Ibn al-Hajj al-Qinawi
- Died
- 598 AH
- Born in
- Qift
Ibn al-Hajj al-Qinawi (510–598 AH / 1116–1202 CE) was an Upper Egyptian Maliki jurist, Arabic grammarian, and theological writer, known for his political treatise Tahdhib Dhihn al-Wa'i fi Islah al-Ra'iyyah wa-l-Ra'i and his polemical work on divine decree, Hazz al-Ghalasim fi Ifham al-Mukhasim.
Background and Education
His full name was Shith ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Haydara—also recorded as Hudayya—al-Qifti al-Qinawi, bearing the kunya Abu al-Hasan and the title Diya' al-Din. He was born in Qift in Upper Egypt, where his family was associated with a quarter known as Harat Ibn al-Hajj, before he relocated to Qina. In addition to the birth date of 510 AH, other accounts place his birth in 511 AH or 515 AH.
He studied hadith and legal sciences under leading scholars, transmitting hadith directly from Abu Tahir al-Silafi and Abu al-Qasim Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Habbab. He was also granted scholarly licenses (ijazat) by the jurists Abu al-Tahir Isma'il ibn 'Awf and Abu al-Hajjaj Yusuf ibn Ali al-Quda'i.
Scholarly Career and Standing
Ibn al-Hajj was recognized as an authority across several disciplines, notably Maliki jurisprudence, Arabic grammar, lexicography, prosody, and theology. In grammar, he composed the didactic handbook al-Isharah fi Tashil al-'Ibarah ("The Pointer on Facilitating Expression"). He also authored Tahdhib Dhihn al-Wa'i fi Islah al-Ra'iyyah wa-l-Ra'i ("Refining the Mind of the Mindful Concerning the Rectification of the Subject and the Ruler"), an ethical-political treatise written for Sultan Salah al-Din. In theological disputation, he wrote Hazz al-Ghalasim fi Ifham al-Mukhasim ("Slitting the Throats to Silence the Opponent"), defending the Sunni doctrine of divine predestination (qadar) and human acquisition (kasb).
Biographers described him as an austere, intensely pious scholar who adhered closely to the ways of early Muslim predecessors, noting that he was never seen laughing or jesting. The rulers of Egypt held him in high esteem and revered his counsel, even though he frequently criticized them openly and showed little regard for courtly authority. The vizier al-Qadi al-Fadil deeply respected his status, accepted his intercessions, and regularly corresponded with him. Conversely, he publicly voiced objections against the noted Sufi master Abd al-Rahim al-Qinawi.
Among those who transmitted from him were al-Hasan, the son of Abd al-Rahim al-Qinawi, and the scholar Shihab al-Din al-Qusi, who recorded hearing him recite Arabic linguistic poetry in Qina in Rabi' al-Awwal 590 AH.
Later Life and Death
Later in life, Ibn al-Hajj suffered from physical frailty and lost his eyesight. He died in 598 AH (1202 CE), reportedly at the age of eighty-eight, though another widely cited account records his death in 599 AH (1203 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
Hazz al-Ghalasim fi Ifham al-Mukhasim inda Jarayan al-Nazar fi Ahkam al-Qadar is a theological treatise on divine predestination (qadar) and the creation of human actions. Written to present Quranic proofs supporting Sunni doctrine, it argues that all occurrences depend on God's knowledge, will, and power, while humans possess acquisition (kasb) and effort. The treatise engages in theological polemics against groups such as the Qadariyyah, Mu'tazilah, Imamiyyah, and Hashwiyyah.