الرحلةThe Journey

أبو القاسم القشيري

al-Qushayri (RH)

Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri

376–465 AH · 986–1072 CE

Sufism & Theology Shafi'i Sufism Theology

Author of al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah, the classic handbook of Sufism.

Al-Qushayri came to Nishapur to learn accounting and instead became the disciple and son-in-law of the Sufi master Abu 'Ali al-Daqqaq. He was also a Shafi'i jurist and Ash'ari theologian, and he was briefly forced to leave Khurasan when Ash'aris were persecuted.

His al-Risalah, written in 437 AH, presents the biographies of the early masters and explains the Sufi terms and stations, all grounded in the Quran and Sunnah. It aimed to defend Sufism against corruption and became one of its most widely read textbooks. He also wrote the Quran commentary Lata'if al-Isharat.

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Life journey

  1. 986 CE Nishapur نيسابور
    Died 1072 CE · 465 AH
    Born near Nishapur; went to the city to learn accounting and stayed to study the Sufi path.

Key works

  • al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah الرسالة القشيرية
    The Epistle on Sufism
    The classic handbook of Sufi terms, stations and masters.

Sources

  • Taj al-Din al-Subki, Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyya al-Kubra
  • al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.