Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti
Jalal al-Din Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Saaq al-Din Bakr ibn Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Khudayr ibn Ayyub ibn Muhammad ibn al-Sheikh Hammam al-Din al-Khudayri al-Suyuti, commonly known as Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, was born after sunset on Sunday, the beginning of Rajab (849 AH/1445 CE) in Cairo and passed away in 911 AH/1505 CE. He was an eminent Islamic scholar, memorizer of the Quran, commentator, historian, literary figure, and a Shafi'i jurist, with around 600 authored works.
Early Life:
Al-Suyuti, an orphan from the age of five, lost his father, and by the age of forty, he withdrew from society, leading a secluded life in the garden of al-Miqaas on the Nile. He dissociated from people, almost as if he knew no one, dedicating himself to prolific writing. Despite invitations and gifts from the wealthy and rulers, he maintained his isolation, resisting attempts to draw him back into public life.
Upbringing:
Raised in Cairo, he experienced the loss of his father at a young age, prompting him to focus on memorizing the Quran. He completed memorization before the age of eight and delved into studying various books on grammar, jurisprudence, and fundamentals of the faith. He earned the title "Ibn al-Kutub" (Son of Books) as his father requested a book from his mother just as she went into labor, leading to his birth amid a collection of books.
Education and Teachers:
Al-Suyuti embarked on his quest for knowledge at the age of seventeen. His teachers included prominent scholars like Muhyi al-Din al-Kafiji, Sharaf al-Din al-Manawi, and Taqi al-Din al-Shibli, among many others. He studied diverse subjects, including Quranic exegesis, hadith, jurisprudence, grammar, rhetoric, and theology. He even learned from notable female scholars like Asia bint Jar Allah, Kamaliya bint Muhammad al-Hashimiya, Umm Hane bint Abi al-Hasan al-Haruni, and Umm al-Fadl bint Muhammad al-Maqdisi.
Travels:
Al-Suyuti undertook extensive academic journeys, traveling to regions within Egypt, as well as to the Levant, Yemen, India, and the Islamic Maghreb. His quest for knowledge led him to Mecca, where he drank from the Zamzam well, reaching a high status in jurisprudence akin to Siraj al-Din al-Balqini, and in hadith comparable to Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani.
Later Years:
Upon completing his education and amassing a wealth of knowledge, Al-Suyuti assumed the role of a Mufti in 871 AH/1466 CE and began dictating hadiths the following year. Proficient in various disciplines, he remarked, "I have been blessed with expertise in seven sciences: exegesis, hadith, jurisprudence, grammar, semantics, eloquence, and rhetoric." He dedicated himself to writing and worship, choosing a life of seclusion and scholarship, away from rulers and the wealthy.
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's legacy endures through his numerous written works, contributing significantly to Islamic scholarship, jurisprudence, and understanding of the Quran and hadith. His profound impact on various fields continues to be studied and revered within the Islamic academic tradition.
Disagreements and disputes:
Al-Suyuti entered into intense disputes and competitions with many scholars of his time. He criticized and criticized figures such as Al-Burhan Al-Karkhi, Ahmed bin Muhammad Al-Qastalani, and Shams Al-Din Al-Jawhari. But his most violent disagreements were with Shams al-Din al-Sakhawi, who accused al-Suyuti of stealing some of his works and embezzling old books.
Al-Suyuti defended himself vigorously, often supporting his arguments with literary documents. One of the notable responses to Al-Sakhawi was “The Maqamat Al-Qawi fi Al-Sakhawi.” This turbulent relationship and the attacks he was subjected to influenced Al-Suyuti’s decision to retire from public life, including teaching and issuing fatwas.
Retirement and relations with rulers:
Al-Suyuti lived during the reign of thirteen Mamluk sultans. His relationship with the rulers was reserved, characterized by occasional meetings and a general avoidance of close involvement. He took the behavior of good scholars, and if the rulers did not adhere to his standards, he moved away from them.
Even when Sultan Ashraf Qaytbay invited him, Al-Suyuti refused to meet him several times, explaining his position in the book “Al-Ahadith Al-Hasan fi Fadl Al-Talasan.”
Cultural leadership in the era of scholars:
Al-Suyuti played a major role in the intellectual, religious and literary movements of the second half of the ninth century AH. His prolific scientific activity covered various fields, and he was considered an encyclopedic figure of his time, endowed with broad knowledge and broad interests.
Al-Suyuti’s retirement from active work in teaching and issuing religious beliefs did not diminish his dedication to science. He continued to focus on worship and writing. His total output during his productive years included more than 300 books and treatises, some estimated at as many as 600 works.
His works spanned a wide range, including Qur’anic studies such as “Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Qur’an” (The Complete Guide to the Sciences of the Qur’an), collections of hadith, jurisprudence, linguistics, history, and literature.
Al-Suyuti expressed his desire to be the imam of the ninth century due to his vast knowledge. His legacy lives on through his writings, and his influence on Islamic sciences remains significant.
His Students:
Al-Suyuti had numerous and accomplished students, among them were:
1. Shams al-Din al-Dawudi: Author of the book "Tabaqat al-Mufassirin" (The Categories of Quranic Commentators).
2. Shams al-Din ibn Tulun: A scholar in his own right.
3. Shams al-Din al-Shami: Known as the historian and muhaddith (narrator of hadith) in the Egyptian region.
4.Ibn Iyas: A significant historian, author of "Bada'i al-Zuhur fi Waqa'i al-Duhur" (Marvels of Events in Different Periods).
5.Zayn al-Din al-Shama'il: Another notable student.
Death:
Al-Suyuti passed away in his residence in Rawdat al-Maqyas on the Nile in Cairo on 19 Jumada al-Awwal 911 AH (20 October 1505 CE). He was buried outside Bab al-Qarafa in Cairo, and the area of his grave is now known as Sidi Jalal Cemetery, named after him. His tomb is well-known and respected in that location.