Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah
Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah was born in the Eastern area of the land of the Shinqitt, now known as Mauritania. He is the son of one of the greatest scholars of his time. Shaykh Mahfudh, may Allah have mercy on his soul and sanctify his secret. Shaykh Mahfudh was both a scholar and a spiritual leader of his area with many students and novices. Towards the end of his life, he gave up his spiritual leadership, saying " I am not qualified to train souls." Shaykh Mahfudh guided his precious son, Shaykh Abdallah, to master the sciences of Islam. From an early age, Shaykh Abdall memorised most of the texts taught in Mauritania at that time, including the Qur'an with its different variants, books on the science of hadith, the Alfiyya of Ibn Malik, and other extensive texts in advanced grammar, logic, and rhetoric. He also mastered Jahlili poetry and excelled in the science of semantics and philology.
Coupled with an extensive training in the science of usuul or juristic methodology, Shaykh Abdallah studied the Maliki madhab, which is the only madhab in Mauritania, to the advanced level of mufti. When he was in his early twenties, the Mauritanian government sent him to Tunis to study with the first group of scholars chosen for higher studies in legal judgments in preparation for the job of qadi or legal judge. Of the entire group, based upon their work and dissertations, only twelve were chosen as the first judges in the first free Mauritanian court system, and Shaykh Abdallah was among them.
When he returned to Mauritania, Shaykh Abdallah was appointed as judge in the Ministry of Justice. He was also one of the vice-presidents of the first president of Mauritania. In addition, he was chosen as head of the shariah section in the court of appeals. He was then appointed to the position of High Authority for Religious Affairs for the Republic's highest office. He later became it Prime Minister and then became the Minister of human Resources. He also served as the Minister of National Guidance and as the Permanent Secretary of the People's Party of Mauritania.
Shaykh Abdallah is presently a member of several legal bodies, such as the European Council of Legal opinion and the organisation known as Al Majma' al-Fiqhi, the Supreme Fiqh Council, which is comprised of a body of scholars that come together from all over the Muslim world. These scholars represent a variety of madhabs and viewpoints they study and analyze issues that confront Muslims in the modern world and offer Islamic solutions. Shaykh Abdallah has expertise in a lot of areas that have been ignored, such as the science known as fiqh al-aqaliyaat, juristic rulings related to minority Muslims.
In addition, Shaykh Abdallah has written several books, delivered lectures all over he world, and attended many international conferences at the highest levels of importance. He has advised several heads of state in important matters concerning the shariah. he is fluent in French and well read in European thought and literature. He was awarded the King Faisal Medallion with highest honours. Shaykh Abdallah lives in Jeddah where he teaches usuul, tafsir, and Arabic as a full professor at King Abdul Aziz University.
Coupled with an extensive training in the science of usuul or juristic methodology, Shaykh Abdallah studied the Maliki madhab, which is the only madhab in Mauritania, to the advanced level of mufti. When he was in his early twenties, the Mauritanian government sent him to Tunis to study with the first group of scholars chosen for higher studies in legal judgments in preparation for the job of qadi or legal judge. Of the entire group, based upon their work and dissertations, only twelve were chosen as the first judges in the first free Mauritanian court system, and Shaykh Abdallah was among them.
When he returned to Mauritania, Shaykh Abdallah was appointed as judge in the Ministry of Justice. He was also one of the vice-presidents of the first president of Mauritania. In addition, he was chosen as head of the shariah section in the court of appeals. He was then appointed to the position of High Authority for Religious Affairs for the Republic's highest office. He later became it Prime Minister and then became the Minister of human Resources. He also served as the Minister of National Guidance and as the Permanent Secretary of the People's Party of Mauritania.
Shaykh Abdallah is presently a member of several legal bodies, such as the European Council of Legal opinion and the organisation known as Al Majma' al-Fiqhi, the Supreme Fiqh Council, which is comprised of a body of scholars that come together from all over the Muslim world. These scholars represent a variety of madhabs and viewpoints they study and analyze issues that confront Muslims in the modern world and offer Islamic solutions. Shaykh Abdallah has expertise in a lot of areas that have been ignored, such as the science known as fiqh al-aqaliyaat, juristic rulings related to minority Muslims.
In addition, Shaykh Abdallah has written several books, delivered lectures all over he world, and attended many international conferences at the highest levels of importance. He has advised several heads of state in important matters concerning the shariah. he is fluent in French and well read in European thought and literature. He was awarded the King Faisal Medallion with highest honours. Shaykh Abdallah lives in Jeddah where he teaches usuul, tafsir, and Arabic as a full professor at King Abdul Aziz University.
