Draft:Mohammad Abu Zahrah
| Mohammad Abu Zahrah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Mohammad Abu Zahrah |
| Other Names | Sheikh Mohammad Abu Zahrah |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth Place | El Mahalla El Kubra, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt |
| Brith Date | 29 March 1898 |
| Death Place | Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt |
| Death Date | 12 April 1974 |
| Religion | Islam |
Mohammad Abu Zahrah was an jurist, Quranic researcher, and Egyptian scholar who was among the pioneers of Islamic unity. During his lifetime, he served as the head of the Sharia Faculty of Al-Azhar. His works include: Seal of the Prophets in Three Volumes, The Great Miracle in the Holy Quran, History of Islamic Schools of Thought in Two Parts, Punishment in Islamic Jurisprudence, Crime in Islamic Jurisprudence, and Abu Hanifa (His Life and Era – His Views and Jurisprudence).
Biography
Sheikh Mohammad Abu Zahrah was born on 29 March 1898 CE, corresponding to 6 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1315 AH, in the city of El Mahalla El Kubra in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt.
Education
He completed his reading, writing, and Quran memorization at a Quranic school. After memorizing the Quran and learning the basics of reading and writing, he enrolled at the Ahmadi Mosque in Tanta, which was known as a center for scientific gatherings attended by prominent scholars and was nicknamed the "Second Al-Azhar". He studied there for three years. Then, in 1916 CE, he entered the Sharia Faculty, which was established by Muhammad Atif Barakat Pasha, one of the most influential educators in modern Egyptian education. Abu Zahrah successfully passed the faculty's difficult entrance exam and, despite his young age, achieved first rank. After eight years of perseverance, he received his Sharia Law degree in 1924 CE. He then pursued graduate studies at Dar al-Ulum and received an equivalent degree in 1927 CE.
Career
After graduation, Abu Zahrah began working in education and taught Arabic language in secondary schools. Until 1933 CE, he was selected to teach at the Faculty of Theology, where he taught the art of rhetoric and debate, and became known for his eloquent and distinct lectures. This led the Faculty of Law to select him to teach rhetoric there. After proving his competence, he was appointed to teach Islamic Law. There, he formed friendships with a number of prominent scholars, including Ahmad Ibrahim, Ali Qarra, Faraj al-Sanhuri, and Ahmad Abu al-Fath. Over time, Abu Zahrah demonstrated seriousness and brilliance and climbed the ladder of promotion until he became the head of the Sharia Department, a position he held until his retirement in 1958 CE. Then, in 1962 CE, following the approval of the Al-Azhar Development Law, he was appointed as a member of the Academy of Islamic Research. He also participated in establishing the Institute of Islamic Studies in Cairo, where he delivered free lectures on Islamic Law.
Works
Sheikh Mohammad Abu Zahrah authored numerous works on a wide range of topics including property, contract theory, will and its laws, inheritance, personal status, waqf and its rulings. He also detailed the works of eight of the most prominent Imams of Islamic jurisprudence: Imam Malik, Abu Hanifa, Al-Shafi'i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Hazm, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ja'far al-Sadiq, and Zayd ibn Ali. In addition, his works on exegesis and Quranic biography, especially the book The Great Miracle, which discusses the stories of the revelation of the Holy Quran, its collection, compilation, recitation, orthography, and translation into foreign languages. Sheikh Abu Zahrah authored more than 30 books during his lifetime, the most important of which are:
- Seal of the Prophets in Three Volumes;
- The Great Miracle in the Holy Quran;
- History of Islamic Schools of Thought in Two Parts;
- Punishment in Islamic Jurisprudence;
- Crime in Islamic Jurisprudence;
- Abu Hanifa (His Life and Era – His Views and Jurisprudence);
- Imam Malik (His Life and Era – His Views and Jurisprudence);
- Rulings on Estates and Inheritances;
- Call to Islam;
- Comparison of Religions;
- Guardianship over the Self;
- Ownership and Contract Theory;
- Rhetoric (Its Principles – Its History in Its Most Glorious Eras Among Arabs);
- International Relations in Islam;
- Inheritance in Ja'fari Jurisprudence;
- Zahrah al-Tafasir.
Criticisms of the Sheikh
Although Abu Zahrah was one of the prominent scholars, especially in Jurisprudence and Principles, he was accused of hostility towards Salafis. In his book entitled "History of Islamic Schools of Thought", he placed Wahhabism alongside the Baháʼí Faith and Qadianism, stating that they had initially prohibited drinking coffee, but later revoked this prohibition. However, he actually placed Wahhabism alongside these two schools; because he was discussing modern schools of thought and did not intend to equate Wahhabism with Qadianism or the Baháʼí Faith.
In the same book, he wrote about Wahhabism: "The periods in which Reason was stagnant, as we have indicated, were characterised by respect for the opinions of the Imams. One of the manifestations of this respect was honouring the righteous, both during their lifetime and after their death, visiting their graves and circumambulating them in a manner similar to the circumambulation of the Kaaba. Consequently, a group emerged that opposed this practice and were very extreme in their opposition". He also disagreed with them on a number of minor issues and points. Sheikh Abu Zahrah was moderate in criticising others, even those he disagreed with. In the introduction to his book about Ibn Taymiyyah, he says: "When I turned in that direction, a prominent figure came to mind, a man who, with his thought, opinions, and approach, had captivated his era. His voice resonated with his views in his society; some minds accepted them, while others rejected and denied them. Those who opposed him rose to challenge him, and those who agreed with him rose to support him. He was active and participated in debate and argument between both groups. And the general public, behind both sides, were captivated by his personality, eloquence, strong character, and sharp tongue"[1].
Devotion to Ahl al-Bayt
Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahrah dealt fairly regarding the high status of the Imams and has beautiful words about the personality of the Imams. Regarding the scientific authority of Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him), he writes: Imam al-Baqir was the heir of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) in Imamate and guiding the people, hence scholars from all Islamic lands flocked to his presence from every direction, and no one visited Medina without paying homage to him and benefiting from his endless sciences. Regarding Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), he says: Islamic scholars, despite all their differences of opinion and diversity of schools, agree on no one except Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and his knowledge, and His Holiness's knowledge was not limited to Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence, but he also taught Islamic theology. And in another place he says: Above all these sciences, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) had very valuable insights in the field of ethics and the causes and motives of their corruption[2].
Death
Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahrah died on Friday afternoon, 12 April 1974 (CE), while descending the stairs to deliver a sermon at a public gathering that had been arranged in front of his house in the Zaytoun district.
See also
Footnotes
References
- The Mark Muhammad Abu Zahrah..., Islam Online website, Publication date: n.d., Access date: 21 November 2025 (?).
- What is Muhammad Abu Zahrah's sect?, National Center for Responses to Religious Questions website, Publication date: 19 May 2013, Access date: 21 November 2025 (?).