Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi

Abū Manṣūr ʿAbd al-Qāhir ibn Ṭāhir bin Muḥammad bin ʿAbd Allāh al-Tamīmī al-Shāfiʿī al-Baghdādī , more commonly known as Abd al-Qāhir al-Baghdādī or simply Abū Manṣūr al-Baghdādī was an Arab Sunni scholar from Baghdad. He was considered a leading Ash'arite theologian and Shafi'i jurist. He was an accomplished legal theoretician, man of letters, poet, prosodist, grammarian, heresiologist and mathematician.

Life 'Abd al-Qahir al-Baghdadi was born and raised in Baghdad. He was a member of the Arab tribe of Banu Tamim. Among the Ashari imams of the third generation, he is the senior of al-Bayhaqi and the identical contemporary of Abu Dharr al-Harawi and Abu Muhammad al-Juwayni.

Reception Abu Uthman al-Sabuni highly praised him and said: “one of the imams of the principles of the Religion and foremost authorities of Islam by consensus of its most eminent and competent scholars.”

Works 'Abd al-Qahir al-Baghdadi was a prolific writer who wrote on numerous subjects and authored several quality books including Kitāb Uṣūl al-Dīn, a systematic treatise, beginning with the nature of knowledge, creation, how the Creator is known, His attributes, etc.... and Al-Farq bayn al-Firaq which takes each sect separately, judges all from the standpoint of orthodoxy and condemns all which deviate from the straight path. Both books were major works on the beliefs of Ahl al-Sunna. His other following known works include:

al-Takmila fi'l-Hisab, a treatise that contain results in number theory, and comments on works by al-Khwarizmi which are now lost. Ahkam al-Wat' al-Tamm, also known as Iltiqa' al-Khitanayn, a book on sexual ethics and pertaining laws in Islam, in four volumes. Bulugh al-Mada min Usul al-Huda Fada'ih al-Karramiyya Fada'ih al-Mu`tazila al-Fakhir fi al-Awa'il wa al-Awakhir Ibtal al-Qawl bi al-Tawallud al-`Imad fi Mawarith al-`Ibad, on inheritance laws. al-Iman wa Usuluh al-Kalam wa al-Wa`id Manaqib al-Imam al-Shafi`i Mashariq al-Nur wa Madarik al-Surur fi al-Kalam al-Milal wa al-Nihal, a heresiological reference-work. Mi`yar al-Nazar Nafy Khalq al-Qur'an Naqd Abi `Abd Allah al-Jurjani fi Tarjih Madhhab Abi Hanifa, in which he states that Imam al-Shafi`i authored a book in refutation of Brahmans in which he adduces the proofs of Prophethood. Nasikh al-Qur'an wa Mansukhuh al-Qadaya fi al-Dawr wa al-Wasaya Sharh Hadith Iftiraq Ummati `ala Ihda wa Sab`in Firqa Sharh Miftah Ibn al-Qass, a book on Shafi`i law. Al-Asma wa al-Sifat Tafdil al-Faqir al-Sabir `ala al-Ghani al-Shakir Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Tahsil fi al-Usul al-Takmila fi al-Hisab Ta'wil Mutashabih al-Akhbar