Al-Jassas

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين الصلاة والسلام على نبيه الكريم وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين

In the name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings upon His noble Prophet, upon his family and all of his companions.

Name and Lineage

His name is Ahmad ibn Ali ar-Razi, known as Al-Jassas. Al-Jassas is an attribution to his work with plastering. He was born in 305 AH. He lived in Baghdad and its jurists learned from him.

His Teachers and Students

Teachers

He studied under the scholars of Baghdad. He then went out to Ahwaz, and returned to Baghdad afterwards. After that, he went out to Naysaboor with its governor, based on the advice of Al-Karkhi, his shaykh. Some of those whom he studied under and narrated from:

1- Abu al-Hasan al-Karkhi. He took Fiqh from him, and his chain of knowledge goes him. Al-Karkhi passed away while Al-Jassas was in Naysaboor.

2- Abu Sahl az-Zujaji. He studied under Abu al-Hasan al-Karkhi in Baghdad, then to his home city, Naysaboor. There, its jurists learned under him, including Al-Jassas. The chain of al-Jassas also goes through him from al-Karkhi onwards till Abu Sa'eed from Isma'eel ibn Hammad ibn Abi Haneefah, and Abu Sa'eed from Moosa ibn Nusayr ar-Razi from Muhammad ibn al-Hasan.

3- Al-Qadhi 'Abd al-Baqi ibn Qani'. He was a truthful memorizer from Baghdad. Al-Jassas narrated hadeeth from him.

4- Sulayman ibn Ahmad at-Tabaraani. The famous and trustworthy imam. Al-Jassas narrated hadeeth from him.

Students

Due to his leadership in the madhhab, many studied under him. Some of them are:

1- Abu 'Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Jurjaani. The shaykh of Abu al-Husayn al-Qudoori.

2- Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Ahmad az-Za'faraani. He was a trustworthy imam and jurist. He studied Fiqh under Abu Bakr al-Jassas.

3- Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Moosa al-Khwarezmi. The imam and faqeeh of the madhhab in Baghdad. He was held in high regard by the nobles and the common people. It is reported he said regarding the fundamentals of the religion, "Our religion is what the old women are upon, and we have nothing to do with al-Kalam (i.e. 'Ilm al-Kalaam, theological rhetoric)." He studied under al-Jassas, from al-Karkhi from Abu Sa'eed from Moosa ar-Razi from Muhammad.

His Works

1- Ahkaam al-Quraan

He wrote an explanation [Tafseer] of the Quraan focused on the verses which are related to rulings of the sharee'ah. It is a priceless, and extremely benefical work where not only does he go over rulings, but also discusses them and mentions points related to those rulings.

2- Sharh Mukhtasar al-Karkhi

He also wrote an explanation of the Mukhtasar of his shaykh.

3- Sharh Mukhtasar at-Tahaawi

In its introduction, he mentions that some of his fellow scholars asked him to explain the book, so he wrote a comprehensive explanation of the Mukhtasar of at-Tahaawi.

4- Al-Fusool Fi al-Usool

A comprehensive and one of the oldest works relating to usool al-Fiqh of the madhhab. Al-Jassas is considered from the early scholars of usool al-Fiqh of the madhhab. The later works of principles are dependent on his book.

His Scholarly Standing

Al-Jassas holds a special position in the madhhab just like his shaykh, and his works have proved to be beneficial and important for those who seek to understand the madhhab. He is considered from the reliable mujtahids of the madhhab.

Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi says about him in at-Tareekh (5/72)

"The Imam of the people of opinion [i.e. Hanafis] in his time, he was famous for his asceticism and piety. He came to Baghdad in his youth and studied jurisprudence under Abu al-Hasan al-Karkhi and continued until the leadership came to him. Students of jurisprudence traveled to him, and he was asked to assume the position of chief judge, but he refused. He was asked again to take it, but he did not do it."

Haaji Khaleefah in his Tabaqaat (1/185) said about him,

"The shaykh, the Imam ... He was a learned jurist, the leadership of the school of thought in Baghdad passed to him, and students of jurisprudence traveled to him."

Al-Qaadhi Abu 'Abdullah as-Saymari said in Akhbaar Abi Haneefah (pg. 171):

"The teaching position in Baghdad was established for Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Ali ar-Razi, and the journey ended with him. He followed the path of those who preceded him in piety, asceticism, and integrity. He was approached twice to become the chief judge, but he declined."

Imam adh-Dhahabi said about him in Siyar 'Alaam an-Nubala' (16/341):

"The Imam, the learned scholar, the mufti, the mujtahid, the scholar of Iraq..."

And he said:

"He classified and compiled, and the scholars in Baghdad learned from him, and he is the ultimate authority in the knowledge of the madhhab (i.e. of the Hanafis). He came to Baghdad in his youth and settled there. With his brilliance in knowledge, he was also ascetic and devout."

It is said he was from the Mu'tazilah, and the evidence for that near them is what was contained in his books regarding the vision of Allaah in the Hereafter. What is correct in this matter is that he was not a Mu'tazili in principle, but he leaned towards their view regarding the vision and magic.

His Death

Al-Qaadhi Abu 'Abdullah as-Saymari said that Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Ali ar-Razi died in Dhu al-Hijjah of the year 370 AH. The shaykh of the judge, and student of Al-Jassas, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Moosa al-Khwarezmi prayed over him and buried him with his own hand.