Ibn Suda, Abd al-Salam
- Died
- 1400 AH
- Born in
- -
Abd al-Salam Ibn Suda (d. 1400 AH / 1980 CE) was a Moroccan historian, genealogist, and biographer from Fez, recognized for his historical and bio-bibliographical documentation of Moroccan scholars.
Lineage and Background
His full name was Abd al-Salam ibn Abd al-Qadir ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Qadir ibn al-Talib ibn Muhammad Ibn Suda al-Murri . His ancestry traces back to Abu al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Ali Ibn Suda, who emigrated from Granada in al-Andalus to Fez during the mid-eighth century AH to serve as a scribe at the court of the Marinid dynasty . The family's forebears had originally entered al-Andalus from the East alongside Balj ibn Bishr al-Qushayri in the early second century AH . Abu al-Qasim was profiled by Lisan al-Din Ibn al-Khatib in al-Ihata fi Akhbar Gharnata, where he praised his scholarly and literary qualities and designated his lineage as al-Murri, which became the common ancestral link for the Ibn Suda family in Morocco . His maternal grandmother was Zaynab bint al-Mahdi ibn al-Talib Ibn Suda (d. 1341 AH), a devout woman known for her annual recitations of Sahih al-Bukhari and celebration of the Prophet's birthday .
Ibn Suda lived through the French colonial period in Morocco, recounting that his early life was shaped by witnessing the impact of colonial occupation on the religious, national, and social fabric of the country until its independence .
Scholarly Contribution and Standing
Ibn Suda dedicated his scholarly career to cataloging Moroccan history, genealogy, and the intellectual legacy of North African scholars . His biographical necrology, Ithaf al-Mutali bi-Wafayat Alam al-Qarn al-Thalith Ashar wa al-Rabi, was compiled as a chronological record of Moroccan figures, jurists, Sufis, and notables spanning from 1171 AH to 1400 AH, recording their obituaries alongside contemporary historical and climatic events . He also compiled Sall al-Nisal, a biographical register containing notices and photographic records of numerous contemporary scholars, teachers, and judges .
His bio-bibliographical guide, Dalil Mu'arrikh al-Maghrib al-Aqsa, became a standard reference consulted and cited extensively by modern Arab biographers and historians when indexing Moroccan manuscripts and authors . He also maintained active scholarly correspondence with major contemporary bibliographers, including Khayr al-Din al-Zirikli, who relied on his clarifications regarding Moroccan historical figures .
Ibn Suda died in 1400 AH (1980 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
Ithaf al-Mutali bi-Wafayat Alam al-Qarn al-Thalith Ashar wa al-Rabi is a biographical necrology of Moroccan scholars and notables covering the period from 1171 AH to 1400 AH. Organized chronologically by year of death, it serves as a continuation of earlier Maghribi annalistic dictionaries, documenting religious scholars, jurists, Sufis, ascetics, and political figures alongside notable historical events.