1283H-1332H: Imaam Jamaal-ud-Deen bin Muhammad Al-Qaasimee

1283H-1332H: Imaam Jamaal-ud-Deen bin Muhammad Al-Qaasimee

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He was Jamaal-ud-Deen or Muhammad Jamaal-ud-Deen bin Muhammad bin Sa’eed bin Qaasim Al-Hallaaq, from the descendants of the Prophet’s grandson, Al-Hasan. He was the Imaam of the area of Shaam (Syria) during his time – a scholar of the Religion and an expert in the scientific disciplines.

He was born in 1283H (1866 CE) and he passed away on 1332H (1914 CE) while in Damascus.

He was Salafee in ‘Aqeedah, meaning he took his Creed from the righteous Muslims of the first generations, and he did not perform nor encourage taqleed (blind following of scholars). The government commissioned him to travel and give general classes throughout the towns and lands of Syria. So he took on and fulfilled this duty for four years from 1308H to 1312H. Then he journeyed to Egypt and visited Madeenah (in Saudi Arabia).

But when he returned to Syria, those who were jealous of him accused him of trying to establish a new madh-hab(school of thought) in the Religion, which they called “the Jamaalee Madh-hab.” Because of this, the government became angry with him and questioned him about it in 1312H. The Shaikh refuted the accusation and his case was subsequently dismissed.

He then withdrew himself from the public and remained in his home for the purpose of writing and giving general and specialized lessons on the subjects of Tafseer, Islamic sciences and other disciplines. Many of his Islamic works of research and study were circulated in magazines and booklets, which have been examined and estimated to consist of seventy-two works.

Amongst these works are:
1. Dalaa’il-ut-Tawheed [Evidences of Allaah’s Oneness]
2. Deewaan Khutab [Poetic Admonitions]
3. Al-Fataawaa fil-Islaam [Religious Verdicts in Islam]
4. Irshaad-ul-Khalq ilal-‘amal bi-Khabr-il-Buraq
5. Sharh Laqtat-ul-‘Ajalaan
6. An-Nasaa’ih as-Sukkaaniyyah [Advice to Household]
7. Madhaahib-ul-A’araab wa Filasufat-ul-Islaam fil-Jinn [A book on the Jinn}
8. Sharaf al-Asbaat [Virtues of the Prophet’s Grandchildren]
9. Tanbeeh-utTaalib ilaa Ma’arifat-il-Fard wal-Waajib [Understanding of the terms Fard and Waajib]
10. Jawaami’-ul-Adab fee Akhlaaq-il-Injaab [A book on Good Manners]
11. Islaah-ul-Masaajid minal-Bid’i wal-‘Awaa’id [Cleansing the Masaajid from Innovations and Traditions]
12. Ta’teer-ush-Shaam fee Maathar Dimashq wa Shaam (4 volumes) [Collection of the Narrations on Damascus and Syria]
13. Qawaa’id at-Tahdeeth [Principles of Narrating Hadeeth]
14. Mahaasin-ut-Ta’weel fee Tafseer al-Qur’aan-ul-Kareem (17 volumes) [A Qur’aanic Interpretation]
15. Al-Mas’h ‘alaal-Jawrabayn [Wiping over the Socks]
16. Al-Jarh wat-Ta’deel [The Science of Criticizing and Praising Individuals]
17. Maw’idhat-ul-Mu’mineen min Ihyaa ‘Uloom-id-Deen [Admonition to the Believers from the book Ihyaa ‘Uloom-id-Deen]

In his introduction to one of the Imaam’s books “Al-Mas’h ‘alaal-Jawrabayn”, the great scholar of Egypt, Shaikh Ahmad Shaakir wrote:

“Our teacher, the scholar of Shaam, Muhammad Jamaal-ud-Deen Al-Qaasimee Ad-Dimashqee (rahimahullaah) wrote a valuable treatise on the subject of Wiping over the Socks (during Ablution). It was printed in Damascus in 1332H. I remember reading it and gaining tremendous knowledge and certainty from it. This was a long time ago, when we were at the starting point of our adolescence, searching for authentic knowledge – knowledge of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. We were very eager to find the books of the Salaf as-Saalih and the books of those who followed their methodology from the contemporary writers – those who held onto the prophetic guidance and followed the authentic proofs, without being biased to a particular opinion or vain desire and without resorting to taqleed. At the head of those who treaded this firm methodology was our teacher, Al-Qaasimee,rahimahullaah. He visited Egypt before he passed away and I was one of the students of knowledge who would call him and accompany him and who benefited from his directing us towards the straight and firm path.” [1]

The Shaikh died in Damascus in 1332H at the age of 49, may Allaah have mercy on him.

Dhaafir Al-Qaasimee has written a book about the Shaikh called “Jamaal-ud-Deen and his Era.” Also refer to the book Al-A’alaam of Az-Zirkilee: vol. 2, pg. 135 of the fourth Edition, 1979; printed by Daar al-‘Ilm Lil-Malaayeen.

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Footnotes:

[1] See Al-Mas’h ‘alaal Jawrabayn with Intro by Ahmad Shaakir and Checking by Al-Albaanee: Page 3 of Maktab al-Islami Edition (1986)