The Biography of Imam Shawkani

Imam ash-Shawkani (1173H - 1250H), may Allah have mercy upon him, had a modest upbringing upon virtue, good, and righteousness. He was continually well nurtured and treated. He memorized many books of present time at the very early age even before beginning his serious studies. He learned the sciences of Hadith from al-Hafiz Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Amir and studied with many other teachers until he covered all the sciences.

Both his supporters and opponents agreed that Imam ash-Shawkani reached a level of verifying scholarship. He became someone who all would point to as a reference in the sciences of ijtihad, and he was one who would clarify the subtleties of the Shariah.