Al-Halimi


Abū ʿAbdallāh al-Ḥalīmī al-Qāḍī al-Ḥusayn b. al-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. Ḥalīm al-Bukhārī al-Jurjānī al-Shāfiʿī also known as Al-Halimi, was a highly influential Sunni scholar and regarded as the foremost leading jurist, traditionist, and theologian in Transoxiana. He was one of the hadith masters who wrote significant works and was a prominent figure in the Shafi'i school of law and among the early Ash'aris.

Biography

Al-Halimi was born in the year to a free woman from Gorgan and his half-brother, Abū l-Faḍl al-Ḥasan, was born the same year to a female Turkic slave. The place where Al-Halimi was born is disputed. It was said that he was born in Gorgan and was raised in Bukhara. Other narration states he was born and raised in Bukhara. He studied hadith under several masters, including Abū Bakr b. Khanb and others. He studied jurisprudence under Abu Bakr al-Qaffal al-Marwazi and Abu Bakhr al-Udani. After mastering these sacred sciences, he became an alim of high consideration and authority in Transoxiana. He was known for his brilliant researching skills and treating points of the Shafi'i law. When he moved to Nishapur, he taught hadith scholars and others who gave narrations under his authority such as Al-Hakim and other hadith narrators.

Death

He died in the year of 403.

Influence

Many scholars who came after him would often quote him pertaining matters on creed and Usul al-dín. Al-Bayhaqi frequently transmitted his scholarship in his Shu'ab al-Iman and Al-Asma' wa al-Sifat.

Reception

The Shafi'i historian, Al-Dhahabi refers to Imam al-Halimi as the "Head of the Mutakallimīn and Muḥaddithīn" indicating his leadership among the practitioners of Kalam and scholars of Hadith. Al-Dhahabi also calls him "Shaykh al-Shāfiʿiyyah" indicating his leadership among the jurists in the Shafi'i school.