Muhibullah Bihari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Qadi Muhibullah al-Bihārī (also known as Muḥibballāh b. ʿAbd Shakūr al-Bihārī; died 1119 AH / 1707 AD) was a Hanafi jurist, logician, and scholar active in late Mughal India. Known particularly for his contributions to Islamic logic and Usul al-Fiqh (principles of jurisprudence), he was a prolific author whose Salm al-Ulum became a basic textbook in the madrasas of South Asia, creating a vast exegetical tradition.[1][2]
Qāḍī Muhibullah al-Bihārī | |
|---|---|
مُحِبُالله البِهاری | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Muhib, Alipur, Bihar (present-day India) |
| Died | 1119 AH / 1707 CE |
| Nationality | Mughal India (modern-day India) |
| Main interest(s) | Islamic logic (Mantiq), Usul al-Fiqh |
| Notable work(s) | Sullam al-ʿUlūm (“Ladder of the Sciences”) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni |
| Jurisprudence | Hanafi |
| Senior posting | |
Influenced
| |
Early life and background
Muhibullah was born in Muhib, Alipur, Bihar (present-day India). In his early youth, he migrated to Awadh, where he pursued advanced studies in Islamic sciences and philosophy.[3]
Scholarly career
Muhibullah emerged as a leading figure in the scholarly and religious circles of northern India during the late seventeenth century. He served as the Qadi of Lucknow under Mughal administration. His legal expertise is also noted in connection with the monumental compilation of the Fatawa 'Alamgiri, a comprehensive digest of Hanafi jurisprudence commissioned by Emperor Aurangzeb.[4]
Works
- Sullam al-ʻulūm:[5] Muhibullah’s most renowned work is Sullam al-ʿUlūm (“The Ladder of Sciences”), completed before his death in 1707. It became an essential part of the Dars-i-Nizami curriculum and earned great popularity in madrasas and scholarly circles across India and beyond.[6][7] The work attracted numerous commentaries by later scholars.[8]
- Musallim al-thubūt مسلم الثبوت. 1879.
- "كتاب ال"مستصفى من علم الاصول. "ال"مطبعة الاميرية،. 1904.
Intellectual influence
Bihari is remembered as part of the tradition of Indian Muslim scholars who contributed to philosophy, metaphysics, and rational sciences. Alongside figures such as Mulla Mahmud Jaunpuri and Mulla Ghulam Yahya Bihari.[9]