The Merits of "Qut al-Qulub" by Abu Talib Makki (RA)
قوت القلوب از ابو طالب مکی کے محاسن
Keywords:
Islamic sciences, Sufi teachings, Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh, comprehensive methodology, unique contributionAbstract
This article presents an introduction to Hazrat Abu Talib al-Makki and his work Qut al-Qulub (The Nourishment of Hearts), Hazrat Abu Talib al-Makki presents Islamic sciences, along with their fundamental and derived principles, in such a comprehensive manner that this book can serve as a substitute for foundational texts in these disciplines. However, no other work can replace Qut al-Qulub itself. For instance, while it can be considered a substitute for elementary texts on the principles of Hadith, no book on the principles of Hadith can serve as a substitute for Qut al-Qulub. This uniqueness underscores its distinctive quality.Some books have attempted to adopt a similar approach, but they ultimately derive their strength from Qut al-Qulub. Hazrat Abu Talib al-Makki's scholarly depth is evident in his comprehensive coverage of various disciplines, including Tafsir, Usul al-Tafsir, Hadith, Usul al-Hadith, Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, and the sciences of timekeeping and astronomy. His expertise as a reciter, preacher, eloquent speaker, and scholar is reflected throughout Qut al-Qulub. The book discusses the fundamentals of many sciences, showcasing al-Makki's broad knowledge and making it an unparalleled contribution to Islamic literature.
References
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," d. 386 AH, Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim Muhammad al-Radwani, Maktaba Dar al-Turath, Cairo, 2001, P:6.
Ibid., P:7.
Ibid., P:8.
Ibid., P:8.
Ibid., P:10.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub fi Mu'amalat al-Mahboob," Chapter 17, Vol. 1, P:104.
Ibid., pP:157, 176, 18.
Al-Yafi'i, Imam Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin As'ad bin Ali, d. 768 AH, "Mirat al-Jinan wa Ibrat al-Yaqzan," Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut 1417 AH, Vol. 2, P:323.
Al-Zarkali Khair al-Din, "Al-A'lam," d. 1396 AH, Dar al-Ilm lil-Malayin, Beirut, 2005, Vol. 6, P:274.
Abu al-Abbas Shams al-Din Ahmad bin Muhammad Abu Bakr bin Khallikan, d. 681 AH, "Wafayat al-A'yan," Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1419 AH, Vol. 4, P:121.
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan, "Fatawa Razawiyyah," Vol. 5, P:479.
Imam Abu al-Faraj Abd al-Rahman bin Ali Ibn al-Jawzi, d. 597 AH, "Al-Muntazam," Vol. 5, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut 1415 AH, Vol. 14, P:385.
Imam Ahmad Raza Khan, "Fatawa Razawiyyah," Raza Foundation, Lahore, Vol. 5, P:445.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub fi Mu'amalat al-Mahboob," Chapter 21, published by Dar Sader, Egypt, Vol. 1, P:178.
Ahmad Raza Khan, "Fatawa Razawiyyah," Vol. 10, P:690.
Mustafa bin Abdullah Rumi Hanafi, "Kashf al-Zunun," d. 1067 AH, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut 1419 AH, Vol. 2, P:1361.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," d. 386 AH, Dr. Mahmoud Ibrahim Muhammad al-Radwani, P:14.
Ibid., P:14.
Ibid., P:385.
Surah Al-Bayyinah: 8.
Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Muhammad Ibn al-Hajj al-Maliki, "Al-Madkhal," d. 737 AH, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1514 AH, Vol. 1, P:333.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," Vol. 1, P:478.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," Maktaba al-Madina, Karachi, Vol. 1, P:63.
Ibid., P:20.
Ibid., P:19.
www.al-mostafa.com.
By studying the last part of Chapter 31 of "Qut al Qulub," it can be clearly seen that the fundamental principles stated by the author are such that they could be considered a substitute for any book on the principles of Hadith.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," d. 386 AH, Maktaba al-Madina, Karachi, September 2019, P:57.
Surah Al-Anfal: 2.
Surah Al-Anfal: 4.
Surah Al-Ahqaf: 29.
Surah At-Tawbah: 124.
Surah Al-Mu’minun: 14.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," Maktaba al-Madina, Karachi, September 2019, Vol. 3, P:278.
Ibid., P:307.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," Vol. 1, P:396.
Surah Al-Hijr: 40.
Imam Muhammad bin Yazid al-Qazwini, "Sunan Ibn Majah," d. 273 AH, Dar al-Ma'rifah, Beirut, Book of Sunnah, Chapter on the Virtues of Scholars, Hadith: 224.
Hafiz Abu Umar Yusuf bin Abdullah bin Abdul Barr, "Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadlih," d. 463 AH, Maktaba al-Shamila, Chapter on Seeking Knowledge is Obligatory, Hadith: 15, P:16.
Hafiz Abu al-Qasim Ali bin Hassan Ibn Asakir, d. 571 AH, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut 1416 AH, "Tarikh Dimashq li Ibn Asakir," Hadith No. 4803, Ali bin Ibrahim, Vol. 41, P:252.
Imam Abdul Qasim Abdul Karim bin Hawazin al-Qushayri, d. 465 AH, "Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah," Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Chapter on Advice to the Seeker, P:424.
Riwayah bil-Ma'na means narrating a Hadith or a report in one's own words such that the meaning and concept do not change.
Ahmad bin Ali al-Musli, "Musnad Abi Ya'la," d. 307 AH, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1418 AH, Vol. 3, P:443, Hadith: 4240.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," Chapter 31, Vol. 1, P:488.
Ibid., P:488.
Imam Jalal al-Din Abd al-Rahman al-Suyuti, d. 911 AH, "Jami' al-Jawami'," Section of Sayings, Letter M, Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1421 AH, Hadith: 21590, Vol. 7, P:124.
"Qut al Qulub," Chapter 31, Vol. 1, P:480.
Ibid., P:484.
Ibid., P:484.
Ibid., P:484.
Ibid., P:484.
Ibid., P:485.
Ibid., P:487.
Shaykh Abu Talib al-Makki, "Qut al Qulub," Chapter 31, Vol. 1, P:485.
A Hadith in which the name of a Companion is omitted after the Tabi'i in the chain and is directly narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
A Hadith in which any narrator is missing from the chain, generally applied to a Hadith where a person lower than a Tabi'i narrates from a Companion. Example: Rawaa Abdul-Razzaq an al-Thawri an Abi Ishaq an Zayd bin Yuthay' an Hudhayfah Marfoo'an: "If you appoint Abu Bakr, he is strong and trustworthy." In this chain, one narrator is missing, whose name is Sharik. This narrator is omitted between Thawri and Abu Ishaq because Thawri did not hear this Hadith from Abu Ishaq but from Sharik, and Sharik heard it from Abu Ishaq. (Nisab Usul al-Hadith, P:62).
