Shams al-Din al-Mardini

Shams al-Din al-Mardini (d. 871 AH / 1467 CE) was a Shafi'i jurist, legal theorist, and hadith scholar of Mardin origin who settled in Aleppo Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He is best known for his legal theory commentary al-Anjum al-Zahirat ala Hall Alfaz al-Waraqat al-Dalil ila al-Mutun al-…+1.

Life and Career

Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Ali al-Mardini, also addressed by the titles Shams al-Din and Fakhr al-Din, was born of a family tracing its roots to Mardin before making his home in Aleppo Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He was known as al-Abbar ("the needle-maker") because he originally earned his livelihood crafting needles in a shop of his own Diwan al-Islam+1. He subsequently turned to scholarly pursuits and traveled in search of religious learning al-Kawakib al-Saira bi-Ay….

Al-Mardini established himself as a recognized Shafi'i legal authority and mufti al-Kawakib al-Saira bi-Ay…. His scholarly path was continued by his son, Muhyi al-Din Abd al-Qadir (d. 914 AH), who was likewise known as Ibn al-Abbar and studied with prominent contemporaries such as al-Sakhawi Fath al-Mughith bi Sharh …+1.

Scholarship

Al-Mardini produced notable contributions in jurisprudence, legal theory, and hadith sciences Mujam al-Muallifin+1. In legal theory, he authored al-Anjum al-Zahirat ala Hall Alfaz al-Waraqat, composed at the request of a colleague to explain the primer al-Waraqat by Abu al-Ma'ali al-Juwayni Sharh al-Waraqat fi Usul …+1. In positive law, he compiled al-Bahr al-Mawwaj, a comprehensive fourteen-volume commentary on al-Nawawi's Minhaj al-Talibin Mujam al-Muallifin+1. He also wrote a three-volume supercommentary on al-Jami al-Sahih by al-Bukhari Mujam al-Muallifin+1.

Death

Al-Mardini died in 871 AH (1467 CE) at Badr while journeying back from performing the Hajj pilgrimage, having lived past fifty years of age Mujam al-Muallifin+1.