Ibn Abi Taghlib
- Died
- 1135 AH
- Born in
- Damascus
Abd al-Qadir Ibn Abi Taghlib (1052–1135 AH / 1642–1723 CE) was a Hanbali jurist, legal inheritance specialist, and Sufi based in Damascus, best known for his legal commentary Nayl al-Ma'arib bi-Sharh Dalil al-Talib (Attaining Desires: A Commentary on the Guide for the Seeker) .
Lineage and Education
He was Abu al-Tuqa Abd al-Qadir ibn Umar ibn Abd al-Qadir ibn Umar ibn Abi Taghlib ibn Salim al-Taghlibi al-Shaybani . His nisba al-Taghlibi refers to his ancestor Abu Taghlib rather than the Arab tribe of Taghlib, and some biographical records also link him to Douma . He was born in Damascus in 1052 AH, though other reports place his birth in 1057 AH or 1073 AH .
In his youth, he memorized the Quran and studied extensively under Abd al-Baqi al-Hanbali, covering Quranic exegesis, hadith and its terminology, jurisprudence and its legal theory, inheritance laws, and grammar . He then attached himself to Abd al-Baqi's son, Abu al-Mawahib al-Hanbali, serving as a teaching assistant for his classes held between the sunset and night prayers from 1073 AH until Abu al-Mawahib's death . He also studied Hanbali law, inheritance law, and arithmetic with Muhammad al-Balbani, Arabic with Yahya al-Shawi al-Maghribi, and attended the lessons of Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khabbaz al-Batnini al-Shafi'i . During one of his pilgrimages in 1094 AH, he met Ibrahim al-Kurani in Medina and received an authorization (ijazah) from him, alongside several other scholars documented in his scholarly transmission record (thabat) .
Career and Standing
Ibn Abi Taghlib earned his livelihood by working with his hands in bookbinding and from property he owned in the village of Douma . He performed the pilgrimage to Mecca four times . He held teaching sessions at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus early in the morning, and later took over his teacher Abu al-Mawahib's evening circle between the sunset and night prayers . Leadership of the Hanbali school in Damascus ultimately passed to him, and numerous students graduated under his guidance, including Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Saffarini and Ahmad ibn Abd Allah al-Ba'li, known as al-Khatib .
In jurisprudence, he authored Nayl al-Ma'arib bi-Sharh Dalil al-Talib, a widely utilized commentary on the legal manual of Mar'i ibn Yusuf al-Karmi that draws heavily on Mansur al-Buhuti's Daqa'iq Uli al-Nuha and other foundational Hanbali authorities . Biographers noted his piety, asceticism, pleasant demeanor, and careful speech; he refrained from associating with political rulers or entering their courts, and members of both the elite and general public sought his counsel and spiritual supplications .
Death
Ibn Abi Taghlib died in Damascus on the night of Tuesday, 18 Rabi' al-Thani 1135 AH (a variant report gives 18 Rabi' al-Awwal) . He was buried at the feet of his father in the Marj al-Dahdah cemetery in Damascus .
Answer updated
List of Works
Nayl al-Ma'arib bi Sharh Dalil al-Talib is a commentary on Mar'i ibn Yusuf al-Karmi's Hanbali legal manual Dalil al-Talib. Intended to unveil implicit meanings and clarify concise expressions for students, the work adopts a straightforward approach by clarifying the base text, supplying necessary restrictions, and citing selected evidences without expanding into extensive branch issues.