Shaykh al-Islam facts for kids

Shaykh ul-Islam Mehmet Cemaleddin Efendi during the reign of Ottoman Sultan and Caliph Abdul Hamid II

Shaykh al-Islam (Arabic: شيخ الإسلام) (English: "the Elder of Islam" or "the Master of Islam") is a title of respect for outstanding scholars of Islam. The title may also be used for the chief expert in Islamic Law of a city or kingdom.

The title shaykh al-Islam was reserved for very few scholars. Usually those with the greatest merits.

Scholars

There were not many scholars known as shaykh al-Islam. The title was used for the following scholars:

• Ibn Surayj (249–306 A.H.)
• Al-Daraqutni (306–385 A.H.)
• Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani (336–430 A.H.)
• Abu Hamid al-Isfarayini (344–406 A.H.)
• Al-Bayhaqi (384–458 A.H.)
• Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi (393–476 A.H.)
• Al-Juwayni (419–478 A.H.)
• Ibn al-Jawzi (509/510–597 A.H.)
• Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (544–606 A.H.)
• Al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam (577–660 A.H.)
• Ibn Daqiq al-'Id (625–702 A.H.)
• Al-Nawawi (631–676 A.H.)
• Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 A.H.) The Hanafi scholar 'Ala' al-Din al-Bukhari said that anyone gives Ibn Taymiyya the title "Shaykh al-Islam" is a kafir (disbeliever).
• Taqi al-Din al-Subki (683–756 A.H.)
• Taj al-Din al-Subki (727–771 A.H.)
• Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (773–852 A.H.)
• Zakariyya al-Ansari (823–926 A.H.)
• Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (909–974 A.H.)
• Siraj al-Din al-Bulqini (724–805 A.H.)
• Shihab al-Din al-Ghazzi (000–822 A.H.)
• Shihab al-Din al-Ramli (000–957 A.H.)
• Muhammad al-Tahir ibn 'Ashur (1296–1392 A.H.)
• Abdel-Halim Mahmoud (1328–1397 A.H.)

Additional reading

• Al-Dhahabi, Siyar a'lam al-nubala' ('Biographies of Noble Personalities').

Images for kids

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  Shaykh al-Islām in different languages

See also

In Spanish: Shayj al-islam para niños