Hasan Jubayna

Hasan Jubayna (1241–1306 AH / 1826–1889 CE) was a Syrian Shafi'i jurist, scholar of hadith, and teacher based in Damascus Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He served as the preacher and instructor at the Hassan Mosque and authored scholarly counsels and transmissions, including his short treatise Nubdha Latifa wa Nasiha Sharifa Hilyat al-Bashar fi Tarik…+1.

Lineage and Early Life

Hasan ibn Ahmad Agha ibn Abd al-Qadir Agha Jubayna was born in Damascus in 1241 AH (1826 CE) Mujam al-Muallifin+1. His family originated in Aleppo, where the name Jubayna belonged to an established house; his grandfather, Abd al-Qadir Agha, was a prominent merchant who migrated from Aleppo to Damascus Miftah Tariq al-Awliya. His father, Ahmad Agha, married the daughter of the scholar Muhammad al-Dasuqi al-Husayni, through which Hasan was often designated as Sibt al-Dasuqi Miftah Tariq al-Awliya+1.

Education and Scholarly Career

Jubayna pursued traditional religious learning from youth, following the scholarly path of his maternal family Hilyat al-Bashar fi Tarik…+1. He studied Arabic grammar and inheritance law with Hashim al-Taji, and grammar with Abd al-Rahman Ba Yazid Miftah Tariq al-Awliya. He read Shafi'i jurisprudence under Muhammad ibn Abd Allah al-Khani and Ahmad al-Baghal Miftah Tariq al-Awliya. He maintained close companionship with Qasim al-Hallaq, studying the majority of his jurisprudence and hadith texts with him and serving as a repeating tutor (muʿid) for his lessons between the two evening prayers at the Sinaniyya Mosque Miftah Tariq al-Awliya. Following al-Hallaq's passing, he studied under Salim al-Attar, attending readings in works such as Ihyaʾ ʿUlum al-Din, al-Baydawi's Quranic commentary, and al-Qastallani Miftah Tariq al-Awliya. Jubayna also compiled a personal transmission register (thabat), receiving scholarly authorizations (ijazat) from figures such as Ibrahim al-Bajuri, Ibrahim al-Saqqa, Ahmad Zayni Dahlan, Emir Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri, and the Damascene mufti Mahmud al-Hamzawi Miftah Tariq al-Awliya.

When Qasim al-Hallaq transferred to the Sinaniyya Mosque, Jubayna assumed his duties as imam, teacher, and Friday preacher at the Hassan Mosque in Damascus Hilyat al-Bashar fi Tarik…. He was noted for his mastery of legal branches, quiet demeanor, humility, and patience despite living in modest financial circumstances Hilyat al-Bashar fi Tarik…+1. Among those who attended his circles was his nephew Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi, who studied jurisprudence and hadith under him and received his moral and scholarly guidance Taaqibat Jamal al-Din al-….

Illness and Death

In his later years, Jubayna suffered from dropsy (istisqaʾ) for approximately two years Hilyat al-Bashar fi Tarik…+1. He died shortly before the afternoon prayer on Tuesday, 12 Muharram 1306 AH (1889 CE), at around sixty-five years of age; another report places his death in 1305 AH Taaqibat Jamal al-Din al-…+1. His funeral prayer took place at the Sinaniyya Mosque, attended by prominent Damascene scholars including Salim al-Attar, and he was buried in the Bab al-Saghir cemetery near the shrine attributed to Bilal Hilyat al-Bashar fi Tarik…+1.