Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani
Foremost 15th-century scholar of hadith and Islamic law.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (full name: Abu al Fadl Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad al Kinani) was a classic Islamic scholar whose life work constitutes the final summation of the science of hadith. He authored some 150 works on hadith, history, biography, exegesis, poetry, and the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, the most valued of which being his commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari, titled Fath al-Bari. He was regarded as the foremost scholar of the fifteenth century across all fields of Islamic law.
- field
- Hadith, history, biography, exegesis, poetry, Shafi'i jurisprudence
- nationality
- Arab Kinani, from Ascalon (Ashkelon) in Palestine
- known_for
- Fath al-Bari (commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari), al-Isabah fi tamyiz al Sahabah, and being called Amir al-Mu'minin fi al-Hadith
Lore & Background
His parents died in his infancy, and he and his sister became wards of Zaki ad-Din al-Kharrubi, who enrolled him in Qur'anic studies at age five. He memorized the entire Qur'an by age nine and progressed to memorizing texts on the foundations of fiqh. At age 12, he accompanied his guardian to Mecca and was considered competent to lead Tarawih prayers.
Reader's Guide
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani is significant for his comprehensive contributions to hadith scholarship, culminating in his commentary Fath al-Bari, which became the most celebrated work on Sahih al-Bukhari. He served as Egyptian qadi (chief judge) several times and had scholarly rivalries with contemporaries. His legacy endures through his approximately 150 works, though he expressed dissatisfaction with many of them, considering only a few, including Fath al-Bari and Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, to be somewhat complete and polished.
Did You Know?
- Ibn Hajar memorized the entire Qur'an by the age of 9 and learned Surah Maryam in a single day.
- He married the celebrated hadith expert Uns Khatun, who held ijazat and gave public lectures to crowds of 'ulama'.
- He drank Zamzam water in order to reach the level of adh-Dhahabi in memorization, which he succeeded in doing, even surpassing him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani?
He was a fifteenth-century Arab scholar from Ascalon (Ashkelon) in Palestine who is widely regarded as the preeminent hadith authority of his era. His full name was Abu al Fadl Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad al Kinani, and he spent his entire life in Cairo producing an enormous body of scholarship.
What is Fath al-Bari and why is it so important?
Fath al-Bari is Ibn Hajar's masterwork, a comprehensive commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari that is considered the gold standard for understanding that hadith collection. It stands as the single most prized volume among his roughly 150 written works.
Why is Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani called 'Amir al-Mu'minin fi al-Hadith'?
This honorific, meaning 'Commander of the Faithful in Hadith,' reflects his unmatched command over the science of prophetic traditions during the fifteenth century. It acknowledges his position as the leading authority across the entire field of hadith studies at the time.
What subjects did Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani write about?
Beyond hadith, he produced works spanning history, biographical dictionaries, Quranic exegesis, poetry, and Shafi'i jurisprudence. His biographical work al-Isabah fi tamyiz al-Sahabah is another landmark title alongside his hadith commentaries.
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