Aqil al-Qudai
- Died
- 608 AH
- Born in
- Marrakesh
Aqil al-Qudai (549–608 AH / 1154–1211 CE) was an Andalusian-Maghrebi jurist, hadith scholar, and judge who served in Granada and Sijilmasa, best known for his eschatological treatise Tahrir al-Maqal fi Muwazanat al-Amal.
Life and Career
His full name was Aqil ibn Atiyyah ibn Abi Ahmad Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Atiyyah al-Quda'i, and he bore the kunyas Abu al-Majd and Abu Talib. Although his family originated from Tortosa, he was born in Marrakesh in 549 AH (1154 CE) into a scholarly household.
During his studies across al-Andalus, he transmitted hadith from several leading authorities, including Ibn Bashkuwal—under whom he read, heard hadith, and received direct authorization—as well as Abu Bakr ibn al-Jadd, Abu Bakr ibn Khayr, Abu al-Qasim ibn Hubaysh, and Abu Muhammad ibn Ubayd Allah al-Hajari. In his administrative and judicial career, he initially drafted marriage contracts under the judge Ibn Yarbu', before being appointed judge of Granada and later assuming the judgeship of Sijilmasa.
Scholarly Standing
Biographers commended al-Qudai for his learning and hadith expertise. Ibn al-Abbar noted his precision, retentive memory, and preeminence in hadith scholarship, alongside his fine calligraphy and literary competence. Ibn al-Zubayr described him as discerning and well versed across multiple disciplines. His students included Abu Ja'far ibn al-Dallal and Abu al-Hasan ibn Munkhil al-Shatibi.
In scholarship, he was noted for critical engagement with earlier authorities. His theological and eschatological work, Tahrir al-Maqal fi Muwazanat al-Amal (also cited as Fasl al-Maqal), offered an extensive analysis of the weighing of deeds and the afterlife status of unaccountable beings, directly critiquing positions held by Abu Abd Allah al-Humaydi and Ibn Hazm. He also composed a critical treatise highlighting errors in writings of Ibn Abd al-Barr, as well as a commentary on al-Hariri of Basra's Maqamat.
Death
Al-Qudai died in Sijilmasa in the month of Safar 608 AH (July–August 1211 CE), nearing the age of sixty.
Answer updated
List of Works
Tahrir al-Maqal fi Muwazanat al-Amal wa Hukm Ghayr al-Mukallafin fi al-Uqba wa al-Maal is an eschatological and theological treatise structured as an extensive critical commentary on Abu Abd Allah al-Humaydi's Maratib al-Jaza' yawm al-Qiyamah. The work evaluates the theological principles governing the weighing of human deeds (al-muwazanah) and examines the afterlife status and divine reckoning of both legally accountable and unaccountable beings.