ALAUDDIN AS-SAMARQANDI (Died in 1144)

Very little information about the great scholar and famous lawyer of his time Alauddin as-Samarqandi (died in 539/1144-45) has reached us. He was a well-known expert in different branches of the Islamic sciences as aqaid, tafsir, usul al-fiqh, furu al-fiqh and kalam. The historical sources we have at our disposal do not give us any satisfactory material about his life, his creative activities and his position in the society during the reign of the Karakhanid dynasty in Maveraunnahr. We have found some short information about his biography, his scientific career and appreciations devoted to his personality.

The first information about Alauddin as-Samarqandi was presented by his student Alauddin al-Kasani (died in 1191) in the preface of his book “Badai” and by another student as-Sam’ani (died in 1167) in his book “Kitab al-ansab”.

Besides those authors, some other historical sources written in the framework of the Hanafian order also contain very short infor­mation about our hero Alauddin as-Samarqandi. Moreover, these sources often borrow information from each other and often repeat the same information. The list of the authors who left some necessary information about Alauddin as-Samarqandi may contain the following names:

1. Ibn Abul Vafo (died in 775/1373);
2. Ibn Qutlubugha (died in 879/1474);
3. Tashkuprizada (died in 968/1560);
4. Al-Kafavi (died in 990/1582);
5. Hajji Khalifa (died in 1067/1657);
6. Muhammad Abd al-Hayy al-Laknavi (died in 1304/1886).

Having studied these sources, we could not find any reliable information about Alauddin as-Samarqandi’s date of birth. The information about his date of death also differs from each other. For instance, a German researcher Karl Brokkelman presents two dates about his date of death: 538/1143-44 and 540/1145-46. Hajji Khalifa shows this date to be 553/1158. Relying on the information presented by his student as-Sam’ani, a historian Ibn al-Barr mentions the date to be 539/1144-45 in his book “Jami bayan...”. According to the historical sources, Alauddin as-Samarqandi died in Bukhara. In the course of studies of his life and scientific activities, we have found that Alauddin as-Samarqandi moved from Samarkand to Bukhara but we could not find the reasons for it and this question remains unclear for the researchers.

As has been mentioned above, Alauddin as-Samarqandi could demonstrate his knowledge and ability in different branches of science and knowledge. He created precious scientific works in these fields and could create his own style of writing thanks to which he could find his own place and appreciation among the experts of law schools.

Farrux Saydullaev -Deputy Director of Imam Termizi International Research Center