Had it not been for him, the plains of Ceuta would not have thrived!

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

At the end of the fifth century AH, specifically in the year 476 AH, the esteemed author of "Ash-Shifa'," the eminent judge, distinguished hadith scholar, and Literary Scholar[1], Qadi ^Iyad ibnu Al-‘Andalus son of ^Iyad son of ^Amr son of Al-‘Andalus son of ^Iyad al-Yahsubiyy al-Sabtiyy al-Gharnatiyy al-Malikiyy, was born.

This century marked a period of flourishing sciences and arts in Al-‘Andalus, which began to rival the East in scholarly and literary achievements, greatly supported and nurtured by the caliphal courts.

His Name and Lineage

The eminent scholar, the peerless memorizer, Shaykh of Islam, Qadi ‘Abu l-Fadl ^Iyad ibnu Al-‘Andalus son of ^Iyad son of ^Amr son of Al-‘Andalus son of ^Iyad al-Yahsubiyy al-Sabtiyy al-Gharnatiyy al-Malikiyy, was born in the year 476 AH in the town of Ceuta. His ancestors had migrated from ‘Al-Andalus to Fez, eventually settling in Ceuta. His lineage, may Allah have mercy on him, traces back to Yahsub ibnu Malik, the chief of a Yemenite tribe, making him of pure Arab descent.

His Early Life

Qadi ^Iyad did not pursue knowledge from an early age. The first thing he received from the scholar ‘Abu ^Aliyy al-Ghassaniyy was a mere authorization, despite having had the opportunity to hear from him, as he lived twenty-two years during his lifetime.

He travelled to Al-‘Andalus around the year 500 AH, where he consistently in the company of Qadi ‘Abu ^Aliyy ibnu Sukkarah al-Sadafiyy, and narrated from him, as well as from ‘Abu Bahr ibnu l-^As, Muhammad ibnu Hamdin, ‘Abu l-Husayn Siraju s-Saghir, ‘Abu  Muhammad ibn Attab, Hisham ibn Ahmad, and several others. He studied jurisprudence under ‘Abu ^Abdi l-Lah Muhammad ibn ^Isa at-Tamimiyy and Qadi Muhammad ibnu ^Abdi l-Lah al-Masiliyy. According to Qadi Ibnu Khillikan, Qadi ^Iyad had nearly one hundred teachers.

He achieved a status and prominence in his hometown unparalleled by anyone before him, which only increased his humility and fear of Allah Almighty.

His knowledge

Qadi ‘Abu l-Fadl was a leading figure of his time in hadith and its branches, collecting a vast number of hadiths and showing great dedication and interest in compiling and documenting them. He was proficient in various branches of knowledge, vigilant, and quick to understand.

He was also knowledgeable in interpretation (Tafsir) and all its branches, a jurist (Faqih), expert in theology (‘Usul), and adept in Arabic grammar, language, and the speech of the Arabs, their history, and genealogies. He had keen insight into legal judgments, adhered strictly to the rules, and safeguarded the Malikiyy school of thought, may Allah have mercy upon him. He was an accomplished poet, an eloquent orator, patient, gentle, and kind in companionship. He was generous, frequently charitable, diligent in his work, steadfast in truth, and possessed excellent prose and poetic skills, sharp insight, and quick wit. He was one of the trustworthy preservers and distinguished memorizers.  He was devoted to writing, compiling, collecting, and authoring widely recognized compositions across the regions.

Notable Remarks by Scholars

Khalaf ibnu Bashkuwal said: He was among the erudite, distinguished by his versatility, intelligence, and profound understanding. He served as a judge in Ceuta for a long period, earning praise for his conduct. He was later transferred to the judiciary of Granada, but did not stay there long, and then came to Cordoba, where we learned from him.

The jurist Muhammad ibnu Hamadah al-Sabtiyy said: Qadi ^Iyad began engaging in scholarly debates when he was about twenty-eight years old and assumed judicial office at thirty-five. He was gentle yet firm and unwavering in his commitment to justice. He studied jurisprudence under ‘Abu ^Abdi l-Lah at-Tamimiyy and was a companion of the jurist ‘Abu ‘Ishaq ibnu Ja^far.

Qadi Shamsu d-Din, in "Wafayatu l-A^yan" stated: He was the leading hadith scholar of his time, the most knowledgeable in its branches, and grammar, Arabic language, Arab history, and genealogy.

Many scholars narrated from him, including Imam ^Abdu l-Lah ibnu Muhammad al-‘Ashiriyy, ‘Abu Ja^far ibnu l-Qasir al-Gharnatiyy, the memorizer (Muhaddith) Khalaf ibnu Bashkuwal, ‘Abu  Muhammad ibn Ubaydullah al-Hajari, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Jabiri, and his son Qadi Muhammad ibnu ^Iyad, judge of Dénia.

His Works

In his era, no one in Ceuta authored more works than him. His notable books include "Ash-Shifa''u fi Sharafi l-Mustafa", "Tartibu l-madarik wa taqribu l-masalik fi dhikr Fuqaha'i Madh-habi Malik", "Al-^aqidah", "Sharhu hadithi ‘Ummi Zar^", and "Jami^u t-tarikh", which surpasses all other compositions, compiling the history of the kings of Al-‘Andalus and the Maghreb, encompassing the history of Ceuta and its scholars. Other significant works include "Mashariqu l-‘Anwar fi Iqtifa' Sahihi l-‘Athar", "’Ikmalu l-mu^allim fi sharhi Sahih Muslim", completing the work of al-Maziriyy. And also his book "At-Tanbihat" which contains both benefits and rare insights, and all of its compositions are ingenious. Its most distinguished and noble work is "Ash-Shifa''". May Allah reward him for his good intentions and benefit many through his book "Ash-Shifa''"," which He has already done. Qadi ^Iyad authored numerous other smaller compositions, that some scholars numbered thirty.

The Book of "Ash-Shifa''"

One of the most significant works authored by Judge Qadi ^Iyad is certainly the book "Ash-Shifa''". His peers acknowledged his unparalleled expertise in this field, and no one disputed the uniqueness of his contribution, and no one denied the merit of his precedence. The book's profound impact and scholarly value were immediately recognised, leading scholars and intellectuals from all over to study and benefit from its contents. People held it in high regard, and its copies spread far and wide, both to the East and West. It was circulated among the hands of scholars from every nation for study and understanding so that no home of a virtuous scholar, a noble ascetic, or a devoted lover of knowledge was devoid of it.

Imam Ibnu l-Muqri al-Yamaniyy ash-Shafi^iyy, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned in his collection of poetry that the book "Ash-Shifa''" is among those works whose blessings have been witnessed. He had been afflicted with an illness, and upon reading it, Allah cured him of it. He expressed this in his verses:

مَا بِالكِتَابِ هَوَايَ وَلَكِنَّ الهَوَى
أَمسَى بِمَا أَمسَى بِهِ مَكتُوبًا
My love does not reside in the book's spine,
But in the words that within it intertwine.

كَالدُّورِ يَهوَى العَاشِقُونَ بِذِكرِهَا
شَغَفًا بِهَا لِشُمُولِهَا المَحبُوبَا
Like the residence that lovers passionately mention,
For being the shelters where their beloved mansion

Furthermore, Imam ‘Abu l-Hasan ^Aliyy ibnu l-Kamal Muhammad ibnu ^Aliyy at-Tamimiyy al-Hamdaniyy ash-Shafi^iyy, in the year 744 AH, at the Mosque of ^Amr ibn l-^As in Egypt, composed these verses in praise:

يَا سَبتَةً فِيهَا العُلُومُ تَجَمَّعَت
مَا أَنتِ إِلَّا مَشرِقٌ وَضِيَاءُ
O Ceuta, where knowledge gathers bright,
You are the dawn, a beacon of light.

يَا قَاضِيًا بِالحَقِّ فِي أَحكَامِهِ
لَم يُنسَ عِندَ اللهِ مِنكَ قَضَاءُ
O Qadi, with truth in your rulings you weigh,
Not forgotten by Allah, your judgments hold sway.

يَا مَالِكِيًّا مَالِكًا رُتَبَ العُلَا
بِجِنَانِ رِضوَانٍ لَدَيكَ عَلَاءُ
O Malikiyy, in highest ranks you stand,
In gardens of bliss, honoured grand

These verses beautifully encapsulate the profound respect and admiration held for Qadi ^Iyad and his monumental work, "Ash-Shifa''". His contributions to Islamic scholarship, particularly in the fields of hadith and jurisprudence continue to inspire scholars and students to this day.

His Passing (may Allah have mercy on him)

He passed away in the year 544 AH, in the month of Ramadan, though some say in the month of Jumada l-Akhirah on a Friday night in Marrakech. His son passed away in the year 575 AH. Ibnu Bashkuwal mentioned that Qadi ^Iyad died in exile, in the middle of the year 544 AH. The poet ^Aliyy ibnu Harun praised him saying:

ظَلَمُوا عِيَاضًا وَهوَ يَحلُمُ      عَنهُمُ وَالظُّلمُ بَينَ العَالَمِينَ قَدِيمُ
They wronged ^Iyad while he forgave their slight,
For oppression among men is an age-old blight.

جَعَلوا مَكان الراءِ عينا في اسمهِ        كَي يَكتموه وَشأنه مَعلومُ
They swapped a 'ra’' for an ‘^ayn' in his name,
To conceal it but widespread is his fame.

لَولَاهُ مَا فَاحَت أَبَاطِحُ سَبتَةٍ   وَالرَّوضُ حَولَ فِنَائِهَا مَعدُومُ
Had it not been for him, the plains of Ceuta would not have thrived,
And the garden surrounding its courtyard would have remained deprived.

Sources

These issues are compiled and summarized from:

• The Noble Qur'an.
• Siyaru A^lami n-Nubala' by Ibnu Kathir.
• Tahdhibu l-Kamal by Al-Hafidh Al-Mizziyy.
• ‘Ikmalu l-Mu^allim by Qadi ^Iyad.
• Ash-Shifa' bi-Ta^rifi Huquqi l-Mustafa by Qadi ^Iyad.
• Mu^jamu l-buldan by Yaqut al-Hamawiyy.
• Wafayatu l-A^yan by Ibnu Khallikan.
• Al-Misbahu l-Munir by Al-Fayyumiyy.

 [1] Literary Scholar." This term typically refers to someone who combines literary knowledge with scholarly expertise, particularly in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). They are adept at interpreting religious texts with a refined literary style, making religious texts more accessible and engaging to a wider audience.