Ibn Abi Hajla

Ibn Abi Hajla (725–776 AH / 1325–1375 CE; also reported 726 AH) was a Maghrebi-born adab author, poet, and Sufi shaykh based in Cairo, best known for his love anthology Diwan al-Sababa and his prose work Sukkardan al-Sultan. al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1

Early Life and Travels

Shihab al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Abi Bakr ibn Abd al-Wahid al-Tilimsani was born around 725 AH—or approximately 726 AH—in Tlemcen at the zawiya of his grandfather, Sheikh Abd al-Wahid al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1. According to Shams al-Din Marzuq, the family earned the moniker "Ibn Abi Hajla" because a partridge (hajla) once nested and laid eggs on his grandfather's sleeve Inba al-Ghumr bi-Abna al-…. He was raised in the Maghrib and later traveled east with his parents and siblings to perform the Hajj, never returning to his homeland al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1. He resided in Damascus for a period before moving permanently to Cairo Mujam Alam al-Jazair+1.

Career and Creedal Controversy

In Cairo, he was appointed head of the Sufis at the hospice (sahrij) built by Amir Manjak al-Yusufi outside the city al-Manhal al-Safi wa al-M…+1. Legally affiliated with the Hanafi school, he leaned doctrinally toward the Hanbali theological creed al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1. A contemporary note preserved by Ibn al-Qattan remarked that he adapted his claims of affiliation depending on his interlocutors, presenting himself as a Shafi'i to Shafi'is, a Hanafi to Hanafis, and an adherent of the traditionists' path to hadith scholars Inba al-Ghumr bi-Abna al-….

Ibn Abi Hajla was vigorously opposed to monistic Sufis (ahl al-ittihad), harshly censuring the mystic poet Ibn al-Farid for failing to compose eulogies of the Prophet ﷺ and composing his own prophetic odes to counter each of Ibn al-Farid's poems al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1. His vehement polemic provoked an official inquisition led by the Hanafi chief judge al-Siraj al-Hindi al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1. Known also for his eccentric humor, he gave his son the whimsical title Jinah al-Din ("Wing of Religion") al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1.

Standing

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani commended Ibn Abi Hajla for his high sense of honor, abundant virtue, broad erudition, and literary proficiency in composing maqamat and poetry al-Durar al-Kamina fi Aya…+1. Conversely, Ibn al-Qattan voiced severe criticisms, alleging that he was deficient in poetic meter, that contemporaries disapproved of his maqamat, and that he frequently associated with oppressors and wine drinkers Inba al-Ghumr bi-Abna al-…+1.

Death

Ibn Abi Hajla died of the plague outside Cairo in 776 AH (1375 CE), with one report specifying the month of Dhu al-Hijjah al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. His companion Abu Zayd al-Maghribi reported that before his death, he instructed that the book containing his poetic refutations of Ibn al-Farid be placed inside his shroud and buried with him in his grave, which was carried out Inba al-Ghumr bi-Abna al-…+1.