Ibn Amir Hajj

Ibn Amir Hajj (825–879 AH / 1422–1474 CE) was a Hanafi jurist, legal theorist, and exegete from Aleppo, known for his commentary on legal theory titled al-Taqrir wa al-Tahbir Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …+1.

Early life and education

His full name was Shams al-Din Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Hasan (also recorded as Husayn) ibn Ali ibn Sulayman ibn Umar ibn Muhammad al-Halabi al-Hanafi Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He was born in Aleppo in 825 AH (1422 CE) Mujam al-Muallifin+1. In addition to Ibn Amir Hajj, he was also known by the appellation Ibn al-Muwaqqit Mujam al-Muallifin+1.

Ibn Amir Hajj studied Hanafi jurisprudence under al-Ala' al-Malti al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…. He acquired grammar, morphology, rhetoric, and logic from Zayn al-Din Abd al-Razzaq, a student of al-Ala' al-Bukhari al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…. He also read from the commentary on the Alfiyya before Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani al-Jawahir wa al-Durar fi…. His most extensive training was under Ibn al-Humam, whom he accompanied closely to study fiqh, legal theory, and theology (al-aslayn) until he achieved proficiency across several disciplines al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…. Ibn al-Humam and other teachers granted him authorization to teach and issue legal opinions (fatwa) al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-….

Career and scholarship

Ibn Amir Hajj was appointed as a teacher at the Jurdukikiyya madrasa in Aleppo Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …. Because of his competence in timekeeping (al-waqt), he also oversaw timekeeping duties at the Great Mosque of Aleppo; both the teaching appointment and the timekeeping role later passed to his son Muhammad Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …. He was also active at the Halawiyya Madrasa in Aleppo, where he finalized fair copies of his writings al-Taqrir wa al-Tahbir al….

His scholarship centered on legal theory and substantive law. He authored al-Taqrir wa al-Tahbir, a three-volume blended commentary (sharh mamzuj) on Ibn al-Humam's legal theory manual al-Tahrir Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …+1. He completed the work in Ramadan 871 AH, noting that he wrote it following repeated encouragements from Ibn al-Humam during his reading of the root text under him Kashf al-Zunun an Asami a…. In Hanafi jurisprudence, he wrote Halbat al-Mujalli (also recorded as Hilyat al-Mujalli), an extensive commentary on Munya al-Musalli Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …+1. He also authored Dhakirat al-Qasr, an exegesis of Surah al-Asr Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …+1.

Standing and death

Biographers characterized Ibn Amir Hajj as a prominent scholar of Aleppo and praised his erudition in multiple legal and rational sciences Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …+1. A significant number of students attended his lessons, receiving instruction and consulting his legal responses al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-….

He died in Aleppo in the month of Rajab 879 AH (November–December 1474 CE) Majmuat Rasail al-Allama …+1. A variant report dates his death to 871 AH Mujam al-Muallifin.