Ibn Abd al-Qawi

Ibn Abd al-Qawi (630–699 AH / 1233–1299 CE) was a Palestinian-born Hanbali jurist, hadith scholar, and grammarian based in Damascus, best known for his didactic legal poetry including Manzumat al-Adab Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1.

Lineage and Education

Shams al-Din Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abd al-Qawi ibn Badran al-Maqdisi al-Mardawi al-Salihi was born in 630 AH in the village of Marda near Nablus Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1. In some lineages, his grandfather's father is recorded as Sa'd Allah rather than Abd Allah Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. He began his studies in his native village and subsequently relocated to al-Salihiyya on the slopes of Mount Qasiyun in Damascus Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1.

In hadith, he studied directly under teachers such as the Khatib of Marda, Ibrahim ibn Khalil, Uthman ibn Khatib al-Qarafa, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Hadi, Muzaffar ibn al-Shayraji, and Taj al-Din Abd al-Wahhab ibn Asakir, the latter of whom he heard in Jerusalem in 654 AH Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1. He pursued jurisprudence under Shams al-Din Ibn Abi Umar and mastered Arabic grammar and lexicography under Ibn Malik Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1.

Scholarly Career and Students

Ibn Abd al-Qawi issued legal opinions, engaged in teaching, and was appointed to the professorship at the Sahibiyya Madrasa on Mount Qasiyun following the death of Taqi al-Din Ibn al-Wasiti Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1. He also held sessions and taught at Dar al-Hadith and in the mountain quarters of al-Salihiyya Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1.

A number of scholars studied under him, including Ibn Taymiyya, who read Arabic grammar with him, as well as the judges Shams al-Din Ibn Muslim and Jamal al-Din Ibn Jumla Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1. Ismail ibn al-Khabbaz narrated from him in his Mashyakha Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…. Al-Dhahabi noted that he attended his assemblies, heard him speak, and received a formal teaching authorization (ijaza) from him Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila….

Standing and Contributions

Biographers recognized Ibn Abd al-Qawi for his mastery of Hanbali jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, and language, and noted his extensive memory for rare accounts and literary anecdotes Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…+1. Al-Dhahabi described him as upright in religion, genial in character, generous in teaching, devoid of pretension, and among the finest scholars of his generation Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila….

Ibn Abd al-Qawi was known for versifying legal and ethical matters, earning him the moniker al-Nazim ("the Versifier") al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…. Among his notable compositions is Iqd al-Fara'id wa-Kanz al-Fawa'id, a comprehensive Hanbali legal poem rhyming in the letter dal, which al-Dhahabi reported to contain eighteen thousand verses al-Manhaj al-Sahih fi al-…+1. He also began an unfinished legal compendium titled Majma' al-Bahrayn al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…+1.

Death

Ibn Abd al-Qawi died on Tuesday, 12 Rabi' al-Awwal 699 AH, on the slopes of Mount Qasiyun in Damascus Tarikh al-Barzali al-Muqt…+1. He was buried that same day in the cemetery of the Mardawis (Maqbarat al-Mardawiyyin) in Wadi al-Izam Tarikh al-Barzali al-Muqt…+1.