Ibn Dihya al-Kalby

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For the companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, see
Dihyah Kalbi
.

Ibn Dihya al-Kalby
BornMarch 1150 (1150-03)
Zahiri

Umar bin al-Hasan bin Ali bin Muhammad bin al-Jamil bin Farah bin Khalaf bin Qumis bin Mazlal bin Malal bin Badr bin Dihyah bin Farwah, better known as Ibn Dihya al-Kalbi (

Arabic language and Islamic studies.[3] He preferred to be called Abu al-Khattab, though at various times he was also referred to as Ibn al-Jumayyil, Majd al-Din, Abu al-Fadl or simply Ibn Dihya.[4]

Lineage

Kalbi claimed paternal descent from a prominent

Fatimah
.

Kalbi's lineage was not universally accepted. While

biographer Ibn Khallikan accepted the conventional telling of Kalbi's family line,[3] historian al-Dhahabi disputed Kalbi's claim, making a counter claim that the latter's family tree could not be substantiated.[7]

Biography

Early life

While Ibn Diyha is generally acknowledged to have been born in Valencia,[6] conflicting reports have been given regarding Kalbi's exact date of birth.[4] Ibn Khallikan held the view that Kalbi was born in March 1150, despite the fact that he was personally informed by Kalbi's son and nephew that Kalbi was born in February 1152.[1]

Kalbi initially pursued the study of Islamic

Ibn Maḍāʾ,[6] chief judge of the Almohad Caliphate, and held immense respect for his teacher, who he referred to as "leader of all grammarians."[9]

Career

In addition to his renown as a linguistic scholar, Kalbi was also considered to be from the scholars of

chain of narration is recognized by later scholars of the field. A number of these later scholars also narrated either directly from him or through his chain, such as Ibn al-Salah.[2]

While in Andalus, Kalbi was appointed as the judge of

Nisapur before returning to Egypt.[6]

Kalbi taught the Ayyubid Sultan Al-Kamil basic academic subjects and proper etiquette during the latter's youth. Later in life, Al-Kamil built an entire school for Kalbi to teach and pursue the study of Prophetic narrations.[2] Al-Kamil would eventually replace Kalbi with his older brother Abu Amr bin Dihya al-Kalbi, also an expert in the Arabic language, as the director of the school, a position which the older brother held until his own death.[1]

Death

Kalbi died in Cairo on Tuesday, the 14th of the

Rabi' al-awwal, in the Hijri year 633, corresponding to November 1235.[1][2][10] He was roughly 89 years old according to the Islamic calendar, and 86 years old according to the Gregorian calendar
. His death was during Ayyubid rule in what is now Egypt.

He was buried at the foot of the Mokattam mountain range outside of Cairo.[1] His older brother, Abu Amr, died almost two years later in January 1237; he also died on a Tuesday, and was buried at the foot of the same mountain range.[1]

Evaluation of Kalbi's contribution to Islamic studies has been difficult due to his controversial nature among Muslim historians during the Middle Ages. Critics in the Muslim east have accused Kalbi of plagiarism and dishonesty, while those in the Muslim west praised Kalbi highly and referenced his education and efforts in learning.[6]

Works

At the request Al-Kamil, he wrote his most famous work: "al-Motrib min Ashaar Ahl al-Maghrib" "

Arabic: المطرب من أشعار أهل المغرب" (loosely translated: Rhymes from the poetry of the people of the Maghreb) which was a collection of short biographies of the poets of Al-Andalus and Morocco, including their most famous poems. He also wrote "al-Tanwir fi Mawlid al-Bashir al-Nadhir" about the birthday of Muhammad. His work preserved some of the oral traditions of the time as well as details of the poets' lives.[5][11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, translated by William McGuckin de Slane. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. Sold by Institut de France and Royal Library of Belgium. Vol. 2, pg. 384.
  2. ^ a b c d Al-Suyuti, Baghiyat al-Wu'at fee Tabaqat al-Lughawiyyin wa al-Nuhat, volume 2, page 218
  3. ^ a b c Ibn Khallikan, pg. 384.
  4. ^ a b F. de la Granja, Ibn Diḥya. Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Brill Online, 2013. Reference. 9 January 2013
  5. ^ a b c al-Husaini al-Miliani, Ali. "ترجمة أبي الخطّاب ابن دحية". al-milani.com. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  6. ^
    Encyclopedia of Islam, vol. III, H-IRAM, pg. 747 Eds. Bernard Lewis, Charles Pellat and Joseph Schacht
    . Assist. J. Burton-Page, C. Dumont and V.L. Menage. Leiden: Brill Publishers, 1971. Photomechanical print.
  7. ^ Al-Dhahabi, Siyar a`lam al-nubala'.
  8. ^ a b c Ibn Khallikan, pg. 385.
  9. ^ Encyclopedia of Islam, vol. III, H-IRAM, pg. 855.
  10. ^ a b c Al-Suyuti, Hasan al-Muhadharah bi Mahasin Masr wa al-Qahirah, volume 1, page 201
  11. ^ "Miladun Nabi" (PDF). sahihiman.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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