الرحلةThe Journey

أبو بكر الباقلاني

al-Baqillani (RH)

Abu Bakr al-Baqillani

338–403 AH · 950–1013 CE

Sufism & Theology Maliki Theology Fiqh

Maliki judge and leading Ash'ari theologian, author of I'jaz al-Quran.

Al-Baqillani was a Maliki judge who became the leading Ash'ari theologian of his generation, developing and systematising the school's arguments. The Buyid ruler sent him as an envoy to the Byzantine emperor, and stories of his quick replies at the Byzantine court were long remembered.

His I'jaz al-Quran argues that the Quran's inimitability lies in its unique literary composition, and al-Tamhid is an important work of Ash'ari theology.

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Life journey

  1. 950 CE Basra البصرة
  2. 975 CE Baghdad بغداد
    Died 1013 CE · 403 AH
    Taught and served as a judge in Baghdad; the year is approximate.

Key works

  • I'jaz al-Quran إعجاز القرآن
    The Inimitability of the Quran
    On why the Quran cannot be imitated.

Places in their life

al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
Photo: Taisir Mahdi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • al-Qadi 'Iyad, Tartib al-Madarik
  • al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.