kashf al-Shubuhat. Structured into an opening treatise, an annotated division of the core text, and an epilogue, it addresses theological principles alongside modern deviations and socio-political concepts.