Religion Islam Died 1013, Baghdad, Iraq Creed Ash'ari Name Al Baqillani | Jurisprudence Maliki Denomination Sunni | |
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Title Sayf as-Sunna ("Sword of the Prophetic way"), Imad al-Din ("Pillar of the Faith"), Nasir al-Islam ("Protector of Islam") Born 338/950 Basra Main interest(s) Theology (Kalam), Philosophy, Logic, Islamic Jurisprudence | ||
The great ashari scholar al baqillani by sheikh hamza yusuf
Abu Bakr Muḥammad ibn al-Ṭayyib al-Bāqillānī (Arabic: أبو بكر محمد بن الطيب الباقلاني; c. 940 - 5 June 1013), often known as al-Bāqillānī for short, or reverentially as Imam al-Bāqillānī by Sunni Muslims, was a famous Sunni Islamic theologian, jurist, and logician who spent much of his life defending and strengthening orthodox Sunni Islam. An accomplished rhetorical stylist and master orator, al-Baqillani was held in high regard by his contemporaries for his expertise in debating even the most complex of theological and jurisprudential issues. Al-Baqillani is often given the honorary epithets Shaykh al-Sunna ("Doctor of the Prophetic Way"), Lisān al-Umma ("Mouthpiece of the Community"), Imād al-Dīn ("Pillar of the Faith"), Nāsir al-Islām ("Guardian of Islam"), and Sayf as-Sunna ("Sword of the Prophetic Way") in Sunni tradition.
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Born in Basra in 330/950, he spent most of his life in Baghdad, and studied theology under two disciples of al-Ash'ari, Ibn Mujahid al-Ta'i and Abu'l Hasan al-Bahili. He also studied jurisprudence under the Maliki scholars Abu Abdullah al-Shirazi and Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani. After acquiring expertise in both Islamic theology and Maliki jurisprudence he expounding the teachings of the Ash'ari school, and taught Maliki jurisprudence in Baghdad. He held the office of chief Qadi in Baghdad and in 'Ukbara, a town not far from the capital. al-Bāqillānī became a popular lecturer, and took part in debates with well-known scholars of the day. Because of his logical acumen and swift, unhesitating replies, the caliph 'Adud al-Dawla dispatched him as an envoy to the Byzantine court in Constantinople and he debated Christian scholars in the presence of their king in 371/981.
He died in 403/1013.
He supported the doctrine of the apologetic miracle being proof of prophecy, the noncreation of the Quran, intercession, and the possibility of seeing God.
His fifty two volumous books are regarded as classical works on expounding the Quran, it is the textual integrity, defending orthodoxy and Islam, the miracles of the prophethood, summaries of the Sunni creed, defence of the Sunni position regarding the Imamate (Caliphate), rebutting Brahmanism, Dualism, Trinitarianism, etc.
Ibn Taymiyya called al-Baqillani 'the best of the Ash'ari mutakallimun, unrivalled by any predecessor or successor'.
Works
Fifty-five titles of works written by Al-Baqillani have been listed, the great majority on legal and theological matters, and many written against heretical Muslim and other opponents.