Al-Imaam Qadhi Iyaadh Al-Maliki
By Mufti Moin Moeeni
Name/ Titles: Al-Imaam, Al-Allamah, Al-Hafiz, Shaykh-ul-Islam, Al-Qadhi, Abul Fadhl Iyaadh ibn Moosa ibn Iyaadh ibn ‘Amr ibn Moosa Ibn Iyaadh Al-Yahsabi Al-Andulusi Al- Maliki [1]
D.O.B: He was born in the year 476 A.H. corresponding to 1083 A.D.
D.O.D: He passed away on the 9th of Jamadil Aakhir 544 A.H. corresponding to 1145 A.D.
Region: He was born in the region of Sabtah (Ceuta) which is an autonomous city on the north coast of Africa. His grandfather migrated from Andulus (Iberia) to Fez and latere settled in Ceuta.[2]
Synopsis: He spent his childhood and his early youth years in Ceuta and benefited from the scholars present in the city at that time. At the age of twenty he received permission to transmit Hadith from Al-Hafiz Abu Ali Al-Ghasani Sadafi. After the passing away of his Shaykh he travelled to Iberia in search of knowledge and narrated Ahadith from scholars such as Qadhi Abu Ali ibn Sakrah Sadafi, Abu Bahr ibn ‘Aas, Muhammad ibn Hamdain, Abul Husain Siraaj Sagheer, Abu Muhammad ‘Ataab and Hishaam ibn Ahamed. He studied jurisprudence under the guidance of Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isa Al-Tamimi amd Qadhi Muhammad ibn AbdullahAl-Musailmi.[3]
Khalaf ibn Shakwan states regarding Qadhi Iyaadh; ‘he was from amongst the most knowledgeable, intellectual and pious people of his time. He was the Qadhi of Ceuta for a very long period, he was then appointed as the Qadhi of Granada for a short while and he came to us in Cordoba and we took Ahadith from him.’[4] Muhammad ibn Hammaad Sabti states; ‘Qadhi Iyaadh started debating at the age of 21 and became a Qadhi at the age of 35.[5]
He was from amongst the great scholars of his time and possessed immense understanding of subjects such as Hadith, Science of Hadith, Arabic literature, Syntax, Theology, History of Arabs, etc. Many great scholars have used him as reference which points towards the immense respect he has in the sight of other scholars. Imam Al-Nawawi has referenced him in numerous places in his masterpiece Sharah Sahih Muslim, Imam Al-Aini and Imam Ibn Hajr Al-Asqali have both benefitted from him in their work on the commentary of Sahih Bukhari. Whenever the commentators of Ahadith use the term ‘Qaala al-Qadhi’ (Qadhi said) they are referring to Qadhi Iyaadh.
He also composed poetry and wrote many books. The most famous of his books is Al-Shifa which attained high standing in the sight of the scholars. Imaam Al-Zahbi mentioned in Tazkirat-ul-Huffaaz that the nephew of Al-Qadhi saw him in his dream sitting next to the Noble Messenger on a golden throne. Al-Qadhi then advised his nephew to hold on firm to his book Al-Shifa indicating that the status that he has gained in the court of the Prophet is due to the compilation of Al-Shifa. Numerous commentaries of Al-Shifa have been written, of which the two most famous amongst them are ‘Sharah Mulla Ali Qari’ and ‘Naseem ur Riyadh’. Hazrat Allamah Shahabuddin Khifaaji states that it is the understanding of scholars and the pious that the recitation of Al-Shifa is a great remedy and deterrent from calamities and sicknesses. Cadi Ayyad University also known as University of Marrakesh was named after him.
Books Authored:
- Al-Shifa
- Tarteeb ul Madaarik wa Taqreeb ul Masaalik fi Zikri Fuqahaai Mazhabi Malik
- Al-Aqeedah
- Sharh Hadith Ummi Zara’
- Jami’i ut Tareekh
- Mashaariq ul Anwaar fi Iqtidhai Sahihil Aathar
- Al-Muatta
- Al-Sahihain
- Al-Ikmaal fi Sharhi Sahih Muslim
- Al-Muallim
- Mashaariq ul Anwaar
- Al-Tambihaat[6]
Mazar Location: Near Bab Ailen in the city of Marrakesh Morocco.
[1] Siyaru A’alaamin Nubula Vol 15 Pg. 49 Published by Daarul Hadith Cairo
[2] Siyaru A’alaamin Nubula Vol 15 Pg. 50 Published by Daarul Hadith Cairo
[3] Siyaru A’alaamin Nubula Vol 15 Pg. 50 Published by Daarul Hadith Cairo
[4] Siyaru A’alaamin Nubula Vol 15 Pg. 50 Published by Daarul Hadith Cairo
[5] Siyaru A’alaamin Nubula Vol 15 Pg. 50 Published by Daarul Hadith Cairo
[6] Siyaru A’alaamin Nubula Vol 15 Pg. 50 Published by Daarul Hadith Cairo
