Ibn al-Alusi
- Died
- 1317 AH
- Born in
- Baghdad
Nu'man al-Alusi (1252–1317 AH / 1836–1899 CE) was an Iraqi Hanafi jurist, theologian, and scholar from Baghdad, recognized for his writings on creed and polemics such as Jala' al-'Aynayn fi Muhakamat al-Ahmadayn .
Lineage and Early Life
He was Abu al-Barakat Khayr al-Din Nu'man ibn Mahmud ibn 'Abd Allah al-Alusi . He was born into the prominent Alusi scholarly family in Baghdad on 12 Muharram 1252 AH . He was raised in a scholarly environment, adhering to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence while following Salafi theological views . Following the death of his brother, he assumed custody and guardianship of his nephew, Mahmud Shukri al-Alusi, overseeing his education and intellectual upbringing .
Education and Scholarly Travels
Al-Alusi received his primary training from his father, the exegete and mufti Mahmud al-Alusi . He also studied under and received transmissions from scholars including Siddiq Hasan Khan of Bhopal and the judge Husayn ibn Muhsin al-Sub'i . During his pilgrimage journey in 1295 AH, he engaged in mutual transmission of narrations with the Najdi scholar Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn 'Isa .
His travels included journeys to Egypt while en route to Mecca, as well as travels across Syria and Anatolia, where he met various scholars, before visiting Istanbul .
Career and Students
Al-Alusi served as a judge in several regions, including al-Hillah . Upon returning from Istanbul, he was granted the rank of chief instructor (ra'is al-mudarrisin) and was appointed head of instruction at al-Madrasah al-Murjaniyyah in Baghdad . He gathered an extensive personal library of rare manuscripts, which he established as an endowment (waqf) for the students of al-Madrasah al-Murjaniyyah under the name of al-Maktabah al-Nu'maniyyah .
Among those who studied under him or narrated on his authority were Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi, Ahmad Abu al-Khayr al-'Attar, and Jamal al-Din al-Hallaq .
Scholarly Contributions and Standing
Al-Alusi was praised by contemporaries for his legal and theological erudition, with biographical notices describing him as an exemplary scholar of distinguished virtue and refined character . His scholarly contributions centered on clarifying orthodox theology and addressing contemporary theological debates. In his celebrated treatise Jala' al-'Aynayn fi Muhakamat al-Ahmadayn, he examined and arbitrated the disagreements between Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Hajar al-Haytami . He also authored al-Ayat al-Bayyinat fi 'Adam Sama' al-Amwat, wherein he investigated the eschatological question of whether the dead can hear the living, relying heavily on classical Hanafi legal texts .
Death
Al-Alusi died in Baghdad on 7 Muharram 1317 AH .
Answer updated
List of Works
Jala al-Aynayn fi Muhakamat al-Ahmadayn (Clearing of the Two Eyes in Adjudicating Between the Two Ahmads) is a theological treatise written to examine and arbitrate the disputes and accusations raised by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami against Ibn Taymiyyah.
Tahqiq al-Ayat al-Bayyinat fi Adam Sama al-Amwat (Verification of the Clear Verses Regarding the Dead Not Hearing) is a theological and jurisprudential treatise examining the question of whether the deceased can hear the living, primarily from the perspective of the Hanafi school and classical Islamic scholarship.
al-Ayat al-Bayyinat fi Adam Sama al-Amwat (The Clear Signs Concerning the Inability of the Dead to Hear) is a theological and jurisprudential treatise that investigates the eschatological question of whether the deceased in their graves can hear the speech of the living, arguing primarily from the texts of the Hanafi school that the dead do not hear.