Al-Baqillani

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Abu Bakr Al-Baqillani (lit. the greengrocer) was an Ashari Islamic scholar and Maliki lawyer, influential in popularising Asharism.

Born in Basra, his birth date is unknown. He died on 5 June 1013. He spent most of his life in Baghdad, and studied under disciples of al-Ash'ari. He held the office of chief Qadi outside the capital of the Caliphate.

His fifty two volumous books are regarded as classical works on explaining the Quran, the textual integrity of the Quran, the earliest examples of theological polemic, the miracles of the prophethood, summaries of the Sunni creed, defence of the Sunni position regarding the Imamate (Caliphate).

Ibn Taymiyya called al-Baqillani 'the best of the Ash'ari mutakallimun, unrivalled by any predecessor or successor'. [1]