Abd al-Wahid ibn Ashir (1582 – 1631 CE) (AH 990 – 1042 AH ), commonly known as Ibn Ashir, or Sidi Ben Acher was a Moroccan jurist of the Maliki school of thought.^[1] His most well known work is the Al-Murshid al-Mu'een, a lengthy Qasidah which is meant to encourage learning of the Maliki fiqh.

Biography

Ibn Ashir was born in the year 1581, into a family of scholars.^[2] Ibn Ashir memorized the Holy Qur'an at a young age and mastered his hand at Arabic calligraphy. He also learned Qur'an recitation with scholars such as Abu'l Abbas Ahmad ibn Uthman al-Lamti and later on, Al-Shatibi. He studied the Maliki fiqh from several scholars including his cousin Abu'l Qasim.^[3]

At the age of 18, Ibn Ashir performed the Hajj pilgrimage, where he met with Abdullah Al-Danushari, a fellow scholar. Ibn Ashir became an associate with Sufism, having been trained in the spiritual path of Tasawwuf from the Sufi mystic, Sidi Muhammad Al-Tajibi.^[4]

Works

Al-Murshid al-Mu'een This book is a lengthy Qasidah compiling the Maliki fiqh. It includes an introduction to the Ash'ari creed, as well as several references to Sufism.

Jawahir al-Durar ‘ala Mukhtasar Khalil (The Jewels of the Pearls of the Mukhtasar of Khalil) A compilation of excerpts from the Mukthasar of Khalil, which Ibn Ashir found to be rather beneficial.

Death

Ibn Ashir died in 1631 from an illness. He was buried near the coast of Salé, where the Sultan Moulay Abdullah would later erect a large mausoleum and hospice complex over his grave.^[5] Around his grave a massive necropolis eventually was developed.^[6]

The mausoleum of Ibn Ashir.

See also

• List of Islamic scholars
• List of Ash'aris and Maturidis

References