Atiyya Salim

Atiyya Muhammad Salim (1346–1420 AH / 1925–1999 CE) was an Egyptian-born Islamic scholar, judge, and Quranic exegete based in Medina, best known for completing the monumental Quranic commentary Adwa' al-Bayan after the death of his teacher Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…+1.

Early Life and Education

Atiyya ibn Muhammad ibn Salim was born in 1346 AH (1925 CE) in the village of al-Mahdiyya in the Sharqiyya Governorate of Egypt al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…. He began his early education in the traditional village elementary schools (kuttab) before attending a primary school for five years al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…. In 1364 AH, he moved to Medina and resumed his religious studies within the teaching circles of the Prophet's Mosque al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru….

In Medina, he studied hadith, jurisprudence, grammar, and inheritance under several scholars, reading works such as Muwatta Malik and Subul al-Salam with Abd al-Rahman al-Afriqi, al-Ajrumiyya with Hammad al-Ansari, and Sahih al-Bukhari with Muhammad ibn Turki and Muhammad al-Harkan al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…. He subsequently moved to Riyadh, where he enrolled in the Scientific Institute (al-Ma'had al-Ilmi) and graduated from both the Faculty of Sharia and the Faculty of Arabic Language al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…. During his formal studies, he also benefited from teachers such as Abd al-Razzaq Afifi and Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru….

Salim attached himself closely to the Mauritanian scholar Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti, studying exegesis, legal theory (usul al-fiqh), inheritance law, and dialectics under him over an intensive four-year period al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…. He accompanied al-Shinqiti during the Hajj pilgrimage and joined him on an official delegation organized by the Islamic University of Madinah and the Muslim World League that visited ten African countries, beginning in Sudan and concluding in Mauritania al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru….

Career and Teaching

Salim entered the judiciary and served for many years as a judge in the Sharia Court in Medina, eventually reaching the rank of appellate judge (qadi tamyiz) at the Grand Court in Medina under the presidency of Abd al-Aziz ibn Salih Salasil al-Dhahab+1.

Alongside his judicial duties, he occupied a major teaching post at the Prophet's Mosque. When the Islamic University of Madinah established a dedicated teaching chair in the Prophet's Mosque, he was assigned to teach from it alongside other senior scholars, eventually assuming the circle independently al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…. In these circles, he taught classical texts in jurisprudence, hadith, and Arabic rhetoric, including multiple full cycles of Muwatta Malik and Bulugh al-Maram al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj…. He also represented Saudi scholarly institutions at several international Islamic conferences in Islamabad, Malaysia, and Baghdad al-Mujam al-Jami fi Taraj….

Scholarly Contribution and Death

Salim's primary scholarly legacy is linked to the completion of Adwa' al-Bayan fi Idah al-Quran bi-al-Quran (Lights of Clarification in Explaining the Quran through the Quran), the renowned tafsir authored by his mentor al-Shinqiti al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…+1. Al-Shinqiti had passed away before completing the commentary, having reached the end of Surah al-Mujadila; Salim composed the supplement (tatimma) covering Surah al-Hashr to the end of Surah al-Nas, strictly adhering to his teacher's exegetical and jurisprudential method al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…+1. He also authored a detailed biographical account of his mentor's life, travels, and methodology titled Ma'a Sahib al-Fadila Walidina al-Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti (With His Eminence Our Father Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin al-Shinqiti) Ma'a Sahib al-Fadila Wali….

After retiring from his judicial and university posts, he continued teaching in the Prophet's Mosque until his final years, despite suffering from declining health al-Tafsir wa al-Mufassiru…. He died in Medina in 1420 AH Tadhkirat Uli al-Nuha wal…+1.