الرحلةThe Journey

العز بن عبد السلام

al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam (RH)

Also known as: Sultan al-'Ulama'

577–660 AH · 1181–1262 CE

Fiqh Shafi'i

'Sultan of the Scholars', the Shafi'i jurist famous for speaking truth to rulers.

Al-'Izz grew up poor in Damascus and became its leading jurist and the preacher of the Umayyad Mosque. When the ruler of Damascus handed fortresses to the Crusaders in return for an alliance, he condemned it from the pulpit, was dismissed and imprisoned, and then left for Egypt.

In Cairo he served as chief judge and preacher. It is reported that he declared the Mamluk commanders to be legally still slaves and insisted they be sold for the public treasury before they could hold office, which earned him the title Sultan al-'Ulama', the Sultan of the Scholars. His Qawa'id al-Ahkam fi Masalih al-Anam is a classic on the aims and benefits behind Islamic law.

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Life journey

  1. 1181 CE Damascus دمشق
    Preacher of the Umayyad Mosque.
  2. 1241 CE Cairo (al-Qahira) القاهرة
    Died 1262 CE · 660 AH
    Left Damascus after opposing its ruler's alliance with the Crusaders.

Students

  • al-Qarafi (RH) 1228–1285 CE
    Al-Qarafi studied with 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam in Cairo.

Key works

  • Qawa'id al-Ahkam قواعد الأحكام في مصالح الأنام
    Principles of Rulings
    On the benefits and aims behind Islamic law.

Places in their life

The courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
The courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The courtyard of al-Azhar, Cairo
The courtyard of al-Azhar, Cairo
Photo: CumaliOnal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • Taj al-Din al-Subki, Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyya al-Kubra
  • al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
The story of 'selling the emirs' is reported by al-Subki; please check whether to keep it.