Shaykh al-Islam facts for kids

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

The Shaykh al-Islam (pronounced "Shayk al-Is-lam") is a very important title in Islam. It means "the Elder of Islam" or "the Master of Islam." This special title is given to scholars who are considered experts in Islamic knowledge and law.

Sometimes, the title was also given to the main expert in Islamic Law for a whole city or even a kingdom. It was a title of great respect, given only to a few scholars who had shown outstanding skill and wisdom.

Who Were the Shaykh al-Islam?

Not many scholars were known by the title Shaykh al-Islam. It was usually reserved for those with the greatest achievements in Islamic studies and law. Here are some of the scholars who were given this important title:

• 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.)
• 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.)

More to Read

• 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