al-Mahalli

Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mahalli (791-864 AH / 1389-1459 CE) was a leading Egyptian Shafii jurist, theologian, and mufassir who is best remembered for initiating Tafsir al-Jalalayn (Commentary of the Two Jalals), one of the most widely read Quranic commentaries in the Muslim world. Born in the Mahalla neighborhood of Cairo, he studied under the foremost scholars of the Mamluk era and became recognized as one of the most learned men of his generation across multiple disciplines.

Al-Mahalli began writing his tafsir by commenting on Surah al-Kahf (chapter 18) through Surah an-Nas (chapter 114), and then Surah al-Fatiha (chapter 1). He died in 864 AH (1459 CE) before completing the commentary, leaving Surah al-Baqarah through Surah al-Isra (chapters 2-17) unfinished. His student Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti later completed the remaining surahs in the same concise style, resulting in the jointly authored Tafsir al-Jalalayn. The commentary is prized for its extreme brevity and clarity, explaining the meaning of every verse in just a few words, making it an ideal introductory tafsir for students.

Al-Mahalli also authored Sharh Jam al-Jawami (a commentary on as-Subki's work on usul al-fiqh, which became the standard teaching text in Shafii legal methodology) and Sharh al-Minhaj (a commentary on an-Nawawi's legal manual). He was known for his exceptional intelligence, sharp memory, and mastery of multiple Islamic sciences. He died in Cairo in 864 AH (1459 CE). His contributions to tafsir and legal methodology continue to be studied in Islamic institutions worldwide.