Siraj al-Din Ibn Nujaym
- Died
- 1005 AH
- Born in
- Egypt
Siraj al-Din Ibn Nujaym (d. 1005 AH / 1596 CE) was an Egyptian Hanafi jurist and legal scholar, best known for his legal commentary al-Nahr al-Fa'iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq.
Biography and Education
'Umar ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, titled Siraj al-Din, was born in Egypt into an academic family. He studied jurisprudence under his older brother, the renowned Hanafi jurist Zayn al-Din Ibn Nujaym, author of al-Bahr al-Ra'iq, as well as other contemporary scholars. He became a prominent legal verifier steeped in Islamic sciences, known for his refined prose style and his ability to analyze obscure legal questions. He held substantial standing among state rulers and the public alike.
Among his students were Ahmad ibn Ahmad al-Khatib al-Shubari and Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Dimyati, both of whom read law with him in Cairo.
Scholarly Contribution
Ibn Nujaym's principal legal contribution was al-Nahr al-Fa'iq, an intertwined commentary (sharh mamzuj) on Abu al-Barakat al-Nasafi's standard Hanafi manual Kanz al-Daqa'iq. Intended to complement his brother's commentary, it was noted by biographical sources for surpassing the earlier work in precision and stylistic refinement, though Ibn Nujaym's commentary remained incomplete, ending at the section on detention in the chapter of adjudication (Kitab al-Qada'). He also authored Ijabat al-Sa'il bi-Ikhtisar Anfa' al-Wasa'il in legal doctrine and 'Iqd al-Jawhar fi al-Kalam 'ala Surat al-Kawthar in Quranic commentary.
Death
Ibn Nujaym died on Tuesday, 6 Rabi' al-Awwal 1005 AH (circa October 1596 CE) in the Darb al-Atrak quarter of Cairo. He was buried alongside his brother Zayn al-Din near the shrine of Sayyida Sukayna. A report noted that he was suspected to have died of poisoning by one of his wives, owing to his sudden demise without prior illness and his frequent marriages.
Answer updated
List of Works
al-Nahr al-Fa'iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa'iq is a legal commentary on Hafiz al-Din al-Nasafi's compendium Kanz al-Daqa'iq. Arranged as an intertwined commentary (sharh mamzuj), it weaves the base text directly into explanatory prose to clarify legal issues by incorporating views of early authorities and conclusions of later scholars, while refining phrasing and addressing oversights of earlier commentators.