Mulla Huwaysh
- Died
- 1398 AH
- Born in
- -
Abd al-Qadir Mulla Huwaysh (1298–1398 AH / 1880–1978 CE) was an Iraqi-Syrian Hanafi jurist, judge, and exegete, known primarily for his chronological Quranic commentary Bayan al-Ma'ani.
Lineage and early life
He was Abd al-Qadir ibn Muhammad Mulla Huwaysh ibn Mahmud Al Ghazi, with his lineage tracing patrilineally to Musa al-Kazim and matrilineally to al-Hasan ibn Ali. He was born in the Iraqi town of 'Ana in 1298 AH (1880 CE), though another report places his birth in 1888 CE. He was raised in the home of his father in Palmyra, receiving his early education there before pursuing his studies in Baghdad.
Education and career
Mulla Huwaysh relocated to Deir ez-Zor in Syria, where he settled permanently. In Syria, he studied under Husayn al-Azhari and received an authorization (ijaza) from him, and he traveled to Damascus to study under Badr al-Din al-Hasani. He was appointed as a judge (qadi) in Deir ez-Zor and later served as the preacher (khatib) of the al-Saray Mosque in 1384 AH.
Orientation and scholarship
Mulla Huwaysh adhered to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. While some biographical accounts describe him as an Ash'ari and an affiliate of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, his son maintained that he was an independent thinker who leaned toward Salafi views, and that although he maintained ties with local Naqshbandi figures, he actively denounced perceived Sufi innovations and superstitions.
His primary scholarly endeavor was Bayan al-Ma'ani 'ala Hasab Tartib al-Nuzul, an extensive multi-volume Quranic exegesis structured according to the chronological order of revelation rather than the traditional codex sequence. He composed the work during a six-year period of seclusion at his home in Deir ez-Zor, consulting numerous classical references. The work was transcribed by his eldest son and published between 1382 and 1385 AH (1962–1965 CE) at Matba'at al-Taraqqi in Damascus under the supervision of Ahmad Mazhar, with Mulla Huwaysh financing its publication and distributing copies without charge. Among his other writings is a treatise on inheritance law titled Ahsan al-Qawl fi al-Radd 'ala al-'Awl.
Death
Mulla Huwaysh died in February 1978 CE (1398 AH) at the age of ninety-eight. Reports differ regarding the exact date of his death, placing it either on 15 Rabi' al-Awwal or on Wednesday, 22 Safar.
Answer updated
List of Works
Bayan al-Ma'ani (full title: Bayan al-Ma'ani 'ala Hasab Tartib al-Nuzul) is a multi-volume Quranic commentary arranged according to the chronological order of Quranic revelation rather than the traditional codex order. It aims to present the historical progression of revelation, reduce disputes concerning abrogation and occasions of revelation, avoid repetition, and facilitate a clear understanding of Quranic meanings through verse-by-verse rhetorical and analytical commentary.