Ibn Ghazi

Abu Abd Allah Ibn Ghazi (841–919 AH / 1437–1513 CE) was a Moroccan Maliki jurist, hadith scholar, grammarian, and historian based in Fes Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He is widely recognized for his legal commentary Shifa al-ghalil fi hall muqfal Khalil and his local history al-Rawd al-hutun fi akhbar Miknasat al-zaytun Mujam al-Shuara al-Arab+1.

Origin and Education

Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Ghazi al-Uthmani al-Miknasi al-Fasi was born in 841 AH (1437/1438 CE) in Meknes Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He belonged to Banu Uthman, a branch of the Kutama tribe residing in Meknes, and lived for a period among his tribal kin Mujam al-Shuara al-Arab.

Ibn Ghazi studied under several prominent North African scholars, receiving instruction in jurisprudence from teachers such as Muhammad ibn Qasim al-Qawri and al-Ustadh al-Naji al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…. He also learned from Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Jabir al-Ghassani and received transmission licenses from Muhammad ibn Abi al-Qasim al-Humaydi Nayl al-Ibtihaj bi-Tatriz…. He documented his teachers and transmission chains in his biographical catalogue al-Ta'allul bi-rusum al-isnad al-Madkhal ila Sahih al-B…+1.

Career and Teaching

Ibn Ghazi served as a sermon preacher (khatib) in Meknes before relocating to Fes, where he held the preaching post in New Fes (Fas al-Jadid) and eventually became the imam and chief preacher at the University of al-Qarawiyyin, earning renown as the foremost orator of his era al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…. In Fes, he was especially devoted to leading public readings and instructional circles on Sahih al-Bukhari al-Madkhal ila Sahih al-B….

Among his many students were the jurist Abd al-Wahid al-Wansharisi, Ali ibn Harun—who served as the primary reciter in Ibn Ghazi's teaching sessions for more than twenty years—Ahmad al-Daqqun, Abd al-Rahman Saqqin, and Ibn al-Abbas al-Saghir al-Mawsua al-Fiqhiyya al-…+1.

Death

In 919 AH (1513 CE), Ibn Ghazi joined a military campaign at Asilah and fell critically ill during the expedition al-Mawsua al-Tarikhiyya. The Sultan ordered him transported back toward his residence in Fes al-Mawsua al-Tarikhiyya. Near Uqbat al-Masajin, his condition deteriorated; after receiving a visitation and prayer from Shaykh Abu Abd Allah al-Ghazwani, Ibn Ghazi gave his final instructions to his companions and died after reaching his home on 9 Jumada al-Ula 919 AH Mujam al-Muallifin+1.