Ibn al-Qasim

'Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Qasim al-'Utaqi
The tomb of Ibn al-Qasim in the Qarafa cemetery in Cairo.
Title	Ibn al-Qasim
Born	750 CE (132 AH) Egypt
Died	806 CE (191 AH) Egypt
Ethnicity	Arab
Era	Abbasid Caliphate
Region	Medina and Egypt
Religion	Islam
Jurisprudence	Maliki
Main interest(s)	Fiqh
Notable work(s)	Main oral transmitter of Sahnun's Mudawwana

'Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Qasim al-'Utaqi (750 – 806) (132 AH – 191 AH ), better known as Ibn al-Qasim was a prominent early jurist in the Maliki school from Egypt. He was one of Malik's main companions and had a tremendous influence in recording the positions of the school. Ibn al-Qasim was the source for Sahnun in his Mudawwana, a record of Malik's teachings. He has the same position in the Maliki school as Muhammad al-Shaybani has in the Hanafi school, in so far as both of them transmitted their respective schools and made free use of ijtihad (independent reasoning). Ibn al-Qasim had opinions which differed from those of Malik, to the point that it was said that he was dominated by opinion.

Life

Ibn al-Qasim's full name was 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn ibn al-Qasim al-'Utaqi although he was well known as Ibn al-Qasim. He was born in Egypt in a mosque known as the 'Utaqi Mosque in the mid 8th century CE at a time when the Abbasids took control of the Muslim world from the Umayyads. Ibn al-Qasim's origins were from the Palestinian town of Ramla. He was a descendant from the slaves of Ta'if whom the Prophet Muhammad had freed. Ibn al-Qasim's father was in the Dewan, and he used the money he inherited from him for his studies.

He travelled from Egypt to Medina after what is recorded as a visionary dream and after having been drawn to gatherings of religious knowledge in Egypt. In Medina, he met Malik as well as Ibn Wahb, another of Malik's famous companions. Ibn al-Qasim kept the company of Malik for the relatively long period of about twenty years. It was from him that he learned his fiqh (jurisprudence). In Medina he also met Al-Layth, Ibn al-Majishun and Muslim ibn Khalid al-Zanji. Many people related from him and consulted him about Malik's fatwas. Ibn Wahb used to say, "If you want this business – meaning the fiqh of Malik – you must have Ibn al-Qasim. He is unique in it". His transmission of the Muwatta is considered to be the soundest transmission, and Sahnun learned the contents of the Mudawwana, the most comprehensive collection of Maliki fiqh, from him. Thus he can be considered as the main transmitter of Maliki fiqh, for the Mudawwana is its chief source.^[1]

Ibn al-Qasim was generally known for his vast knowledge. When Malik was asked about him and Ibn Wahb, he replied that Ibn Wahb was a knowledgeble man whilst Ibn al-Qasim was a true faqih (jurist).^[2] He was also known as having ascetic qualities and spent much of his time reciting the Quran such that he would finish many readings in a short space of time. On his return to Egypt he refused to marry the daughters of wealthy officials and generally kept clear of the ruling class. He died in Egypt at the age of 63 in the month of Safar, 191 AH (806 CE) three days after returning from a trip to Mecca. Ibn al-Qasim left behind him two sons Abd ar-Rahman and 'Umar.^[3]

References

1. ↑ Excerpt from the section on Imam Malik in The Four Imams by Muhammad Abu Zahrah
2. ↑ Qadi Iyad, Tartib al-Madarik, Vol.3, p.245.
3. ↑ Qadi Iyad, Tartib al-Madarik, Vol.3, p.260

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