Ibn Khallikan

Ibn Khallikan (608–681 AH / 1211–1282 CE) was an Iraqi-born Shafi'i jurist, chief judge, and biographer, best known for his biographical dictionary Wafayat al-A'yan (The Obits of Eminent Men) al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1.

Lineage and early life

His full name was Shams al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Abi Bakr ibn Khallikan al-Barmaki al-Irbili al-Shafi'i al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. He was born in Erbil in 608 AH / 1211 CE into a family associated with learning Tarikh al-Barzali al-Muqt…+1.

Education and scholarly network

Ibn Khallikan studied jurisprudence in Mosul under Kamal al-Din ibn Yunus and in Aleppo and Damascus under Baha' al-Din ibn Shaddad Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. In Erbil, he heard Sahih al-Bukhari from Abu Muhammad (and in one report Abu Ja'far) Muhammad ibn Hibat Allah ibn Mukram al-Sufi al-Wafi bil-Wafayat+1. He also received formal transmissions and certificates of authorization (ijazah) from scholars including al-Mu'ayyad al-Tusi, Abd al-Mu'izz al-Harawi, Abu Rawh, and Zaynab al-Sha'riyyah Tarikh al-Barzali al-Muqt…+1. Among those who transmitted from him were the traditionists al-Mizzi and al-Birzali al-Wafi bil-Wafayat+1.

Judicial career and teaching

After moving to Egypt and settling there, Ibn Khallikan served in Cairo as a deputy judge under Badr al-Din al-Sinjari Tarikh al-Barzali al-Muqt…+1. He was appointed chief judge of Damascus in Dhu al-Hijjah 659 AH, entering the city amid widespread public celebration Sifat Rabb al-Alamin - Ra…+1. Initially exercising sole jurisdiction over all schools of law with deputies from each, an administrative reform in 664 AH appointed independent chief judges for the Hanafi, Maliki, and Hanbali schools alongside him al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1.

His tenure alternated with Ibn al-Sa'igh: Ibn Khallikan was dismissed in 669 AH after ten years in office and returned to Cairo for seven years, before being reappointed to Damascus and subsequently dismissed again at the start of 680 AH Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Ak…+1. Alongside his judicial work, he taught at several renowned colleges in Damascus, notably al-Aminiyyah and al-Najibiyyah al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. It was during his stays in Egypt and Damascus that he compiled his biographical dictionary Wafayat al-A'yan Jawahir al-Adab fi Adabiy…+1.

Scholarly standing

Biographers characterized Ibn Khallikan as a distinguished jurist, an expert in Shafi'i law, Arabic grammar, literature, poetry, and historical chronicles, who also composed refined verse al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. He was noted for his eloquence, generosity, and engaging scholarly salons, though Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi remarked that his handwriting was poorly formed Sifat Rabb al-Alamin - Ra…+1.

Death

Ibn Khallikan died late in the afternoon on Saturday, 26 Rajab 681 AH / 1282 CE, in the iwan of al-Madrasa al-Najibiyyah in Damascus al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1. He was buried the following day at the foot of Mount Qasiyun at the age of seventy-three al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya+1.