A Brief Biography of Imam, Hadith Scholar, and Jurist Ahmad al-Jawhari
He is the eminent scholar, Sheikh Ahmad ibn al-Hasan ibn Abd al-Karim ibn Muhammad ibn Yusuf ibn Karim al-Din al-Karimi al-Khalidi al-Shafi'i al-Azhari, known as al-Jawhari.
He is one of the prominent figures and teachers of Al-Azhar University
He held the position of Sheikh of the Shadhili Sufi order in Egypt and other regions.
The Birth and Early Life
The Sheikh was born in Egypt in 1076 AH. He grew up with a love of knowledge, dedicating himself to it and enrolling at Al-Azhar University, where he studied, authored, taught, and issued legal opinions for nearly sixty years. He received his education from a select group of prominent scholars, including:
- Shihab Ahmad ibn al-Faqih
- Sheikh Ridwan al-Tukhi (Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque)
- Sheikh Mansur al-Manufi
- Shihab Ahmad al-Khalili
- Sheikh Abd Rabbuh al-Diwi
- Sheikh Abd al-Jawad al-Mahalli
All of them were leading scholars of the Shafi'i school of thought.
Why was he nicknamed Al-Jawhari?
He was nicknamed Al-Jawhari after his father, who worked in the jewel trade, and thus became known by this name.
His Work in Egypt
Who was the Sheikh of the Shadhili Sufi order in Egypt
His travels between countries
When he surpassed his contemporaries and studied at Al-Azhar University, he traveled to the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina in 1708. He studied under their scholars for seven years, and eventually, Abdullah al-Sharif al-Husseini appointed him as his successor.
In Egypt,
he returned to Cairo and secluded himself in his home, where he wrote several works.
Among his most important works are:
- The book "Munqidhat al-'Abid min Ribaqat al-Taqlid" (The Savior of Slaves from the Shackles of Blind Imitation) on monotheism
- A treatise on "Al-Gharaniq" (The Cranes).
- "Khalis al-Naf' fi Bayan al-Matalib al-Sab'" (Pure Benefit in Explaining the Seven Demands) on theology.
- A treatise on the lives of the prophets in their graves.
He remained devoted to knowledge and was visited and blessed until his death (1182 AH, 1768 CE).
The Sons of Imam al-Jawhari
Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Jawhari al-Khalidi al-Shafi'i al-Azhari (d. 1182 AH) were three brothers, prominent scholars and men of virtue in Egypt during the twelfth century AH:
The eldest son of the Sheikh:
1- Abd al-Fattah ibn Ahmad al-Jawhari
The middle son:
2- Ahmad ibn Ahmad al-Jawhari
The youngest and most famous of the three brothers:
3- Muhammad Abu Hadi ibn Ahmad al-Jawhari (known as "al-Jawhari al-Saghir")
(1151 AH - 1215 AH) He was a prominent Shafi'i jurist and scholar of Islamic jurisprudence, as well as a linguistic researcher. He studied under his father and other scholars of al-Azhar. He authored numerous scholarly works, such as the treatise "Khulasat al-Bayan fi Kayfiyyat Thubut Ramadan" (A Summary of the Explanation on the Method of Establishing the Beginning of Ramadan).
Sheikh Muhammad Abu al-Ma'ali ibn Ahmad al-Jawhari
His books are still studied at the Faculty of Sharia at al-Azhar University. Furthermore, their interests were not limited to religious sciences; they also produced important works in algebra and chemistry.
His Death
He remained devoted to knowledge, and people visited and sought his blessings until his death.
(1182 AH, 1768 CE)
The funeral prayer was held for him at Al-Azhar Mosque, and he was buried in the Qadiriyya Zawiya (the Al-Jawhari Mosque before its renovation). His three sons were later buried beside him. Poets and scholars of Al-Azhar documented the scene of the Egyptian people's funeral procession in their writings and poems, until he was eulogized by
Sheikh Mustafa ibn Ahmad al-Sawi, a prominent scholar of his time, who said:
(O Time, why do you persist in such misfortunes? And why do you await the loss of the masters of knowledge? You steal the life of a noble man, whose character was pure and of noble lineage. The noble son of a noble man has passed away, and you see nothing but the loss of the wise and discerning.) He was a distinguished scholar, known for his gentle character, chivalry, gallantry, affection, piety, and good morals.
The General Description of Al-Jawhari Mosque
Formerly known as the Qadiriyya Zawiya, the mosque was originally a zawiya (Sufi lodge) belonging to Sheikh Hassan Al-Jawhari's grandfather, also known as the Qadiriyya Zawiya. He later built it into the mosque it is today and conducted religious rites there in the most complete manner. Located in the streets of Cairo, a city steeped in history, the mosque and its alleyways are home to many valuable and historically significant monuments, many of which remain unknown. Among these is Al-Jawhari Mosque, a prominent historical mosque in Cairo, registered as number 462 in the Islamic Antiquities Register. The mosque and its fountain, situated in Al-Jawhari Alley in the Al-Muski district, bear the name of the Azharite scholar, Imam Ahmad Al-Jawhari. Visitors to the mosque, devoted to Imam Al-Jawhari, attest to his esteemed position in the hearts of Sufis. The mosque consists of a rectangular prayer hall divided into three parallel aisles aligned with the qibla wall, separated by two rows of arcades. Each arcade supports five arches resting on four marble columns. In the center of the second aisle are two tombs, each surrounded by a wooden enclosure. Woodturning
The first shrine
is surmounted by a single dome, and Muhammad Abu al-Ma'ali al-Jawhari and his father, Muhammad Abu al-Hadi al-Jawhari, are buried there.
The second shrine
is surmounted by two wooden domes, and its floor contains five niches, where Sheikh Ahmad al-Jawhari and his sons are buried. A sabil (public water fountain) with a window is attached to the mosque, preceded by a rectangular prayer hall.
The Location
It's Located in Atfet al-Jawhari, branching off from Jawhar al-Qaid Street, in downtown Cairo (in the al-Muski and al-Gamaliya districts)
The Establishment
Between 1261 AH and 1264 AH (1845-1848 CE), it Builts during the era of the Muhammad Ali dynasty
The Founder
Established by Sheikh Muhammad Abu al-Ma'ali ibn Ahmad al-Jawhari next to his large family home
The Attribution of the Mosque
It's Attributed to the Imam, Hadith scholar, and Azharite jurist Ahmad al-Jawhari
The Mosque Contains
The Committee for Islamic Antiquities discovered that the al-Jawhari Mosque, where the Imam's tomb is located, contains antique Qur'ans. These were discovered by chance in the mosque's library. The committee restored these Qur'ans and deposited them in an Islamic museum.
The mosque is distinguished by its refined style of Islamic architecture and its beautiful form. The Islamic decorations inside the Al-Jawhari Mosque, where the Imam's shrine is located, defy time despite the neglect they have suffered. The mosque's grandeur and its tall minaret testify to the events it has witnessed throughout its long history. The mosque is distinguished by its elegant minaret built in the Ottoman style.
The Qibla (direction of prayer) is made of colorful, carved marble.
The Minbar (pulpit) is made of finely crafted wood and includes a platform for preaching.
The library (Treasury) is a well-stocked bookcase.
The Endowments Donated to the Mosque
It is mentioned in its endowment deed dated 1273 AH that Mr. Muhammad Abu al-Ma'ali al-Jawhari endowed real estate and agricultural lands in various locations, including his residence adjacent to the mosque. This was an endowment for the al-Jawhari family, and it has now been transferred to the Antiquities Authority due to severe neglect of the endowments for the mosque and the house. There are many more endowments for the benefit of the house and the mosque, consisting of agricultural lands scattered throughout the Republic, from Toukh and Daqahliya, and many others too numerous to count, as most of the endowment records at the Ministry of Endowments have been lost, whether intentionally, unintentionally, or through negligence.
The Renovation Plaque
The renovation date is inscribed on a marble plaque on the door of the house. this mosque was damaged by an earthquake in the year (702 AH / 1302 CE).
The French Campaign's Siege of Al-Jawhari Mosque
During the Second Cairo Revolt, French soldiers under General Kléber besieged Al-Jawhari Mosque to arrest Abd al-Fattah al-Jawhari, the middle son of Imam al-Jawhari, one of the revolution's leaders at the time. The al-Jawhari family, being Azharite scholars, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, and leaders of the Shadhili Sufi order, played a significant role in inciting Egyptians against the French campaign.
The Shadhili Order in Egypt
The al-Jawhari family held sway over the leadership of the Shadhili order in Egypt for two centuries. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sheikh Ramadan Hassan Ahmed al-Jawhari officially declared the al-Jawhari Shadhili order as one of the independent Shadhili orders.
An Overview of the Shadhili Order in Egypt
The Shadhili order is a Sufi order attributed to Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili. Its followers adhere to a set of Sufi ideas and beliefs, though they differ in the disciple's conduct and training methods. They are also known for their practice of invoking the singular form of God (Allah) or the implied form of the pronoun "He" (Huwa).
The Intellectual and Doctrinal Roots
All Sufi orders were educational schools that called for self-purification, asceticism, and good deeds. They established their foundations in the Quran and Sunnah, and also drew from other philosophies, including Greek, Indian, Christian, and Jewish, among others. This occurred during the translation movement of the 4th century AH, and Sufism was influenced by these sources, just as other disciplines such as theology, jurisprudence, and others were.
The Areas of Spread
The Shadhili order's first center was Egypt, particularly the cities of Alexandria, Tanta, and Desouk in the Kafr El Sheikh Governorate.
It then spread to other Arab countries. Its most important areas of activity are Syria and North Africa, and it still has a presence in Libya and Sudan today.
The Founder of the Shadhili Way
Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Abdullah ibn Abd al-Jabbar al-Shadhili al-Hasani (593-656 AH). God granted him mastery of both Islamic law and spiritual training. He was a powerful and eloquent speaker, capable of discussing both subjects with a skill that even the most eminent scholars could not match.
Secondly: The Specifications of the Sabil and its Components
The main facade of the mosque is located on the southwestern side, occupied by the main entrance block, while an Ottoman-style minaret is attached to its southern end.
The Water Cistern
The sabil includes a cistern for storing water, which was traditionally filled with fresh Nile water to provide drinking water for passersby and worshippers.
The Renovation of the Sabil
Renovated by Muhammad Abu al-Ma'ali al-Jawhari
Sheikh al-Jawhari was among those who participated in verifying the presence of the head of al-Husayn in Egypt.
Sheikh al-Jawhari was one of the leading hadith scholars in 18th-century Egypt and one of two scholars chosen by Abd al-Rahman Katkhuda al-Qazdaghli, the ruler of Egypt in the mid-18th century, to confirm the presence of the head of Imam al-Husayn in the al-Husayn shrine before he could restore the shrine (al-Husayn Mosque).
The Coordination and Development Efforts
The executive authorities of Cairo Governorate, in coordination with the Ministry of Antiquities, have taken serious steps to restore order to the area, including:
The Clearing the surrounding streets
Extensive campaigns were carried out to clear Al-Gohary Street and Alley of street vendors.
The temporarily relocating vendors
The merchants and vendors were relocated to the Ataba Garage to clear the area surrounding the Islamic monuments.
The Comprehensive Development Project
Work has begun to improve the condition of the historical buildings in cooperation with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to restore the area to a state befitting its historical value.
