Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab

Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab (973 – 1031 CE) (362 AH – 422 AH ), also known as Qadi Abdul Wahhab and Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab al-Maliki was an important Iraqi jurist in the Maliki school. He was a seminal figure of the now extinct Iraqi School of the Maliki madhab. Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab is also remembered for his knowledge of Arabic literature and poetry. He is known by the title Qadi meaning judge in Arabic, as he was a prominent judge in Abbasid Siirt and Badra.^[1] He is best known for his work at-Talqin on Maliki fiqh which is still studied today, particularly for its recording of the positions of the Iraqi school of the Maliki madhab.

Life

'Abd al-Wahhab was born in Baghdad in 973 CE (362 AH) when Abbasid control was largely confined to a titular and spiritual role under al-Muti. The Shiite Buwaihids of the Buyid Dynasty largely dominated the political and military arena. Despite this, he studied under some of the most prominent Sunni Maliki scholars of Baghdad, most notably the Iraqi jurists Al-Abhari and Ibn al-Jallab as well as the Ash'ari theologian al-Baqillani. During the latter part of his life, he lived in poverty in Baghdad, and eventually left his hometown. It is recorded that on the day of his departure, he was followed by a group of notable civil servants to escort him to whom he reportedly responded:

Had I found among you a roll of bread every morning and every evening, I should not have turned from your town, as I would then have obtained all I wished for.

— Ibn Khallikan, Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary

Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab moved to the Levant firstly, and then to Egypt where he settled. His fortunes changed in Egypt where he was highly regarded as a scholar. He died in 1031, allegedly of food poisoning. He was buried in the Qarafa cemetery in Cairo between the tomb of Imam al-Shafi and the gates of Qarafa. His tomb is near that of Ibn al-Qasim and Ashhab, two notable direct students of Imam Malik.^[2]

References

1. ↑ al-Zarkali, Aa'laam (Arabic)
2. ↑ Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary

Muslim Scholars of the Maliki School
2nd Islamic Century (100 - 199 AH) (8th century CE)	Malik ibn Anas (founder of the school) Ibn al-Qasim Ibn Wahb Ibn Bashir Ali ibn Ziyad
3rd Islamic Century (200 - 299 AH) (9th century CE)	Ashhab Ibn Nafi' Ibn 'Abd al-Hakam Asad ibn al-Furat Ibn al-Majishun Ibn Nafi' az-Zubayri Ibn Maslama al-Makhzumi Mutarrif Ibn Maslama al-Qa'nabi Yahya al-Laithi Al-Asbagh Ibn Habib Sahnun Al-'Utbi Ibn Sahnun Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Hakam Ibn al-Mawwaz Qadi Isma'il
4th Islamic Century (300 - 399 AH) (10th century CE)	Ibn al-Jallab Ibn Sha'ban Ibn Shiblun Al-Abhari Ibn Abi Zayd
5th Islamic Century (400 - 499 AH) (11th century CE)	Al-Baqillani Ibn 'Abd al-Barr Al-Baji Al-Lakhmi Qadi 'Abd al-Wahhab
6th Islamic Century (500 - 599 AH) (12th century CE)	Ibn Rushd al-Jadd At-Turtushi Sanad ibn 'Inan Al-Maziri Qadi Ayyad Averroes Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi
7th Islamic Century (600 - 699 AH) (13th century CE)	Ibn Shas Ibn al-Hajib Ibn Daqiq al-Eid al-Qurtubi al-Qarafi
8th Islamic Century (700 - 799 AH) (14th century CE)	Ibn al-Haj Ibn Farhun Ash-Shatibi Ibn Juzayy Khalil ibn-Ishaq Al-Fakihani
9th Islamic Century (800 - 899 AH) (15th century CE)	Ibn Marzuq Al-Mawwaq Ibn 'Arafa Ibn Khaldun Ahmad Zarruq
10th Islamic Century (900 - 999 AH) (16th century CE)	Al-Akhdari At-Tata'i Al-Hattab 'Abd ar-Rahman al-Ujhuri Nasir ud-Deen al-Laqqani Ali ibn Qasim al-Zaqqaq Al-Wansharisi
11th Islamic Century (1000 - 1099 AH) (17th century CE)	Al-Ujhuri Al-Laqani Az-Zurqani Ibn Ashir Mayyara
12th Islamic Century (1100 - 1199 AH) (18th century CE)	Al-Kharashi Al-'Adawi An-Nafrawi Al-Bannani Ad-Dardir
13th Islamic Century (1200 - 1299 AH) (19th century CE)	Ad-Desouki As-Sawi 'Illish Al-'Adawi
14th Islamic Century (1300 - 1399 AH) (20th century CE)	Abdallah Bin Bayyah Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki Mohamed Taher Ben Achour Mohamed Fadhel Ben Achour Al-Habib Bin Tahir Hamza Yusuf