Imaam Jalaluddin As-Suyuti – By Mufti Moin Moeeni
Name/ Titles: Imam Jalaluddin Abu Bakr Abdur Rahman ibn Abu Bakr Al-Kamaal ibn Muhammad ibn Saabiquddin ibn Al-Fakhr Uthman ibn Naaziruddin Muhammad ibn Saifuddin ibn Humaamuddin Al-Khaddiri As-Suyuti At-Tulooni Al-Misri Ash-Shafa’i t
D.O.B: Born on the 1st of Rajab in the year 849 A.H corresponding to the 3rd of October 1445 A.D.
D.O.D: Passed away on the 19th of Jamadil Oola 911 A.H. corresponding to 1505 A.D.
Region: he was born in the city of Cairo. The family of Imam Suyuti t hailed from Baghdad and later relocated to a city called Suyut. It is for this reason that he is famously known as Imam Suyuti.
Synopsis intro: Ethnically Imam Suyuti t is Persian. His father was the royal Imam, hence Imam Suyuti t grew up in the royal palace of Mustakfi Billah. Allamah Kamaluddin, the father of Imam Suyuti t was one of the students of the renowned Muhaddith Allamah Hafiz Ibn Hajr Asqalani[1] t. Imam Suyuti t was five years old when his father passed away. At the tender age of 8 he memorized the Holy Qur’an.
From an early age he studied under Shaykh Shahabuddin At-Tabbakh and Muhaqqiq Ibn Humaam. After 6 years he was enrolled in Jamia Shaykhuniya by Ibn Humaam. He studied the science of Hadith from more than 150 scholars including Allamah Ibn Hajr t. Imam Suyuti t states: ‘and from the numerous Ijazaat given to me by Allamah Ibn Hajr he also granted me Ijazah in the sciences of Hadith.’[2] He was of Shafi’i Maslak. Allah U blessed him with profound proficiency in seven sciences namely, Tafseer, Hadith, Fiqh, Nahw, Ma’aani, Bayaan and Badee’.
He performed Hajj in the year 869 A.H. He then travelled to Shaam, Yemen, Hijaaz, Hind and North West African countries[3]. At the request of Al-Balqeeni he began teaching in Jamia Shaykhuniya and later transferred to a different Jamia. Later in his life he went into seclusion and authored many books[4].
Shamsuddin Daoodi states that there was no greater scholar than Suyuti in his time[5].
Shahabuddin Ahmad Maksaani states that Imam Suyuti t authored more than one thousand books. Imam Suyuti t himself mentioned that he had authored 300 books[6].
Teachers: His father Shaykh Kamaluddin, Shaykh Shahabuddin At-Tabbakh, Muhaqqiq Ibn Humam, Shaykh Shahbuddin Shaarsaahi, Shaykh Muhiyyuddin Sulaiman Kaqeeji, Shaykh Abdul Qaadir ibn Abul Qaasim Ansari and Allamah Ibn Hajr Asqalani y.
Books Authored:
1) Al-Itqaan fi Uloomil Qura’n (on the science of making commentary of the Qura’n)
2) Tafseer Jalalain (brief commentary of the Qura’n)
3) Lubaabun Nuqool fi Asbaabin Nuzool (discusses the reason of revelations of the verses and chapters of the Qura’n)
4) Tareekh-ul-Khulafa (biographies of the Caliphs and rulers of Islam)
5) Khasaais Al-Kubra (on the topic of the unique qualities of the Prophet m)
6) Tafseer Ad-Durrul Manthoor (commentary of the Qura’n using Ahadith)
7) Tadreeb ur Raawi (on the topic of principles of Hadith)
8) Tabqaat ul Huffaaz (biography of Hadith Masters and Scholars)
9) Jamu’l Jawami’ (Arabic literature)
10) Misbah uz Zujajah Sharh Ibn Majah (commentary of Sunan Ibn Majah)
11) Ad-Deebaaj ala Sahih Muslim ibn Hajjaj (annotation on Sahih Muslim)
12) Jami’us Sagheer (collection of Ahadith)
13) Sharh us Sudoor (on the topic of death and the hereafter)
14) Al-Haawi lil Fatawi (collection of Fatwa)
15) Al-Ashbah wan Nazaair Nahw and many other books.
Imam Suyuti t was a prolific scholar who authored hundreds of 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 Suyuti t is located in a city along the Nile River known as Asyut.
[1] Author of Mawaahib ul Ladunniyyah & Irshaad us Saari (commentary of Sahih Bukhari)
[2] Tabqaat ul Huffaaz
[3] Husn ul Muhaadarah
[4] Al-Kawaakib us Saairah
[5] Al-Kawaakib us Saairah
[6] Husn ul Muhadarah
