THE IDEAL MUSLIMAH

His Name

He was the great scholar, the Shaykh, Muhammad Al-Ameen Ibn Muhammad Al-Mukhtaar Ibn 'Abdil-Qaadir Al-Jaknee Ash-Shanqeetee. His compound name was Muhammad Al-Ameen, just like the name of his father (i.e. Muhammad Al-Mukhtaar), which was the common naming practice in their lands.

His Birth and Lineage

He was born in 1325H in the region known as Shanqeet, which is the eastern part of the state of Mauritania, which lies on the (eastern) coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Morocco and Algeria and north of Senegal.

His lineage traces back to Ya'qoob Ibn Jaakin, the forefather of the large tribe, known as the Jaknees. The lineage of this tribe traces back to Himayr.

His Educational Upbringing

He was born in a household of knowledge consisting of men and women that were learned. His mother was the daughter of his father's paternal uncle (i.e. his father's female cousin). So he studied under his maternal uncles, his maternal cousins and their women, the basic aspects of knowledge and the sciences of the Qur'aan.

He completed his studies in various subjects of the Religion under the senior scholars of his land, such as the subjects of Tafseer, Hadeeth, Fiqh, Usool, Nahw, Sarf, Balaagha and more.

He adhered to the Maalikee madh-hab without blindly following it and being fanatical about it. In fact, he followed the evidences with regard to the religious rulings.

His Work and Entrance into the Hijaaz Area

After finishing his studies of the various subjects of the Religion, he worked as a teacher and as a judge in family jurisdiction. So people in dispute would go to him and he would make his judgment between them. His rulings and verdicts were carried out and enforced by everyone, even the government of his country at that time.

In the year 1367H, he went to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj and began to teach there in the Prophet's Mosque. The people in charge of this Mosque became acquainted with him and sought for him to remain in the Haramain (vicinity of Makkah and Madeenah) so that he could teach and provide general benefit.[1]

In 1371H, he was called to teach in the educational institutes and colleges of Riyadh. Then he moved to Madeenah to teach in the Islaamic University there. 2]

His Written Works

He has authored some books, which include:

1. Adwaa-ul-Bayaan fee Tafseer-il-Qur'aan bil-Qur'aan – printed [This is his tremendous voluminous work on Tafseer of the Qu’raan]
2. Al-Mudhakkirah fee Usool-il-Fiqh – printed [A small treatise on the Principles of Fiqh]
3. Adab Al-Bah-th wal-Munaadhara – printed [Etiquettes for Researching]
4. Alfiyyah fil-Mantiq Daf'u Eehaam Al-Idtiraab 'an Ayaat-il-Kitaab – printed
5. Man'u Jawaaz Al-Majaaz – printed
6. Mandhoomah fil-Faraa'id [A Book on the Laws of Inheritance]
7. Furoo' Maalik - a poetic text
8. Sharh 'alaa Maraaqee As-Sa'ood - a dictation he made to his students
9. Sharh 'alaa As-Sullam - a dictation he made to his students
10. Ansaab-ul-'Arab - a poetic text
11. Manaahij wa Diraasaat li-Ayaat-il-Asmaa was-Sifaat - a transcribed lecture he gave in the Islaamic University on the 13th of Ramadaan, 1382H.

His Death

The Shaykh died on the forenoon of Thursday, the 17th of Dhul-Hijjah, 1393H. His death occurred in Makkah on his return from Hajj. He was buried in the Mi'alaa graveyard and his funeral prayer was held in the Ka'bah after the Dhuhr prayer of that same day. Shaykh 'Abdul-'Azeez Ibn 'Abdillaah Ibn Baaz prayed over him, along with all the other Muslims that attended, may Allaah have mercy on him.

For his Biography refer to Al-A'alaam of Az-Zirkilee (6/45), Al-Manhal (the Dhul-Hijjah Issue of 1393H: pg. 982), and Mashaaheer 'Ulamaa Najd (pg. 517-520 & 540-543).

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[1] Translator's Note: The students that often frequented his classes on Tafseer of the Qur'aan in the Prophet's Masjid were many, the most famous of whom were: Imaam Ibn Baaz, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd and Shaykh 'Atiyyah Muhammad Saalim, the person who completed Imaam Ash-Shanqeetee's great work Adwaa-ul-Bayaan, after his death.

[2] Translator's Note: Among the students he taught while in the Islaamic University of Madeenah, was Shaykh Rabee' Ibn Haadee Al-Madkhalee, may Allaah preserve him.