Abd al-Baqi al-Zarqani

Full name: Abu Muhammad 'Abd al-Baqi ibn Yusuf ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Alwan az-Zurqani al-Misri al-Maliki al-Wafa'i.

Birth and death: He was born in Cairo in 1020 H (circa 1611), and died on the morning of Thursday 24 Ramadan 1099 H (July 1688) in Cairo. May Allah have mercy on him.

His place in the Umma: He was described as "the 'allama, the imam, the proof (al-hujja), honor of the scholars and reference of the Malikis." His masterpiece, Sharh 'ala Mukhtasar Khalil, is one of the most studied commentaries in the Maliki world, part of the three great commentaries upon which scholars rely to understand Khalil. His family produced two great scholars in two generations: the father, commentator of the Mukhtasar of Khalil, and the son Muhammad az-Zurqani, commentator of the Muwatta' of Malik. He taught at al-Azhar during the decades of its Maliki golden age. May Allah grant us benefit from his knowledge.