al-Kharashi

Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Kharashi al-Maliki (c. 1019-1101 AH / c. 1610-1690 CE) was an Egyptian Maliki jurist who served as the first Grand Imam of al-Azhar to be formally appointed from the Maliki legal school, serving as Sheikh al-Azhar from 1671 to 1686. Born in Kharas, a village in Egypt, he studied in Cairo and became one of the leading Maliki scholars of Egypt.

Al-Kharashi is best known for his monumental commentary on Khalil ibn Ishaq al-Jundi's al-Mukhtasar, known as Sharh al-Kharashi ala Mukhtasar Khalil. This large multi-volume work is one of the most comprehensive commentaries on al-Mukhtasar and became a standard reference in Maliki jurisprudence, particularly in Egypt and North Africa. His exposition of Khalil's concise legal text provided detailed explanations, juristic reasoning, and citation of earlier authorities.

He also authored Hashiyah ala Mukhtasar Khalil (marginalia to Khalil's Mukhtasar), further expanding on issues in the commentary. His juristic output reflects deep mastery of the Maliki legal tradition and the scholarly methodology of al-Azhar in the late 17th century.

Al-Kharashi served as Sheikh al-Azhar during a period when al-Azhar was becoming increasingly institutionalized as the leading center of Sunni scholarship. His tenure as the first Maliki Grand Imam and his comprehensive commentary on Khalil's Mukhtasar are his most enduring contributions. He passed away in Cairo in approximately 1101 AH.