Burhan al-Din al-Laqqani

Burhan al-Din al-Laqqani (d. 1041 AH / 1631 CE) was an Egyptian Maliki jurist, hadith scholar, and Ash'ari theologian, best known as the author of the widely studied theological didactic poem Jawharat al-Tawhid Bahjat al-Mahafil wa Ajma…+1.

Identity and Lineage

His full name is Ibrahim ibn Ibrahim ibn Hasan ibn 'Ali ibn 'Ali ibn 'Ali ibn 'Abd al-Quddus ibn Muhammad ibn Harun al-Laqqani al-Misri, though some sources shorten his name to Ibrahim ibn Hasan Bahjat al-Mahafil wa Ajma…+1. He held the honorific title Burhan al-Din (and was frequently referred to as al-Burhan) and bore the primary kunya Abu al-Imdad, while some references also assign him the kunya Abu Ishaq Bahjat al-Mahafil wa Ajma…. His nisba derives from Laqqana, a village in the Buhayra province of Egypt Bahjat al-Mahafil wa Ajma…. His ancestor Muhammad ibn Harun was a renowned saintly figure profiled by Abd al-Wahhab al-Sharani in his biographical works Khulasat al-Athar fi Ayan…+1. Although he and his clan claimed descent from the Prophet's family (al-Sharaf), he reportedly concealed this out of personal humility Bahjat al-Mahafil wa Ajma…+1.

Education and Teaching

Al-Laqqani studied under several prominent Egyptian scholars, receiving instruction from Salim al-Sanhuri—with whom he studied extensively—as well as Sadr al-Din al-Minyawi, 'Abd al-Karim al-Barmuni, and Yahya al-Qarafi Shajarat al-Nur al-Zakiyy…+1. In Sufism and spiritual upbringing, he affiliated himself with the mystic Abu al-'Abbas al-Sharnubi al-Khitat al-Tawfiqiyya a…+1.

He subsequently established a prominent teaching circle at Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, where he drew numerous students Khulasat al-Athar fi Ayan…+1. Among those who studied under him were his son Abd al-Salam al-Laqqani, Muhammad al-Kharashi, Abd al-Baqi al-Zurqani, Ibrahim al-Shabrakhiti, Yusuf al-Tahdari, Yusuf al-Fishi, Ahmad al-Zaryabi, Taj al-Din al-Makki, and 'Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyat al-Rashidi Shajarat al-Nur al-Zakiyy…+1. He also issued a general scholarly license (ijaza) to the scholars of the Maghrib region Fihris al-Faharis.

Scholarly Standing and Positions

Al-Laqqani was regarded as a leading authority of his era in Cairo across hadith, jurisprudence, and speculative theology (kalam), and served as a central reference for legal inquiries and complex fatwas Khulasat al-Athar fi Ayan…+1. Sources describe him as possessing formidable prestige and dignity; ruling authorities yielded to him and accepted his intercession, even as he refrained from visiting officials and chose instead to dedicate his time entirely to teaching and study Khulasat al-Athar fi Ayan…+1.

His most celebrated intellectual contribution was Jawharat al-Tawhid ("The Jewel of Monotheism"), a didactic poem on creed composed in a single night at the suggestion of his spiritual mentor al-Sharnubi, which al-Laqqani later elaborated upon in three separate commentaries al-Khitat al-Tawfiqiyya a…+1. In hadith transmission, he authored Bahjat al-Mahafil wa-Ajmal al-Wasa'il bi-al-Ta'rif bi-Ruwat al-Shama'il, a reference profiling the narrators of Al-Tirmidhi's al-Shama'il al-Muhammadiyyah Hadiyat al-Arifin Asma al…+1. Al-Laqqani also engaged in the legal controversies of his time; he opposed the use of tobacco and authored Nasihat al-Ikhwan bi-Ijtinab al-Dukhan ("Advice to Brethren on Avoiding Tobacco"), a stance countered by his contemporary Nur al-Din al-Ajhuri, who composed two treatises defending its permissibility Shajarat al-Nur al-Zakiyy…+1.

Death

Al-Laqqani died in 1041 AH (1631 CE)—with some earlier biographical notes giving the approximate year 1040 AH—while returning from the Hajj pilgrimage Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…+1. He was buried near 'Aqabat Ayla along the Egyptian pilgrimage route Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…+1. Following his death, his teaching post at al-Azhar was assumed by his son 'Abd al-Salam Khulasat al-Athar fi Ayan….