Abu Bakr al-Kalabadhi
Sufi scholar of Bukhara of the 10th century, author of the “Kitab al-Ta'arruf”, one of the oldest Arabic works setting out Sufi doctrine.
- Occupation:
- Religious figure, Scientist
- Born:
- c. 930 — c. 990
- Birthplace:
- Bukhara
Biography
Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Kalabadhi al-Bukhari was born around 930 in Bukhara, under the Samanids. His nisba, al-Kalabadhi, points to Kalabadh, a quarter of Bukhara. The sources do not give his birth year: the Encyclopaedia Iranica suggests about 932. He was probably of Persian descent.
Tradition has it that he studied jurisprudence under the Hanafi jurist Muhammad ibn Fadl and Sufism under Abu al-Husayn al-Farisi; the report about his teacher in jurisprudence is not confirmed by earlier sources. The theological outlook of his writings is the reason he is counted as a follower of the Hanafi school.
Al-Kalabadhi wrote six or seven works, but only two survive in Arabic. One is “Bahr al-fawa'id” (also known as “Ma'ani al-akhbar”), a short collection of moral commentaries on 222 hadiths.
His main work is “Kitab al-Ta'arruf li-madhhab ahl al-tasawwuf”. In it he sets out to explain Sufi doctrine and terminology to readers outside the movement and to show that the Sufis' beliefs do not conflict with orthodox Islam. The book is framed in the Hanafi and Ash'ari theology of Transoxiana, consists of 75 short chapters and preserves many sayings of early Sufis; the author quotes al-Hallaj without ever naming him.
He died in Bukhara around 990 (some sources give 994 or 995); his tomb in Bukhara is still visited by pilgrims. Several commentaries were written on the “Ta'arruf”; the best known is the Persian commentary by Isma'il al-Mustamli (died 1042), a fellow townsman and possibly a pupil. In 1935 Arthur Arberry translated the book into English as “The Doctrine of the Sufis”.
Works
- “Kitab al-Ta'arruf li-madhhab ahl al-tasawwuf”Treatise on Sufism
A work of 75 chapters on Sufi doctrine and terminology, arguing that the Sufis' beliefs do not conflict with Islam.
- “Bahr al-fawa'id” (“Ma'ani al-akhbar”)Hadith commentary
A short collection of moral commentaries on 222 hadiths.
Life path
- taxminan 930Birth
Born in Bukhara, from the Kalabadh quarter (the Iranica suggests about 932).
- X asrStudies
By tradition studied jurisprudence under Muhammad ibn Fadl and Sufism under Abu al-Husayn al-Farisi.
- X asr“Bahr al-fawa'id”
Compiled a short collection of moral commentaries on 222 hadiths.
- X asr“Kitab al-Ta'arruf”
Wrote his main work, setting out Sufi doctrine and arguing that it accords with Islam.
- taxminan 990Death
Died in Bukhara; the sources also give 994 or 995.
- 1935English translation
Arthur Arberry translated the “Ta'arruf” into English as “The Doctrine of the Sufis”.
Legacy
The “Ta'arruf” is among the oldest Arabic works to set out Sufi doctrine systematically and was highly regarded by later generations of Sufis. It argues that Sufism lies within the bounds of Islam. Several commentaries were written on it, the best known being the Persian commentary by Isma'il al-Mustamli.
Era: Samanid era, 10th century, Bukhara- Arthur Arberry translated the “Ta'arruf” into English (“The Doctrine of the Sufis”) (1935)