Muhammad al-Khudari
- Died
- 1345 AH
- Born in
- Cairo
Muhammad al-Khudari (1289–1345 AH / 1872–1927 CE) was an Egyptian scholar of Islamic law, historian, and educator known for his studies on Islamic jurisprudence and history, including Nur al-Yaqin fi Sirat Sayyid al-Mursalin and Tarikh al-Tashri' al-Islami.
Background and education
Muhammad ibn 'Afifi al-Bajuri, commonly known as Shaykh al-Khudari or Muhammad al-Khudari Bek, was the brother of the scholar 'Abd Allah 'Afifi. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum in Cairo and was significantly influenced by Muhammad Abduh, regularly attending his lessons and circle, consulting him on intellectual matters, and reviewing and editing texts with him.
Career
Al-Khudari began his professional career in the judiciary, serving as a sharia judge in Khartoum. He subsequently moved to Cairo to teach at Madrasat al-Qada al-Shar'i (the School of Sharia Judiciary), where he taught for twelve years and later became its vice-principal.
When public controversy led to the dismissal of Jurji Zaydan from teaching Islamic history at the Egyptian University, the university entrusted the subject to al-Khudari. His lectures there formed the foundation of his historical work Tarikh al-Umam al-Islamiyyah (History of the Islamic Nations). In 1917, the Ministry of Justice prohibited him and his colleague Muhammad al-Mahdi Bek from continuing to lecture at the university due to their official duties at Madrasat al-Qada al-Shar'i, which was under the ministry's oversight. Later in his career, al-Khudari served as an inspector in the Ministry of Education.
Scholarly orientation and reception
Al-Khudari collaborated with contemporary scholars, including Hifni Nasif, in an initiative to modernize and streamline instructional treatises in Islamic jurisprudence and Arabic letters. His work Tarikh al-Tashri' al-Islami (History of Islamic Legislation) examined the historical stages of Islamic legal development, while Nur al-Yaqin fi Sirat Sayyid al-Mursalin (The Light of Certainty in the Biography of the Master of Messengers) presented the prophetic biography in an accessible pedagogical style. Contemporary writers, such as Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaluti, praised his dedication to educational reform, his aversion to rigid intellectual stagnation, and his contributions to religious and social discourse.
Death
Al-Khudari resided in al-Zaytun, a suburb of Cairo, and died in Cairo in 1345 AH (1927 CE), where he was buried.
Answer updated
List of Works
Nur al-Yaqin fi Sirat Sayyid al-Mursalin is a work on the prophetic biography (sirah) that covers the life and mission of the Prophet Muhammad. Written with an accessible, modern educational approach, it provides a structured and concise narrative designed to present the essential historical record clearly for readers and students.