as-Sanusi

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Yusuf as-Sanusi at-Tilimsani (832-895 AH / 1428-1490 CE) was a prominent Ash'ari theologian and Maliki jurist from Tlemcen (Tilimsân) in western Algeria. He is best known as the author of the most widely studied works on Islamic creed in the Ash'ari tradition in the Maghrebi world.

As-Sanusi studied in Tlemcen and produced a series of theological texts ranging from introductory to advanced. His most famous work is Umm al-Barahin (also called as-Sanusiyyah or al-Aqidah as-Sanusiyyah), a brief but comprehensive catechism of Ash'ari theological doctrines enumerating the attributes that are necessary, impossible, and possible for Allah and for the Prophets. This text became one of the most memorized and commented-upon works in the Islamic world, with hundreds of commentaries produced in subsequent centuries. It became a standard part of religious education from Morocco to Southeast Asia.

He also produced longer works on theology including Sharh al-Manzumah in theology, and works on Maliki jurisprudence including al-Muqaddimah as-Sanusiyyah and Sharh al-Mukhtasar. His theological works reflect careful systematic engagement with the Ash'ari tradition and serve as clear, organized presentations of the Ash'ari position on the attributes of Allah.

As-Sanusi passed away in Tlemcen in 895 AH. His Umm al-Barahin remains one of the most widely distributed theological texts in the history of Islamic education and continues to be studied across the Muslim world.