His Name
He is Abul Husayn Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Baghdadi al-Qudoori. Some have said he is from a town in Baghdad called Qudurah, and therefore he is named al-Qudoori. Others have said he is attributed the name al-Qudoori due to his involvement in the trade of pots, the Arabic being qidr pl. qudoor.
His Birth and Childhood
He was born in 362AH. He was brought up in an environment of knowledge and Islam. His maternal grandfather, Ahmad b. Muhammad b, Umar b. al-Hasan b. Ubayd b. Amr b. Khalid b. Rafeel, more commonly known as Ibn Maslamah was a great ascetic.
His search for knowledge
Imam Qudoori strove hard to study Islamic knowledge during his early years such that he surpassed his companions. It was due to this early struggle that he was a shining light from amongst the scholars of his time. Allm. Ibn Khaldoon mentions that Imam Qudoori was the Shaykh of his time, in regards to Hanafi fiqh [jurisprudence]. He was the leader of the madhab and a scholar of the greatest rank.
Even though he was regarded highly when it came to Hanafi fiqh, he would not be biased for the madhab [school of thought]. Rather it is found in his works, that whenever he would find a ruling which opposed the madhab [school of thought], and he felt it to be stronger, he would clarify this.
His Teachers
Imam Qudoori studied the sacred sciences from a number of scholars. Notable amongst them are;
- Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. Yahya al-Jurjani whom he studied fiqh from
- Ubaid Allah b. Muhammad b. Ahmad al-Hawshabi
- Muhammad b. Ali b. Suwayd al-Muaddib
His Students
Abu Bakr Ahmad b. Ali b. Thabit al-Khateeb al-Hafiz, more famously known for his work on Tareekh Baghdad [A History of Baghdad], also known as Khateeb Baghdadi, narrates hadith from Imam al-Qudoori, and is from amongst his many students. Qadi Abu Abdullah al-Damighani is another notable student of Imam Qudoori.
His Ranking
Some have mentioned that Imam Qudoori is from the fourth generation with regards to the grading of fuqaha1. Others have argued that Imam Qudoori was from the fifth grade, known as the ashab al-tarjih. The author of Hidayah, Allm. al-Marghinani came much later, however, some have said he was also from the same tabaqah as Imam Qudoori.
Imam Qudoori was known to be frequent in his recitation of Quran. During his era, he was the foremost expert on Hanafi fiqh in Iraq. He was a narrator of hadith and was reliable and trustworthy.
His Death
He died on Sunday 5th Rajab 428AH in Baghdad. Some have said he died at the age of 64, whilst 66 has also been mentioned.. He was initially buried in his own house, but then later buried next to the grave of the Hanafi jurist Abu Bakr al-Khawarizmi.
His Books
He authored:
- Mukhtasar– perhaps this is the most famous of his books, used as a primer to Hanafi fiqh in madaris worldwide
- Sharh Mukhtasar al-Karkhi [A commentary on the summary by Imam al-Karkhi]
- Al-Tajreed, a work on the disparities between the Hanafi and Shafiee schools of thought.
- Al-Taqreeb, a work on the differences between Imam Abu Hanifa and his two companions
- Sharh Adab al-Qadi- A commentary on the work of Imam Ahmad Abu Bakr al-Khassaf regarding the Islamic legal system
Footnotes:
1 Allm. Lacknawi, Allm. Marjani et al have criticised the grading system of Ibn Kamal Pasha, due to most being placed below their capacity. see https://uloom.com/dibaj/article/140813501
Bibliography:
Hidayatul Arifeen Asmaa al-Muallifeen wa athaar al-musannifeen, Ismail Basha al-Baghdadi. Muassasa al-tareekh al-Arabi.
Kashf al-Dhunoon an Asami al-kutub wa al-funoon, Haji Khalifa. Beirut, Lebanon: Dar Ihyaa al-Turaath al-Arabi.
Siyar A’laam al-Nubala, Vol 17, page 574, Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Uthman al-Dhahabi. Beirut, Lebanon: Muassasa al-Risalah.
