Ibn Juzayy

Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Juzayy al-Kalbi (693-741 AH / 1294-1340 CE) was an Andalusian Maliki jurist, mufassir, and scholar from Granada who produced two works of lasting importance despite his relatively short life. He studied under the leading scholars of Granada and the Maghreb, and became recognized as one of the foremost authorities in his region.

Ibn Juzayy's two most important works are at-Tashil li-Ulum at-Tanzil (Facilitating the Sciences of Revelation), a concise Quranic commentary that gathers the strongest interpretations from earlier tafsirs while noting linguistic, legal, and theological points with remarkable efficiency; and al-Qawanin al-Fiqhiyyah (The Legal Statutes), a unique work of comparative jurisprudence that systematically presents the positions of all four Sunni schools on each legal topic in a clear, organized format. The Qawanin is notable for its accessibility and has been used as an introductory text for students of comparative fiqh for centuries.

Ibn Juzayy died as a martyr at the Battle of Tarifa (known as the Battle of Rio Salado) in 741 AH (1340 CE), fighting alongside the Muslim forces of Granada and Morocco against the combined armies of Castile and Portugal. His son, Muhammad ibn Juzayy, is also notable as the scribe who wrote down the famous Rihla (travelogue) of Ibn Battuta. His works, particularly the Qawanin al-Fiqhiyyah, continue to be printed and studied as concise yet comprehensive references in Islamic scholarship.