Imaam Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani – By Mufti Moin Moeeni
Name/ Titles: Shahabuddin Abul Fadhl Ahmed ibn Ali ibn Mahmood ibn Ahmed Al-Kanaani, Al-Asqalaani, Ash-Shafi’i Al-Misrit
D.O.B: Born in Sha’baan in the year 773 A.H. corresponding to 1343 A.D.
D.O.D: Passed away in the year 852 A.H. corresponding to 1449 A.D.
Region: he was born in the city of Cairo near the beaches of the Nile.
Synopsis intro: Ethnically Imam Ibn Haj Asqalaani t was an Arab. His ancestors belonged to the tribe of Kananah[1]. His father passed away when he was only four years old, and his mother passed away while he was an infant. He grew up under the guardianship of Zakiyyuddin Abu Bakr Al-Kharrubi who was a famous trader and took great care of the Imam. He was enrolled in the Madrasah at the age of five and completely memorized the Qur’an when he was nine years old[2]. He performed Hajj with Zakiyyuddin at the age of eleven and travelled to places in Hijaz and Al-Quds[3]. He quickly became known for his prowess in memorizing books. It is mentioned that he memorized Surah Maryam in one day[4]. He also spent time taking care of the business after the demise of Zakiyyuddin. At the age of nineteen he took a keen interest in Arabic literature. He later immersed himself in the sciences of Hadith and studied for ten years under the tutelage of Zainuddin Al-Iraqi.
Imam Ibn Hajr Asqalaani t travelled extensively in order to gain knowledge as it was the habit of the great scholars of that time. After travelling the cities of Egypt Imam Asqalaani t travelled to Yemen and studied by Ibn Al-Khayyaat Shafi’i, Ibn Abdus Samad, Ahmed ibn Abu Bakr An-Naashri, Majd Ferozabadi and many other great scholars. He planned to go to Yemen for a second time but the ship sank with whatever possession the Imam had with him. In Hijaz he took narrations from Zainuddin ibn Abdur Rahman. In the year 802 A.H. he travelled to Shaam and stayed there for moe than hundred days. He was a teacher at Madrasah Shaykhuniyah from 811 A.H. till 827 A.H. The classes of the Imam always started with Surah A’ala then salutations upon the Prophet m and then Dua, this was in accordance to the practice of his teacher Al-Iraqi.
At the age of twenty five Imam Asqalaani t married Uns Khatoon I who was a Hadith scholar herself and lectures to Ulama such as As-Sakhawi.
Teachers:
- AL-Burhan At-Tanookhi
- Zain Al-Iraqi
- AL-Haithami
- Siraaj Al-Balqeeni
- Ibn Mulaqqin
- Majd Ash-Shairaazi
- Al-Ghaamri
- Muhin ibn Hishaam
Books Authored:
1) Asbaab un Nuzzool (Science of Qura’n)
2) Nukhabat ul Fikr (science of Hadith)
3) An-Nukat ala Muqaddamati ibn Salaah (science of Hadith)
4) Fath ul Baari (commentary of Sahih Bukhari)
5) Ad-Diraayah fi Takhreeji Ahadithil Hidayah
6) Bukugh ul Maraam min Adillatil Ahkaam (jurisprudence)
7) Al-Isabah fi Tamyizis Sahabah (biographies of the Sahabah y)
8) Tahzeeb ut Tahzeeb
The funeral of the Imam was attended by more than fifty thousand people including the caliph of Egypt. Imam Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani t was a prolific scholar who authored more than hundred and fifty books. The Ummah owes him a great deal of gratitude for his services to the Deen of Islam. May Allah U elevate his station in Jannah. Ameen
Mazar Location: The Mazar of Imam Ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani t is located in the ‘City of the Dead’ in Cairo, Egypt.
